By 2025, I have traveled to 40 different countries, and if there is one thing I always have with me, it would be a fanny pack. (Also referred to as a bum bag, belt bag, or waist pack.)
After doing extensive research and testing many different models, I’ve narrowed down the field to a list of fifteen that are great for your next day hike or adventure abroad.
With multiple interior pockets for holding smaller items, as well as a large front pocket for larger belongings like your wallet, phone, or sunglasses, these fanny packs are sure to be your go-to accessory for everyday life, not just when you’re traveling.
Keep reading to find out the best fanny packs for travel.
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Editor's Choice
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Editor's 2nd Choice
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Editor's 3rd Choice
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Title:
Travelon Waist Pack
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Title:
Lululemon Athletica
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Title:
Lewis N. Clark
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Material:
Leather
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Material:
Nylon
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Material:
Nylon
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Dimensions:
11 x 7 x 3 inches
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Dimensions:
7.5 x 5 x 2 inches
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Dimensions:
11 x 5 x 1 inches
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Features:
Five compartments provide organization, Front organizer compartment and hidden smart phone pocket, Adjustable waist strap to 48”
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Features:
Zippered pockets, Easy-access, Exterior pocket for your essentials
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Features:
RFID-blocking technology, Multiple compartments, Undercover safety
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Our Top Recommended Fanny Packs for Travel
15. DAITET Money Belt Passport Holder with RFID Blocking
Available in black or beige, this money belt offers good organization when traveling.
Based on our expertise, this product offers sufficient storage for your phone, passport, loose change, and keys, while also featuring RFID-blocking safeguards to ensure your protection when exploring the sights.
It has an adjustable strap, which can expand to fit any size of user. Based on its value for money, this is probably the best anti-theft fanny pack.
14. Boxiki Travel Money Belt – RFID Blocking Money Belt
Designed specifically for travelers, this RFID fanny pack will carry all your important documents and belongings.
Our tests have shown that this product is constructed using thick and durable 210D rip-stop nylon, ensuring longevity and suitability for multiple trips in the years to come. Moreover, the belt is designed to be exceptionally soft and comfortable against your body.
13. Lewis N. Clark RFID Blocking Money Belt
This is a low-cost modern anti-theft fanny pack, that is made from rip-stop nylon and has self-repairing zippers. It has a super-thin design and uses TravelDry fabric to wick away any moisture.
12. Peak Travel Money Belt with RFID Block
Another great anti-theft fanny pack that is perfect to keep you safe while traveling is coming in three different colors.
It’s comfortable to wear all day long, and it can adjust to fit both men are women. The belt is soft and breathable, and the mesh material is moisture-wicking.
11. Travelon RFID Blocking Leather Waist Pack
This Travelon anti-theft waist pack offers five compartments to provide you with a good internal organization when traveling.
There is a separate hidden smartphone pocket, and it has an adjustable waist strap that allows you to expand the strap length up to 48”.
Or you can check out the LukeCase Fanny Pack, a nice alternative for men’s and women’s leather waist packs.
10. Entchin Fanny Pack for Sport Travel
With four different spacious pockets, this security waist pack has four zipper pockets.
Our experience with this product has revealed that it boasts a stylish yet functional design, with the added benefit of being easy to adjust to any waist size.
Furthermore, the materials used in its construction are of high-quality, resulting in a lightweight and scratch-resistant product.
9. Tinyat Travel Fanny Bag
This fanny bag has such a funky design and comes in a wide range of colors and designs.
After wearing it on a trip to Thailand, we have discovered that this product is not only lightweight and fashionable but also versatile enough to be worn discreetly under clothing or as an accessory for a night out.
8. Waterfly Fanny Pack
Made from soft polyester, this is a stylish water-resistant undershirt fanny pack that can carry any type of phone.
It’s a slim pack, making it easy to disguise under your clothing, and it won’t feel too heavy or bulky to wear all day long.
