Best Fanny Packs for Travel in 2024: Style Meets Functionality

When traveling, bags and luggage solutions are so important. You have to pick the right bags to safely and securely store your stuff, all the while getting the most comfortable and convenient carrying experience. Otherwise, you could end up having to haul heavy, awkward, and even painful pieces of luggage around, wherever you go, ruining your trips and interfering with your travel plans.

Enter, the fanny pack. A staple of 90s fashion, fanny packs have come back in a big way recently, particularly among travel enthusiasts. And it's not hard to see why. Versatile, compact, and handy, a fanny pack can well and truly be your perfect companion for day trips and lengthy excursions around the globe, providing security, peace of mind, and easy access to your items, while on the move.

But, to get the absolute most out of a fanny or belt pack, it's important to pick the right one. This guide explores how to choose the best fanny pack for travel, including a range of versatile, durable, and innovative packs that are ready for adventure, and all that from leading brands like Canvelle.

Our Favorites

• Best Overall: Canvelle Fanny Packs – Stylish, durable, and versatile for all travel needs.
• Best for Minimalists: Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag – Sleek design, perfect for carrying essentials.
• Best Budget Option: Jansport Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack – Affordable and reliable, ideal for everyday travel.
• Best for Organization: Peak Design Field Pouch – Multiple pockets for keeping gadgets and accessories organized.
• Best for Outdoor Adventures: The North Face Explore Hip Pack – Rugged and water-resistant, great for outdoor activities.

Best Fanny Packs for Travel

Let's take a closer look at our contenders for the best fanny pack for travel and find out what makes each one worthy of the title.

Best Overall: Canvelle Fanny Packs

 

 

With its premium canvas construction and a classy, chic design, the Canvelle Fanny Pack is the ultimate fusion of style and substance. It's a truly great-looking bag, available in a wide variety of colors, so you can pick from a classic black fanny pack or something more out-of-the-ordinary, like a cornflower blue pack, to accompany you on your travels.

This belt bag also excels in the comfort department, with a cushioned back panel that gently sits against your body to reduce strain and pressure. Furthermore, it has a wide, adjustable shoulder strap so you can always get the ideal fit regardless of your body type and size. You'll also get both internal and exterior pockets, letting you separate your travel documents, snacks, and go-to items without any mess or fuss.

Pros:

• A stylish and versatile fanny pack that looks at home in almost any environment.
• Durable enough to withstand the rigors of travel, made from premium performance canvas.
• Completely machine washable for easy cleaning in between your many adventures.

Best For: Travelers looking for a bag that blends style and functionality, offering all the space and organization they need, without sacrificing aesthetics.

Best for Minimalists: Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag

 

Next up, one for the minimalists out there. The Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag stands out from the crowd for its compact size and ultra-chic look. It doesn't have lots of frills or fancy extras, simply offering a pure and classic fanny pack experience, with a water-resistant cover and easy-access pockets to store your travel essentials. And sometimes, that's just enough.

Pros:

• Super lightweight, so it won't weigh you down when you're on the go.
• A sleek, chic, minimalist design, free of unnecessary frills.
• The perfect size for carrying your most important, essential items.

Best For: Travelers seeking a simple, small, and cute fanny pack for their most important items, like a cell phone and passport.

Best Budget Option: Jansport Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack

 

Choosing the best fanny pack for travel can cost you hundreds of dollars if you're not careful. But you might not want to spend anywhere near that much. You might, instead, want a budget-friendly bag that won't let you down, despite its cheap price. In that case, meet the Jansport Fifth Avenue fanny pack belt bag. It has a simple design, durable polyester construction, a zippered pocket on the outside, and a roomy central space for your daily essentials.

Pros:

• One of the most affordable fanny packs on the market, for budget-conscious buyers.
• Surprisingly reliable and hard-wearing for such a low price tag.
• More than spacious enough to store your travel essentials, like mobile phones and flight tickets.

Best For: Buyers on a budget who need a sturdy, reliable, and useful bag without having to spend a huge amount on it.

Best for Organization: Peak Design Field Pouch

 

When you're on the move around the globe, you'll most likely want to keep your travel items neat, tidy, and organized to save time when rummaging around for something in particular. The Field Pouch from Peak Design can help with that. It's got lots of internal dividers and sections for you to put different items so you can access whatever you need in seconds rather than minutes. It's also got a weatherproof shell to cope with tricky weather conditions.

Pros:

• With such a variety of pockets, internal organization is super easy.
• Versatile to suit all sorts of travel experiences, like day trips, outdoor excursions, and flights.
• Easy to wear either around your waist or as a sling bag, however you prefer.

Best For: Travelers who tend to travel with lots of different items, like cameras, battery packs, devices, and so on, and need to keep their stuff organized.

Best for Outdoor Adventures: The North Face Explore Hip Pack

 

Finally, one for the outdoorsy types. The North Face Explore Hip Pack is a bag made for adventure. Rugged, strong, durable, it's built to last, made from base camp fabric that can cope with harsh winds, rain, and other conditions without wearing down. It features a zippered compartment for your valuables and sleeves for your phone. Plus, it's got a key hook, too, for added convenience.

Pros:

• Durable and rugged enough to cope with harsh conditions.
• The ideal fit for hikes, bike rides, climbs, backpacking trips, and so on.
• Adjustable webbing strap lets you wear your bag the way you want.

Best For: People who tend to spend a lot of time in the great outdoors and need fanny bags that can keep up with their active lifestyle.

How to Choose the Best Fanny Pack for Travel

You've seen some of the finest fanny pack bags. Now, let's look at how to pick one.

