What Is a Fanny Pack? Style, History & Modern Uses Explained

Ah the fanny pack. Love it, hate it, or date it well before your time, there's no doubt that this handy little bag has left its mark on the fashion world. Once considered the sole domain of the late 80s and early 90s, nigh inseparable from jogging suits, bright colors, and neon peak caps, the fanny pack has made a major comeback in its current form. It still brings the portability, but now with an updated fashion sense.

You might be wondering how the cute fanny pack (or "belt bag" as many call them now) came to be, and why it's still around today. This article will explore the origins, history, and current renaissance of this versatile bag. We'll look at what makes it so popular as the perfect blend of fashion and utility.

They're more than just utility bags; they're a stylish statement and the ultimate accessory rolled into one.

Defining the Fanny Pack

Let's start with the basics. What makes a fanny pack, well, a fanny pack? Besides the name, that is. This bag is best defined as a compact, pouch-style bag that's designed for hands-free use, and typically worn close to the body. Most of us have a mental image of the fanny pack worn around the waist, but cross-body bags worn across the chest also qualify.

Fanny packs are used to store all sorts of things, from lip balm and cosmetics to money and credit cards. Larger fanny packs can hold phones and portable chargers, while standard-sized bags are useful for daily essentials and personal items. There are even some smaller fanny packs designed to attach to the arm or the ankle, perfect for hiking, diving, and other outdoor activities.

These bags are not made for large scale storage, but their size enables those wearing them to keep essential items secure and close by for easy access.

Uniting the diverse designs and functions of the fanny pack are three core design features:

• Adjustable Straps – These bags come with a strap or two that can be adjusted to fit the size and shape of the wearer's body as snugly as possible. Most fanny packs have only a single adjustable strap.
• A Main Compartment – All fanny packs have a central pouch for holding your items. This main compartment may be divided, and include additional features (like card holders, or zippered internal pouches) or extra supplementary compartments – but they're always designed around the main pouch.
• Carry Capacity – Because they also have a strap and main compartment, you might be thinking that crossbody bags and sling bags are also a form of fanny pack. Though the distinction can certainly be hazy in some cases, the carry capacity is what usually sets fanny packs apart. They're designed to carry essentials, and are typically smaller and more practical than other types of bag.

Beyond these three features, the possibility for innovation is truly endless. The fanny pack may have started out as a practical accessory, but fashion designers have turned this bag into a perfect companion for all sorts of occasions. Options range from the water resistant pouches of outdoor packs to the elegant rectangular shape of a pack made for a casual day out.

There's no limit to the sizes and styles that can be applied to fanny packs, as more and more modern designers continue to show us.

A Brief History of Fanny Packs

 

Fanny packs may strike you as a modern invention, but methods of carrying goods around the waist or body have existed for thousands of years. Let's take a quick historical look at the fanny pack.

For a large part of our history as a species, we were nomadic, and needed to carry our goods with us whenever and wherever we moved. Even after the development of agriculture, body bags were needed to carry seed to the field, or the supplies needed for the day's work.

Later, body bags were used as a way to keep goods close to the wearer and safe from bandits. The pouches were typically worn at the front, so that their owners could easily keep an eye on them.

Medieval peasants actually used a pouch much like the fanny pack in their daily lives. And the Potawatomi tribes of the Great Plains used pouches made of buffalo hide (called buffalo packs) to carry their valuables around their necks. The Scottish Sporran is another historical form of fanny pack, acting as storage for those wearing kilts.

So, there's always been a need for a handy, secure, body bag. And the fanny pack, its modern incarnation, initially retained this practical purpose. Sports like skiing required these waist bags for easy access to items like ski wax and food on the slopes. Then, in 1954, a Sport Illustrated cover was instrumental in catapulting this humble bag into the spotlight for its utility and stylishness.

But it was the big jogging boom and the rise of a global fitness culture in the 80s that really brought fame for the fanny pack. Alongside leggings and Jane Fonda workout tapes, the fanny pack became an indispensable part of the fitness craze, and then the fashion world.

While the first fanny packs were made from leather and hide, these new bags were made from synthetic, durable materials like nylon, too. Their heyday was in the late 80s and early 90s, when they became such an integral part of the fashion scene, that it caused a steep decline in popularity and huge reputational knock in the decades to come.

Fortunately, the image of the fanny pack as dated and tacky wasn't to last. Smartphones arrived in the 2010s, and with them the need for a practical bag, and the rebirth of the modern fanny pack. "Belt bags", "waist pouches", or "waist bags" were so named to make a clean break from the old image, while keeping their purpose as practical carriers and a favorite fashion item.

