Only twenty years late to the train on this one, but color me SOLD. (Also, literally all the colors.)
Guess what, it’s true. Fanny packs are great. They’re cheap, efficient, secure and *long* past the point where they are uncool. It’s also easier than ever to find something that doesn’t look like what your parents toted around Disneyland in the 1990s. 🙋
Gone are the days where the fanny pack is ugly and things are dumped into an empty vacuous cavern. The great fanny packs have compartments for storing objects securely and are bonafide fashion statements in their own right.
Long traditionally the symbol of touriste it’s a lot harder to tell if someone is a tourist… or simply a Gen Z’er these days. They also can be worn multiple ways, masquerading their true form.
Here’s why you should switch to fanny pack—because you’re missing out—as I discovered being one of the last holdouts on Earth.
It is perfect for the basics: I like to keep my wallet, ID, keys, a few pens, sunglasses and a pair of AirPods or headphones in tow. The receipts go in the back pocket.
There's even more old-school reasons to keep one around. Nylon magazine points this out:
… Safety [is] another reason to turn to a fanny pack in a crowded setting. “With a standard over-the-shoulder purse, your stuff can fall out so easily, but that fanny pack is sealed, usually, with a really nice zipper,” [TikTok creator Atiya Walcott] says. “It’s still cute, and it’s something that’s secure and safe.”
But if you’re not convinced, here is how we recently fell in love with the fanny pack.
It can double as a summer purse.
If you’re in the market for a lightweight, summer crossbody bag, this might be the ticket.
Of course, if you’re looking for something slinkier, it will all depend on the style.
The point is when you compare these bags side-by-side, if you squint really, really hard, it can be hard to notice what is actually a fanny pack or a dressed up clutch bag.
For instance, let’s compare this Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag and the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag. The form factor isn’t too different, no?
That’s a win for us oldies!
Fanny packs are relatively inexpensive.
If you’re willing to splurge $40 for a fanny pack, go to town. There are plenty of brand-name options, and there's also tons of cute, cheap alternatives.
Thanks to the proliferation of mass-market items on Amazon, it’s not hard to find some that are practically raging Lululemon dupes.
Though it is sometimes a gamble with these off-brand products, with colors not matching the pictures online as the biggest problem, it’s not hard to order a few candidates and return the ones you’re not into.
In fact, our favorite fanny pack cost a mere $7.55—and the clear winner!—while the other options we ended up returning cost $18.72 and $9.79. Who cares at that price point?
(For those that are wondering: It just so happened that the cheapest one had great color and the best construction quality.)
It is actually great for traveling.
There’s still some debate about whether the fanny pack makes you a target as a tourist, but given its cool factor these days, it’s getting harder and harder to tell.
I mean, tourist or Gen Z? Who really knows.
At immigration and need your passport? That ID is right there, and it’s all safe and secure.
Pens for immigration? Quick run to the grocery store to avoid the expensive hotel breakfast? Check.
Plus! Most airline crew don’t care if it’s a personal item or not, freeing up more space in the general carry-on.
The point has been made.
Perfect for heavy jobs where you need free hands.
In truth, the uses are endless. Recently, I had to move out of my apartment and embark on a four-day packing journey. Believe it or not, this was the fanny pack’s first test.
It got loaded up with stickers, tape, a Sharpie, wallet, keys and phone.
So many issues popped up during the moving process that it ended up being a lifesaver: Between two people constantly trashing, recycling, donating, buying packing supplies, and returning to the store over and over, the fanny pack allowed me to keep all of my essentials on the body.
There’s also nothing more satisfying when your packer screams at you, “SHARPIE!,” and it’s there. Presto!
It is handy for the beach and pool.
Most fanny packs have one thing going for it: It is traditionally made with water-repellent and easy-to-clean materials. This makes it a great accomplice for dirty jobs; we've definitely rinsed a few and air-dried overnight with great success.
The fanny pack may not seem like the most intuitive friend to bring along on a beach vacation... but is it?
If you’re taking a quick siesta in the hotel pool, sauna, or whatever have you, nothing beats a fanny pack. Not everything needs to be a full-on excursion; just throw in sunscreen.
That leaves your hands free for the most important stuff, which is carrying a towel and not much else. 🌴
It is great for walking the dog.
I don’t know, because I don’t have a dog.
But I imagine if you only need phone, keys, poop bags, and other things, this is going to be your jam for that quick jaunt around the park.
Thanks, Gen Z, for making a couple of things cool again.