Consider the Size and Capacity

When buying any sort of bag, whether it be a fanny pack, sling bag, or toiletry pouch, it's always important to get the size right. Fanny packs come in various sizes, from mini or extra-small entries to large, oversized packs that can store a lot of stuff.

Think carefully about what you intend to put in your pack. For simple and small items, like a stick of lip balm and a bottle of bug spray in the forest, you'll only need a little one. For bigger, bulkier stuff, you'll want to invest in a roomier pack with features like water bottle pockets.

Material and Durability

Leather, nylon, and canvas are just a few of the many materials used in fanny packs today. Each one is different, and there's no "best" option of the bunch, but there may be one material that works particularly well at matching your needs.

Canvas is a great all-rounder and often features in many best-selling, favorite fanny packs, as it's both a stylish and durable material. Leather is strong and tough, too, and you can opt for vegan leather if that better matches your lifestyle. Otherwise, nylon and cotton are soft, modern materials, but they may not last as long as canvas bags, such as Canvelle's.

Comfort and Adjustability

If you're planning on carrying your fanny pack on long flights or while exploring new destinations, you need to ensure it's comfy when worn. The last thing you'd want is a pack that bothers or irritates you after wearing it for longer than an hour or two at a time.

Seek packs with adjustable straps, like those in the Canvelle collection, to help you get the comfiest fit for your body type. Look for those with smooth and gentle materials, too, as well as padded sections for your comfort.

Styling Tips for Travel Fanny Packs

Next, let's look at how to wear your fanny pack in various settings, like at the airport or in big cities.

Casual Airport Style

For a casual and comfy airport look, seek out a premium and compact fanny pack that sits nicely around your waist. The Canvelle Original Fanny Pack, for example, helps you look the part at the airport while providing handy zipper compartments for your stuff. Pair your pack with cozy travel-friendly attire, like leggings and a casual top.

Exploring New Cities

When you're busy exploring the busy streets of big cities, you want a bag that sits close to your body for comfort and one that's easy to carry, too, like a top-notch fanny pack or black sling bag. Pair your pack with a street-style outfit, like a jeans-and-tee combo alongside a pair of sneakers as the ideal finishing touch, and fill your pack with your phone, money, cards, and more.

Outdoor Excursions

If you're setting off on outdoor activities and excursions, you need a pack that's ready to handle the unpredictability of the outside world. Look for one with durable and weather-proof materials to handle rain, sun, and more, along with enough space and pockets to provide easy access to essentials. Combine your fanny pack with activewear, hiking jackets, and similar kinds of clothing for a functional, adventure-ready look.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Travel Fanny Pack

Finally, let's review a few typical mistakes people make when picking or using a fanny pack.

Choosing the Wrong Size

As discussed earlier, it's key to get the right size when you're buying a fanny pack. A 1-liter bag might be fine if you only intend to store small items, but you'll need a bigger option if you're storing lots of stuff or larger items. Too often, people pick a bag that's either too big (and therefore awkward to carry) or too small (and therefore impractical). Don't make the same mistake. Choose a bag that's right for you, like Canvelle's versatile mid-sized fanny packs.

Ignoring Comfort and Fit

If you intend to travel with your fanny pack, it's likely that you'll be wearing it for extended periods of time, like waiting around at the airport, exploring new cities, or trekking through dense forests. In that case, you mustn't underestimate the importance of comfort. You need a bag that feels comfy to wear, so try to avoid buying a model that's too basic or not built for extended use. Look for helpful features, like padded sections and lengthy, adjustable straps, like those featured on Canvelle fanny packs.

Overlooking Security Features

Security is also hugely important when picking the best fanny pack for travel. When traveling, in unfamiliar surroundings, you're more at risk of losing valuable items or even having them stolen. But the best bags help to guard against that via key features like zipper pockets and internal mesh slip pockets to stash your precious items. Leading fanny packs, like Canvelle's, come with thoughtful security features to keep you safe in any environment.

Conclusion

Overall, choosing the best fanny pack for travel is a process that demands a certain level of time and investment. But it's worth it in the end. If you think carefully about how you intend to use your pack and what you want to put inside, you'll find it so much easier to select the pack that's right for you—one that'll last for years of satisfying use.

With a wide range of sizes and colors to pick from, coupled with premium manufacture and peerless versatility, Canvelle's fanny pack collection is a fine place to start your search. Check out our awesome range of stylish, classic fanny packs to find your favorites, and get yourself equipped for whatever adventures life has in store for you.

FAQs

Should I wear a fanny pack when traveling?

It's certainly a good idea, and waist packs have historically proven popular with travelers and tourists around the globe. They let you quickly access your personal items and provide enough room for all sorts, like passports, tickets, lip balms, and snacks. Fanny packs are also good from a security perspective, as you can keep your valuable, precious items right by your body, reducing the risk of theft.

Are fanny packs allowed on planes?

That all depends on the airline in question, as every airline has different policies about carry-on luggage types and sizes. But, in the vast majority of cases, you'll have no issues taking a fanny pack or waist belt bag onto a plane. Indeed, alongside sling bags and crossbody bags, fanny packs are some of the best options for flying, thanks to their utility and compact, accessible designs.

What is the best material for a fanny pack?

There's no single or simple answer to that question, as different materials bring their own advantages and will work best in differing situations. High-quality leather is a good choice for formal settings or making a fashion statement, for instance. Canvas, meanwhile, is a dream material for travel, thanks to its innate strength and water resistance.

What is the difference between a fanny pack and a bum bag?

There's no difference at all. Fanny pack and bum bag are simply two separate terms for the same thing. To be more precise, fanny pack is the term typically used in North America, while bum bag is more prevalent in the U.K. This is because "fanny" and "bum" are slang terms for buttocks (where a fanny pack traditionally sits) in the U.S. and U.K., respectively.