Best Hiking Fanny Pack 2024 – GWC Mag

Inclusion Criteria, Volume Sweet Spot, & Price Discrepancy

Our inclusion criteria for a hiking fanny pack is pretty straightforward. Is the fanny pack lightweight? Durable? Comfortable to wear for extended periods of time? Versatile? Durable? Good looking? Can it be transitioned from working in conjunction with a backpacking setup to touring cities? We picked fanny packs ranging from one to three liters, with multiple options for organizing, and that could pull double duty. Bring these fanny packs backpacking (perfect when paired with a pack that doesn’t have a hip belt) and use them for traveling… get into museums, keep your valuables close, fit your wallet, phone, even a small camera in there.

We believe two liters, plus or minus half a liter, is the sweet spot for hiking fanny pack volume. One liter is as low as we’d go, three liters is as high as we’d go. Size down if you only want to store essentials and a quick snack. Size up if you want to store essentials, multiple snacks, and keep a bit of contextually relevant gear on hand for easy access (map, head lamp, charger, etc).

There’s a pretty big price discrepancy on this list. Most bags seem to be about $30 while models from ultralight brands are around $70. As most of these models are relatively similar in form and function, why would you choose a pack that costs more than double a comparable model? Some of the price discrepancy comes with cottage-industry branding and smaller production runs. And waist packs made with Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) will also be more expensive, like the HMG Versa. This fabric has a higher cost of production than nylon, but a durability-to-weight ratio that’s hard to beat, and it’s waterproof.