The 12 best belt bags, from fashionable finds to the ultimate travel packs

We've tested everything from high-end leather belt bags to sporty fanny packs from outdoor brands. These are the best bags for your waist or shoulder.

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The '90s fanny pack is making a major comeback, but if you're hoping for the same neon, one-compartment sling you used to hide under your windbreaker, you're going to be a bit disappointed. With its resurgence, the fanny pack has undergone a modern makeover for a life on-the-go. Now known as the stylish and versatile belt bag, your favorite hip accessory from yester-year has transformed into a hands-free fashion moment that combines both form and function into one easy, sleek method of storing your essentials. 

Top belt bag picks

Best overall: Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag

One belt bag easily stands above the rest when it comes to versatility, color and size options, affordability, and popularity, and that is the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag. For under $40, you'll snag an excellent, water-repellent sling perfected for everyday use. 

The nylon-and-recycled polyester fabrics of the bag make it pliable and comfortable, while the adjustable strap offers a snug fit that stays put on the move. A hidden, exterior pocket means you can keep items like your phone close to your chest, while the main compartment features a mesh pocket to better keep you organized. 

With fourteen different colors to choose from including bold and bright options alongside neutrals, there's something for everyone. It's even available in large and mini sizes if you're not content with the 1 liter capacity of the original. 

Best budget: Quince Nylon Belt Bag

A reliable brand in both quality and affordability, Quince lands as the number one pick for most affordable belt bag. But beyond its reasonable price tag, the Revive Nylon Belt Bag is made from 100% recycled nylon, with four recycled bottles total going into the production of each bag. 

It is extremely similar to the lululemon bag — especially in terms of capacity and material. A back slip pocket allows you to store easy-to-reach essentials like your phone, while an interior slip pocket suits all valuables you want to keep inaccessible. It's also lightweight enough to be used daily, helping you run errands more efficiently with just the essentials on you 

For more of our favorite picks from the brand, see our full Quince review.

Best on Amazon: Ododos Mini Belt Bag

If you're looking for a no-frills belt bag that comes in a variety of colors and gets the job done, this ODOS belt bag is a solid option.

An Amazon best seller, this simple-yet-sleek design can be worn as a shoulder bag, crossbody bag, waist bag, or hand bag. It's lightweight, but roomy enough to hold essentials like your phone, wallet, keys, passport, and credit cards with room to spare in hidden side compartments and a back zippered compartment. Its mostly nylon material makes it very durable, and the variety of colorways available makes it a great unisex option. The best part? Because it's so affordable, you can get it in multiple colors to match multiple outfits.

Best leather: KAAI Ikon Bag

For a belt bag that's both sophisticated and can easily be transitioned from day-to-night looks, try the KAAI Ikon Belt Bag. Made from 100% Italian cow leather with a sleek matte finish and supple suede interior, this is an elevated hands-free option that combines convenience with style.

The outer magnetic closure makes for easier access to your valuables, while an interior zippered compartment makes the perfect home for cash or credit cards. Unique to the KAAI Ikon Belt Bag is also a small elastic loop to hold pencils or pens, so you're never without something to write with. Choose from eight diverse colors, from cool neutrals to bold, embossed designs.

The only issue is that it's a touch narrow. But if you only carry keys, a phone, a small wallet, and a lipstick or two, then it's perfect.

KAAI's elegant Pyramid Bag also made our list of the best work bags for women.

Best for travel: Dagne Dover Cairo Sling Bag

If you're looking for an easier, lighter carry-on than a duffle, or simply want to win TSA's most prepared traveler award, the Dagne Dover Cairo Sling Bag was made for you. While a bit bigger and potentially heavier than some of the other belt bags on our list, the Cairo Sling Bag makes up for its bulk with a variety of smartly crafted compartments to keep you hyper-organized. Fit everything you need and then some in its plentiful pockets that keep your necessities easily accessible, even in a rush.

The Cairo is also made from 100% vegan, recycled materials that prove especially durable for travel, along with an adjustable strap that can transform this bag from a belt bag to a sling. When you're done using it, you can easily pack it away in your luggage once you reach your destination.