The Many Uses of Fanny Packs Today

 

Since its modern resurgence, the fanny pack has as many uses as the styles and sizes it comes in. These include:

• Everyday Use – Fanny packs are easy to slip on and secure, making them ideal for everyday convenience. They're portable, comfortable, and not too bulky, making them easy to use for running errands, shopping, or visiting friends. Valuables are kept close without the need for pockets, hands or shoulder space.
• Travel and Outdoor Activities – Fanny packs are also a great way to keep valuables close when traveling or doing outdoor sports activities. Skiing enthusiasts, rock climbers, and hikers need a weatherproof way to keep their valuables safe. And for travelers who are sightseeing, heading to festivals or globetrotting, these bags ensure that valuables and passports are close to the chest (or waist) and easily accessible.
• Fashion Statements – The fanny pack has seen a resurgence as trendy street wear. Whether muted or bold, a chic waist pouch can make as much of a statement as an outfit. Modern bags are also often made from luxury materials. It's not uncommon to see a leather or fabric pouch included in trendy design. Call them waist packs or budget packs, but they're definitely stylish.

How to Wear and Style a Fanny Pack

 

How you wear your fanny pack depends on what you're using it for. That said, if you're looking to make a fashion statement, there are definite styling choices that can make an impact. The main two ways of wearing a fanny pack are:

• Classic Waist Style – This is the traditional way of wearing a fanny pack: practical and offering easy access. This hands-free method may not look the most fashionable, but is perfect for accessibility, safety, and all sorts of outdoor activities.
• Crossbody Style – The modern crossbody fanny pack is defined by this over the shoulder look. It's a casual, modern, easy going style that also offers security for the wearer. So, it's perfect for the urban jungle.

For casual streetwear, a crossbody day pack is the perfect accessory. It goes well with baggy or form fitting clothing. Depending on the color and style of the bag, you'll either need to choose a more muted top underneath, or be more bold. Minimalism is chic when it comes to modern fanny packs.

For sports and athleisure, wearing it around the waist is the easier choice. Tougher fabrics like nylon are better suited to outdoor activity and, depending on your outfit, should be styled accordingly.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fanny Pack

 

As noted earlier, when choosing a fanny pack, you need to ask yourself what you'll be using it for. Here are the major factors to consider:

• Size and Capacity – While fanny packs are smaller than other bags, they still vary in size. Larger bags may have extra compartments and dividers, while smaller ones keep it simple. Are you looking to hold just the essentials, or bigger items like water bottles?
• Material and Durability – You don't want your new leather fanny pack getting scuffed by rocks while hiking. On the other hand, nylon isn't always the most stylish choice. Choose recycled or natural materials to keep your carbon footprint low.
• Functionality and Features – Adjustable straps, card holders, internal pockets, water-resistant fabric: these are all extra features that might cost more, but can be a lifesaver in the right scenarios. Just make sure your needs align with the extras that you're paying for.

How to Care for Your Fanny Pack

A good fanny pack should last for many years. But there's a lot you can do to extend the time you spend together:

• Cleaning – Try to avoid cleaning fanny packs by machine washing. Synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester are best washed by hand to maintain their color and integrity. Leather should be spot cleaned and frequently conditioned to maintain its shine and protective layer. Use a lint roller to clean out the inside of your bag.
• Storage – Keep your fanny packs stored in cool, dry places to prevent damp and mold damage. It's also important not to crumple them up in the cupboard, as they may lose their shape. When putting them away, empty out all the contents and ensure the straps are untangled to prevent creasing and odors.
• Maintenance – Many people forget about the importance of zipper and strap maintenance. Regularly cleaning your zippers, and even waxing them, will ensure smooth operation.

Fanny Packs vs. Other Bag Styles

Fanny packs are often confused with other types of bags, though the differences become apparent on closer inspection:

• Crossbody Bags – These bags also offer hands-free convenience, but are larger than fanny packs. Due to their size, some crossbody bags can cause shoulder strain as result of heavy loads and bad weight distribution.
• Backpacks – Backpacks are bulkier than fanny packs and typically designed to be worn over both shoulders. They can carry more, but their design makes them bulky and less secure in crowded areas than a front-facing fanny pack.

Fanny packs might be small, but offer the perfect, versatile way to keep valuables close to your body for safety and easy access. What's more, they're slim, small, and work well as fashion statements, something that can't be said of bigger bags.

Conclusion

Fanny packs have endured for years, and seen a modern resurgence thanks to their versatility as safe bags and fashion accessories. There are many uses for a fanny pack, and a wide variety of designs to meet those needs.

The range of bags out there is truly mind-boggling, but leading companies like Canvelle provide a range of quality bags for all sorts of needs and activities. If you're looking for high-quality, stylish fanny packs, then look no further.

FAQs

Why do they call it a fanny pack?

The fanny pack was introduced in the 1950s, and because it was worn around the waist, it was associated with the hips and buttocks, hence the name "fanny pack."

What is a fanny pack called in British slang?

While "fanny" is slang for one's bottom in U.S. English, the British have their own humorous name for it - "bum." So, they call fanny packs "bum bags."

What is a fanny pack called today?

The modern fanny pack has a number of names, intended to dissociate it from its previous incarnation. These include belt bags, waist pouches, carry packs, and compact packs.

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

They're the same thing, just named differently in different places due to local slang. "Fanny packs" are American English, while "bum bags" are British English.