7. Pacsafe Coversafe S100 Anti-Theft
This is one of the most discreet and secure theft-proof fanny packs I’ve seen and has a very slim waistband.
Our experts revealed that this product is crafted using lingerie fabric, features an adjustable elastic waist strap with a clasp, and has a breathable material that comfortably lies on the body under clothing.
6. Osprey Daylite Waist Pack
As experts in the field who have used this product, as well as ourselves, we can confidently say that the Osprey Daylite bag is ideal for active days out and can conveniently hold your wallet, passport, and snacks.
Its adjustable 38mm webbing hip belt and buckle closure further enhance its practicality and ease of use.
5. MAXTOP Large Crossbody Fanny Pack with 4-Zipper Pockets
This is one of my favorite shoulder bag options because it comes in a wide range of colors to suit all tastes. I love how this bag has four separate pockets, allowing you to carry multiple valuables with you at one time.
This bag is extremely versatile and as well as being worn on your waist, can be adjusted to wear on the hips or across your chest and shoulders.
4. ProCase Fanny Pack
With an amazing six pockets, this is one of the best fanny packs I’ve seen, yet it still isn’t too bulky for carrying around all day.
It’s designed to last and is made from a quality nylon material that’s both durable and water-repellent.
3. Pacsafe Coversafe Travel Bra Pouch
For women, this is another alternative way to store their personal belongings. This small, durable and discrete purse simply clips onto a bra strap, bra band, underwear, or belt loop, and can be worn underneath clothing.
Like many fanny packs, this one has enough room to store your loose items such as your wallet, credit cards, hotel key, money, or any other small personal belongings you may need when out and about.
2. OSOCE Sling Bag Chest Backpack
While it’s certainly not as hidden as an undershirt fanny pack, if you are cycling or taking part in other active endeavors, you may find this way more comfortable to wear.
This stylish anti-theft fanny pack’s large zippered main compartment can carry a small tablet, and the back is splash-proof.
1. Lululemon Athletica Everywhere Belt Bag
This belt bag is incredibly effective at providing fashion and storage space. Something I appreciate about this particular belt bag is that it fits comfortably under your chest if you decide not to wear it around your waist.
As the name suggests, this belt bag is designed to be worn for any occasion and with any outfit without standing out.
The Lululemon Athletica belt bag comes with a small pocket designed on the inside of the bag’s main compartment, and an additional zipper pocket on the back.
Overall, it’s big enough to hold several credit cards, hand sanitizer, lip balm, car keys, a smartphone, medicine, a snack or two, and many other objects that you may need quick access to on the go.
What to Look for When Buying a Travel Fanny Pack
Adjustability
Most fanny packs should come with adjustable straps that allow you to tighten or loosen the way the bag feels around your chest or waist.
Since fanny packs are pretty much strapped to your body, you want to buy one that’s just the right size and can conform to your movements without feeling like it’s squeezing you enough to be a hindrance.
However, you also don’t want a pack that’s free to dangle around without security.
Material
A high-quality fanny pack should be made with water-resistant nylon materials. This is because not only does nylon protect objects on the inside from moisture, but it’s also a more lightweight material to produce a fanny pack with.
While fanny packs can be designed with different materials, it’s important to find one that matches your lifestyle.
For example, an athlete or hiker may require a fanny pack made with more durable materials to prevent tears and provide protection against harsh elements.
A casual traveler, on the other hand, may not require that same level of production. So, ultimately it’s all about what you decide to do.
Volume
Storage space can be a tricky thing to decide on when shopping for what you might think is the best fanny pack. On one hand, you want something compact that’ll allow you to store your most important travel items without creating unnecessary bulk.
On the other hand, you may also want something with a spacious main compartment to store objects for specific events, such as sunscreen, a water bottle for summer outings, snacks for yourself and others, and other accessories.
Once again, the volume of your fanny pack will be decided by what you intend to use it for. Although, if you’re still undecided on the size, most fanny packs are designed with common all-purpose activities in mind.