Best Neoprene: Dagne Dover Ace Fanny Pack

Looking for the ultimate throwback fanny pack with a modern twist? Dagne Dover has just the thing. The brand's beloved Ace Fanny Pack comes in its signature 100% vegan neoprene that's both stretchy and soft-to-the-touch. The design is clever and streamlined, with the classic fanny pack zipped pocket at the front and a wider opening featuring a card compartment, a key clip, and a lipstick compartment.

For cards you need ASAP, there's even a hidden card compartment on the back. Perfect for everyday wear, this belt bag is incredibly light, and looks effortlessly stylish when worn crossbody.

Best for hiking: Patagonia Black Hole Waist Pack

For days spent outdoors, look no further than the utility of the Patagonia Black Hole Waist Pack. With its five-liter capacity, it offers ample storage for snacks, base layers, and so much more while you're on the move. This belt bag is also made from cool and comfortable mesh with a breathable back panel that offers some added comfort without any extra heat. Stretch water bottle pockets on both sides of the bag mean you'll be able to keep yourself hydrated, while the 100% recycled polyester with a PU coating makes it durable and weather-resistant to any conditions you might face.

Best unisex: Herschel Pop Quiz Hip Pack

When it comes to durable, functional and stylish bags for travel and everyday life, Herschel always provides solid options. The Pop Quiz Hip Pack is no different, with a matte weather-resistant coating that keeps belongings dry during rainy commutes or less predictable hiking weather.

Its variety of unisex color options and sleek design make it a great option for both men and women, and the adjustable strap suits a variety of sizes. Though there's only one main compartment, an internal mesh organizer helps you to keep track of your stuff while a key ring makes sure you never lose your keys again.

Best oversized: Calpak Luka Belt Bag

On the days when you need to carry a bit more with you but still want the hands-free capabilities of a belt bag, opt for the Calpak Luka Belt Bag. Out of all the bags on our list, the Luka Belt Bag has the biggest and deepest dimensions, meaning you can squeeze in a lot more without feeling any additional weight or bulk thanks to the lightweight, flexible material. The slightly quilted design offers a bit more effortless detail than some of the other options on this list, plus it's available in 18 colors, so there's a Luka bag for just about every 'fit.

Best mini: Athleta All About Crossbody Belt Bag

Then there are the days when all you require is your phone, keys, and a small tube of ChapStick, and for those occasions, there's the Athleta All About Crossbody Belt Bag. Though it's a bit smaller and more narrow, Athleta's belt bag is truly mighty with a zippered front pocket for smaller items and a mesh inner pocket for valuables like your phone.

The waterproof, recycled polyester makes for a softer, more pliable fabric that allows you to stretch in what you need. The strap is also adjustable and detachable, so this bag can double as a mini packing cube for when you're on-the-go. It even has a removable belt so you can wear it as a sling or on your waist.

Best machine-washable: Rothy's The Belt Bag

 

Sustainability meets versatility in this unique, completely machine washable belt bag by Rothy's. Like the brand's flats, Rothy's Belt Bag is knit with a combination of threads made from marine plastics collected 30 miles from waterways and plastic bottles. The secure magnetic closure allows for easy access to your valuables, while two additional pockets and an interior card slot keep you organized. The best feature, though, is the adjustable and detachable belt, which allows you to wear this bag four ways – across the body, over the shoulder, as a belt, or as a clutch.

For more of our favorite products from the brand, see our full Rothy's review.

Best splurge: Senreve Aria Belt Bag

If you're looking for a belt bag that can truly double as a fashion-forward purse, we highly recommend the Senreve Aria Belt Bag. It's masterfully designed with belt loops on both the exterior and interior of the bag so it can be worn as a belt bag, sling, crossbody bag, or clutch. The shape is also one of the more intriguing on our list, with a magnetic belt-like fastener that proves to be both stylish and secure. 

The Aria Belt Bag isn't short on storage options – the large main compartment can fit your phone, a small wallet, and your AirPods, while a hidden pocket on the front exterior underneath the closing flap fits cards easily. There's also a hidden pocket in the interior for other valuables. While available in a wide variety of vegan and Italian leathers, featuring unique colors and embossed styles, the Aria Belt Bag isn't the most pliable on our list. If you overstuff the bag, you'll have difficulties closing it, making it a better option for a light travel day.