Best Travel Fanny Packs: Functional & Stylish (Updated 2023)

Basic Fanny Packs

In this section, I will show you belt bags that I consider to be basic. They are very functional, but they are not the most stylish options. And not because they are ugly, just because they look so… Basic.

FREETOO Fanny Pack for Men & Women

The Freeto fanny pack is an awesome option. It’s a unisex bag, and it is available in some very basic colors – black and gray. It is made from 1000D Nylon, which is the material used in premium backpacks and soft side suitcases. So, you can expect this fanny pack to be sturdy, durable, and water-resistant.

That’s pretty great for less than $20. But we’re just getting started. The belt is adjustable, and it will fit anyone with a waist circumference of 32-45 inches.

But what I like the most about these fanny packs are all the different pockets. They are what make this bag an awesome choice for travel. There’s the main compartment, which is large enough to fit a portable umbrella or a small water bottle. And which has a zippered pocket inside.

Then, there’s also a hidden back pocket on this waist pack. You can’t actually see it in the photo here, but it’s behind the main compartment. This is great for all really important items since other people won’t even know this pocket exists.

And there are also three smaller external pockets. All of them are zippered, with durable zinc alloy zipper pullers. That is a total of 5 external and one internal pocket – definitely enough to keep all of your necessities neatly organized. However, this particular fanny pack doesn’t have an RFID blocking pocket, which is a bit of a downside.

Day Tip Money Belt

This fanny pack is great if you don’t need a lot of space. It’s really thin and it won’t really fit any bulky items. You can’t really carry your wallet in this fanny pack, but you can carry your money and credit cards. And since the main pocket is made entirely from RFID blocking material, they will be extremely safe.

What makes this fanny pack special is that the buckle is on the front. So, if you’re actually wearing this around your waist, there’s virtually no chance someone could unbuckle it and steal it without you noticing.

Another thing I really love is that this features a backside made from breathable mesh. I was honestly surprised to see ventilation in such a cheap belt bag. And since it is made from 210D Nylon, you can also count on it to be durable and water-resistant. Now that’s a really good deal for less than $15!

But there is the issue of capacity. This waist pack features two zippered pockets on the front and a hidden slip pocket on the back. And that’s all. There is a key clip in the larger front pocket, but keys are pretty much the only bulky item you can fit inside this bag. It’s incredibly slim, and it can’t really hold much gear.

This is fine if you’re looking at this just for travel. You can definitely fit your passport, phone, credit cards, and tickets inside this bag. Just not much else.

Karpathic Fanny Pack For Men And Women

The Karpathic belt bag is an interesting option. So far it’s the only one that it’s not available in black, which certainly makes it unique. And you get some free stuff with it – a microfleece pouch for your sunglasses and a travel guide. But with us, you hardly need the latter. :>

One issue with this bag is that there is no information on what material it’s made of. I’m guessing polyester, but don’t quote me on that. I can tell you for sure that it is water-resistant though, but not fully waterproof. If you get caught in heavy rain or fall into a lake, nothing inside will stay dry.

But you will be fine in light rain or snow. And I can also tell you that there are three RFID safe pockets inside this fanny pack. The largest one can easily fit your passport, which is very convenient.

In addition to the main compartment, there are also two external front pockets and a hidden one on the back. But only one of the external front pockets is zippered – the other one features Velcro closure, which is not my favorite thing.

One thing I really like about this fanny pack is the opening for earphones. That’s a very useful feature for all of us who (shockingly) still use cord earphones for their phones with headphone jacks. In 2019, can you imagine?!

The belt buckle is next to the main compartment, so it should be on your hip when you’re wearing this bag. The belt strap can be adjusted to fit a 54” waist max, and it features two secure holders that ensure it stays in place.

Auropro Fanny Pack

If safety is your primary concern, then this is the right pack for you. It features 4 different belt buckles, all of which are front-facing. If someone were to actually unbuckle all of them and remove the fanny pack from your body, they would deserve a medal.

There are two waist belts on this fanny pack, and both of them are stretchy. They are rather thin though, so I don’t think these are the most comfortable option. Anything thin and elastic tends to stick to you and cut into your skin.

But at least you won’t sweat, thanks to the mesh backside of the bag. The fanny pack is ventilated, which makes it an appropriate choice for hot summer days.

In terms of capacity, this fanny pack can’t hold a lot of items. And it definitely can’t hold anything bulky or thick – this is a rather slim bag, and it’s designed to hold only your necessities. It has a total of three pockets – two zippered ones on the front, and a secret slip pocket on the back.

The main compartment actually has two small slip pockets inside, so you can somewhat organize your belongings. And with the RFID blocking pocket, you can have peace of mind knowing that your credit cards and passport are safe from illegal scanning.

In addition to all that, this pack also features an opening for earphones on the front zippered pocket.

Alpha Keeper RFID Safe Fanny Pack

If you want to keep your credit cards and passport extremely safe, then this is a good option for you. The Alpha Keepers fanny pack feature 3 layers of RFID blocking fabric, so your valuables will be extra safe in it. Additionally, you will get 7 RFID blocking sleeves, so your belongings can be safe even if you’re not wearing this fanny pack.

Unfortunately, credit cards are pretty much everything you can fit into this fanny pack. It is very small and slim, so you can’t really use it for any bulky items.

The very front of this pack is made from cotton. Then there are 3 layers of RFID blocking fabric and 4 layers of water-resistant material. Overall, this fanny pack is very durable, water-resistant, and comfortable to wear. Plus, it features mesh on the backside, which allows for ventilation and prevents you from sweating.

The waist belt is stretchy, and it features a front-facing buckle for extra security. It’s designed to fit 25-45” waists, but it can be stretched to fit around a 55” waist.