How & Where Will it be Used?
Another important question to ask yourself when considering the best fanny pack to buy is how and where will it be used?
Due to the different brands, sizes, and styles of traveling fanny packs, if you decide incorrectly, you could end up with a pack that does too little or too much.
For example, are you planning on going hiking? Then you may want a waterproof fanny pack (or water resistant) that’s designed to carry all your essentials for your long expedition.
Are you an athlete of some sort? If so, then a fanny pack that’s more compact and light enough to prevent you from moving slowly is ideal. Or, are you a casual traveler who likes to go on vacations and attend local gatherings?
In that case, typically you’d want something fashionable that focuses more on complementing your looks than serving as an obvious storage accessory.
Cost
A decently designed fanny pack to accompany you for your everyday tasks should cost no more than $30-$50.
Now, of course, these prices vary depending on your lifestyle, but you should always choose a hip pack that’s affordable and fits your price range.
You should never spend more on a product than you need to accomplish your intended tasks.
Features
Fanny packs come with diverse features, such as multiple pockets, adjustable straps for style variation and physical comfort, anti-theft measures, and RFID protection.
Similar to choosing any other type of accessory, there’ll never be a product that comes with every last bell and whistle attached.
So, the best practice is to choose a fanny pack that comes designed with the most amount of the features you’re looking for, in exchange for the few that you can do without.
However, never compromise on features that you want. Remember, your fanny pack needs to match your lifestyle needs.
Benefits of Wearing a Fanny Pack
One of the major benefits of wearing a fanny pack (bum bag in some parts of the world) is that it gives you a way to keep your valuable belongings close to your body.
The design of a fanny pack itself is an anti-theft measure because somebody would be less likely to try and snatch it from you if they knew they’d attract your attention.
The compactness of a hip pack also gives it an edge over accessories like purses and backpacks.
This is because when you’re wearing a hip pack, everything is much closer together and there’s not much depth for important objects to sink to the bottom. Whereas with anything else, you’d probably be fumbling around for a few minutes trying to find what you need.
The final and most obvious benefit of a fanny pack is that it gives you additional space aside from the pockets you may already have on your clothes.
Some clothes have pockets, others have none, and sometimes the pockets are just too shallow. Fanny packs like the Baboon to the Moon fanny pack reduce the chance that you’ll come up short on personal storage space.
How to Wear a Fanny Pack
Traditionally, people wear a classic fanny pack over the waist, which is how this accessory came to have its name. In some cases, people twist the pack around to fit more on the side of their waists like a mini hip pack or directly behind their backs.
Another style that people use to wear fanny packs, which is more commonly seen in modern fashion, is over-shoulder style crossbody bags.
This simply means instead of wearing the hip pack around your waist, you can pull the crossbody bag adjustable strap over your head and let it run underneath your chest. This style is more versatile than the traditional form.
Our Top Pick
Finally, our favorite fanny pack is the Travelon RFID Blocking Leather Waist Pack. This travel fanny pack provides the ideal setup for safety and security.
As mentioned before, this leather fanny pack comes with anti-theft RFID-blocking pouches, which will protect your personal and financial information from being stolen when traveling.
In addition, the five organizer compartments and smartphone pouch allow cards and mobile devices of all types to be neatly tucked away without being too difficult to retrieve.
Lastly, the maximum adjustable length of the waist strap is 48″, which means you have a lot of room to loosen up the fanny pack if it feels too snug around the waist.
Wherever I’m heading in the world, on every trip I take now I always wear a fanny bag under my clothes. As I travel solo so often, I find it one of the safest ways to ensure my belongings are secure wherever I am.
The great thing about these money belts is that they are generally very discreet and slim, so you can wear them all day long and even on nights out.
I hope this list of the best travel waist wallets will help you select the perfect one for your next trip.
There’s nothing worse than having an incident ruin your vacation, so keep yourself and your belongings safe and protected the next time you travel.
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