A Fanny Pack Is the Best Bag for Summer Travel

Keep all of your essentials in one easily accessible place: on your ass.

Summer travel makes me think of new experiences, great memories, and all possible food lined up before me. But first, there’s the stress: stress of packing the right things, and stress navigating the fickle rules of the airport.

Well, hopefully I can make all your travels going forward a little less stressful, because I’m about to divulge the secret of my favorite travel accessory: the humble fanny pack. 

Is it a fanny pack, bum bag, or belt bag?

The fanny pack might also be called a bum bag, hip pack, or belt bag, depending on who’s selling it. It’s a small but mighty bag with an adjustable strap that can clip around your waist or be worn as a sling bag over your chest. Unlike a backpack or a purse, the strap’s orientation allows you to situate it directly on the front of your body.

I’m not exactly sure why the fanny pack—a one-time '90s staple—fell out of fashion and developed a slightly nerdy reputation, but I encourage you to get over it. (Apparently the youths are already well on their way.) If scrunchies and vinyl can make a comeback, then I think we can all embrace this functional slice of nerd-chic. You’ll be a better traveler for it. 

Four fanny packs to suit your style:

A simple bag with several pockets or compartments.

Carhartt Adjustable Waist, Durable, Water Resistant Hip Pack, Black, One Size

$29.99 at Amazon

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$29.99 at Amazon

A slightly larger pack that easily transitions to a sling bag.

Cotopaxi Coso 2L Hip Pack Cada Dia Abyss/Coastal

$60.00 at Amazon

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$60.00 at Amazon

The least fussy of the batch, this is a small and simple fanny pack.

Herschel Supply Co. Herschel Classic Hip Pack, Black, One Size

$35.00 at Amazon

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$35.00 at Amazon

A more fashion-forward bag that can be a belt bag or worn as a sling bag.

Italian Pebbled Leather Sling Bag

$69.90 at Quince

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$69.90 at Quince

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Why a fanny pack is the best travel bag

The fanny pack is a small bag, and in no way a replacement for your luggage. Think of the fanny pack as a little helper. For those of you thinking I don’t need another thing to worry about at the airport, trust me when I say mine has actually taken a ton of worry off my mind. Here's how:

• The ease of it all. Using a fanny pack actually makes functioning in a hectic environment much easier. Unlike a handbag or your luggage, this bag clips around your waist or your chest, which makes it hands-free, and not something that swings around or that you can easily forget somewhere. Thish simple pouch is more accessible than any other type of bag because is can sit right in front of you, not behind you or off at an awkward angle.

• Safe keeping. The number one thing I used to worry most about when traveling internationally was my passport. You need to grab it and put it away quickly several times at the airport, and you're almost always in a rush when you do so. I was always putting my passport in a pocket here or there and then forgetting where it was. Now my passport slips easily into my fanny pack, and I can easily check on it if I have a moment of panic. That goes for my phone too, and any other small valuables that I might need at the drop of a hat. 

• It’s not a personal item. One of the biggest boons is that a bum bag does not count as a personal item, while a handbag does. A fanny pack is often too small to qualify as luggage, and because of how it attaches around your waist, it’s arguably part of your outfit.

• A range of styles and fits. There are numerous different sizes and styles (like the ones in the product list above) that can seamlessly make the transition from a fanny pack to shoulder bag or sling bag for daily wear while you're sightseeing. This eliminates the need to pack an extra day bag into your luggage.

Aside from my passport and phone, I usually add my wallet, external battery, sunglasses, lip balm, keys, and my ear buds for the flight. All that fits comfortably into my small Herschel hip pack. I can scan my passport, show ID, pay for a bag of Twizzlers, and recharge my phone, all without breaking my stride. No longer am I that person digging through their backpack and holding up a line of angry New Yorkers. Hopefully, you won't be either.