There are two main zippered pockets on the front of this bag, and a hidden slip pocket on the back. The front pockets feature high-quality YKK zippers, an internal key clip, and an earphone port.

Stylish Fanny Packs

In this section, I will show you some very stylish fanny packs. If you have a prominent fashion sense and you don’t want to wear just any fanny pack, one of these might just be the perfect choice for you.

SoJourner Holographic Rave Fanny Pack

I am a big fan of anything holographic – why would you not like rainbows? And if you want to make a statement with your fanny pack, this is just the one to get. Just picture it – an all-black outfit and a holographic fanny pack to spice it up.

This fanny pack is pretty big, at least when you compare it to the previous ones I showed you. It has a spacious main compartment, a front pocket, and a hidden pocket in the back. And all of these pockets feature heavy-duty, rainbow-colored zippers. The main compartment is large enough to hold your wallet and even a water bottle.

That’s one reason why this is a good option for travel – unlike the very slim fanny packs, this can actually hold bulkier items.

The fanny pack is made from water-resistant polyester. Most bags are lined with nylon on the inside – I think only the transparent options don’t have a lining in all pockets. In addition to that, all bags feature an adjustable nylon waist belt with a heavy-duty belt buckle.

There is the slight issue of safety – if you want to wear this around your waist, the buckle will be on your back. So, not the safest option.

But definitely a stylish option. You can choose from 25 different designs, which is pretty awesome. My favorites are the Rose Gold Holographic and Starry Night Blue versions!

Nabob Leather Fanny Pack

Leather never goes out of style. And neither will the Nabob Leather fanny pack. If you’re looking for something really classic, I think you can’t go wrong with a black leather bag.

And this fanny pack not only looks great, but it is also really functional. It features six different pockets, which allow for the great organization of your personal items. The main compartment is pretty big, and it can easily fit your wallet.

In addition to that, there are also four zippered pockets on this fanny pack. Two are on the front, and two are on the sides. The side pockets are very small and they’re designed to hold your keys, earphones, chapstick – stuff that you usually can’t find in your bag because it’s really small.

The front pockets are bigger and can fit pens, sunglasses, etc. And there’s also a hidden zippered pocket in the back, which is designed to fit the plus-sized smartphones. All of the zippers on the pockets are sturdy, smooth, and durable.

The belt of this fanny pack is pretty long – it can fit 26-50” waist circumference, which means that pretty much anyone can wear it. And it comes with a sturdy belt buckle. But not much else, in terms of safety features. At least the buckle lies on your hip, and not on your back when you’re wearing the fanny pack in front of you.

Adidas Originals Waist Pack

Here you have two waist packs – the black one is the men’s version and the iridescent one is the women’s version. But the only real difference between these two fanny packs is the material they are made of. The classic black Originals waist pack is made from polyurethane, and the pink version is made from TPU.

Both fanny packs feature plastic zippers with enamel-coated zipper pullers, as well as a webbing strap with a clip lock. This type of buckle is safer than the basic ones we saw earlier, as it is a bit harder to undo.

Both of these Adidas fanny packs also feature a main compartment and a front stash pocket, as well as an Adidas logo on their front.  The main compartment is rather spacious, but you won’t be able to fit a water bottle inside it.

The best thing about these bags is they don’t really look like fanny packs, mostly because of their shape. They are very stylish and just functional enough to hold your travel necessities – phone, wallet, tickets, etc.  

However, these two are the most expensive waist packs I’ve shown you so far. But they’re still reasonably priced ($30). Oh, and one more thing worth mentioning is that these two bags are sold out almost everywhere. So if you like one, make sure to get it while you still can.

Check the Pink version here.

Huameibang Genuine Leather Waist Packs

What about a handmade genuine cowhide fanny pack? It’s very soft, comfortable to wear and it actually feels luxe when you’re holding it. And it’s still cheaper than the Adidas option.

What I love about this bag is that it doesn’t actually look like a fanny pack, even though it definitely is one. It just looks so elegant, mostly because of the premium materials it’s made of. But also because of the way the compartments were designed – instead of having the classic fanny pack shape, this looks more like an organizer to me.

You have three compartments total. The one in the back is the largest, and it’s the main compartment. It can easily fit your phone, wallet, passport, tickets, etc. The other two compartments are both in the front. One of them is zippered, while the other features snap closure.

The belt of this fanny pack is 49” long and adjustable. It is equipped with a metal buckle, which is much sturdier than plain plastic ones. But there’s not too much difference, in terms of safety.

However, there is one advantage to this particular fanny pack, and that is its weight. It’s heavier than all the others we saw so far, which is actually an upside. Because it has a presence, you are more likely to notice immediately if someone were to attempt to steal it from you.

Hearty Trendy Genuine Leather Large Fanny Pack

This particular fanny pack is the perfect synthesis of stylish and functional. It’s my favorite overall choice, because it is amazing for travel, and it also looks really good.

The Hearty Trendy fanny pack is currently available only in brown color, which is made from genuine cowhide leather. It is a very durable fanny pack, with sturdy zippers and a webbing belt. The belt buckle is plastic and it’s front-facing – a little more secure than a regular buckle in the back.

This fanny pack has a total of 7 pockets, all of which are zippered. There are two side pockets, one hidden pocket in the back, one main compartment, and three front pockets. The main compartment is rather large, and it could fit a small umbrella.

But my favorite thing about this fanny pack is the front pocket with an organizer. It features a key clip, three card slots, a pen slot, and a slip pocket for your phone. And that’s just in the organizer pocket – you get so much space for all your other belongings in the other six pockets.

Keep in mind that this is a pretty big belt bag – it’s among the largest ones in this review. But that just means you’ll be able to fit a lot of stuff inside it. As much as you can fit in your regular small purse.