A lot of hikers love to carry light and they don’t want to carry a backpack anymore because backpacks are actually pretty heavy. Backpacks weigh around 3 pounds or more. A lot of hikers are getting hiking waist packs since they are light and have enough pockets for keys and a water bottle. I am recommending a few amazing hiking waist packs below and I know them to be very good. I am certain that you will love at least one of them because they all came from very respected companies.
Best Hiking Waist Packs – Quick Chart
Hiking Waist Packs | Weight | Dimensions | Material | Water Bottle Holder |
1. Osprey Packs Osprey Talon 6 Lumbar Pack | 11.8 oz | 7.9″ x 11.8″ x 8.3″ | Polyester | Yes |
2. Everest Lumbar Waist Pack – Holds Two Water Bottles | 10.4 oz | 10″ x 4″ x 7″ | Polyester | Yes |
3. WATERFLY Fanny Pack with Water Bottle Holder | 0.48 lbs | 22″ – 52″ waist | Nylon | Yes |
4. Everest Signature Waist Pack | 5.6 oz | 11.5″ x 3″ x 4.5″ | Polyester | No |
5. WATERFLY Slim Soft Polyester Water Resistant Waist Bag Pack | 4.2 oz | 11″ x 1.2″ x 3.7″ | Nylon | No |
6. Mind and Body Experts The Belt of Orion | 4 oz | 16″ x 4″ | Neoprene | No |
7. Bp Vision Outdoor Fanny Pack | 20 oz | 11″ x 5″ x 6″ | Wear-resistant nylon | Yes |
8. Evoc Hip Pack Pro Hydration | 15.7 oz | 11.02″ x 3.15″ x 7.09″ | 210D nylon ripstop | Yes |
9. Stashbandz Unisex Travel Money Belt | 3 oz | Multiple Sizes | Spandex Fabric | No |
10. dimok Running Belt Waist Pack | 3.2 oz | Waist sizes from 28″ to 49″ | Neoprene | No |
How To Choose A Hiking Waist Pack
Types Of Waist Packs
Money Belt
Money belts are great for travel and for hiking as well. Money belts tend to be very flat and do not have a lot of pockets. The pockets do not have a lot of room as well. The pockets are designed to store money, phone and a few keys. This waist pack hugs the waist line very well and they are very comfortable to wear while running also.
Outdoor Waist Pack
Outdoor waist packs tend to have a water bottle compartment and the pockets tend to be very roomy. This type of waist pack has a little bit more weight than money belts. Outdoor waist packs are very durable and can handle a lot of punishment. They will either have a water bottle holder on one side or on both sides of the waist pack.
Tactical Waist Pack
Tactical waist packs are great if you love to go hunting, paintball, or go on a shooting range. They can fit magazines, knives, and other items on the waist pack. The waist pack will often have molle webbings which allows people to put more pockets into the waist pack or take out pockets from the waist pack as well.
Waist Pack Features To Look For
Water Bottle Holder
There are lots of waist packs with the option of having a pocket for water bottles. This is very good if you are using the item for jogging, running, trail running and so on. A waist pack with a water bottle holder will allow you to carry water for hydration in case you get too tired. It is very handy or useful. If you don’t want to bring water, you don’t need to. It is just going to be an extra pocket.
Pockets
Pockets are very good to have for a fanny pack. There are lots of waist packs that only have one or two pockets for money. This is good enough also. Just enough to hold your wallet, a place to put extra money or even just a place to put your car keys. You can get items with lots of pockets also. There are lots of waist packs to choose from. You just need to think about how many pockets that will be useful for you.
Hidden / Non Bulky
Money belts are often hidden in plain sight and not very bulky. They are often under the shirt or piece of clothing that we wear for our upper body. If you travel a lot to go backpacking in other states or areas, it is better to wear non bulky waist packs to hide your money and valuables.
RFID Blocking Feature
RFID blocking feature is one of the best things that we can get if we are always traveling. We can protect valuable documents, credit cards and our identity by preventing thieves from scanning our important documents and credit cards. RFID blocking helps deter thieves and we will have more peace of mind when the waist pack we acquired have this feature.
Waterproof
If you are planning on hiking in the rain, then making sure that the waist pack is waterproof is a good idea. Rain can destroy your phones, your gadgets, your batteries, key fobs and so on. A waterproof waist pack can protect your valuables from the unpredictable weather.
Molle Webbing
Most tactical waist packs have molle webbing. This allows the item to attach additional pouches or pockets to the item. You can also remove the pouches or pockets. If you need more pockets, you can add some. If you don’t need them, you can take them off the waist pack.
Backpacking Features To Consider
Style
The style of the waist pack matters. At least for me, it matters. Waist packs look great and are very nice. I recommend them to anyone that loves to job or loves to hike. They are great for trail running also. They are also good for travel and to hide your money. A waist pack is very multipurpose and can help out a lot of people.
Weight
Most fanny packs are very lightweight. Some are not. If you are thinking of trail running, you want to carry as little weight as possible. Backpacks can weigh a lot. Backpacks can weigh around 2-3 pounds or more. However, a waist pack will usually weigh less than a pound. You can pick the waist pack that is very lightweight also. This will allow you to run more.
Durability
We always have to think about durability. The waist pack will be exposed to nature and its elements. It is going to be rained upon, snowed, and so on. It will hit branches, rocks, water, dirt, mud and so on. It is best that we get something very durable and can handle the outdoors. If the item is not durable and breaks apart easily, we will just end up wasting lots of money.
Pocket For Phones
The waist pack has to have a pocket that can fit a phone. There are some that do not have this feature for some reason. I couldn’t fit my phone on the pockets of some waist packs. I want my phone to be protected as well. There are a lot of phones lately that bend when people sit on them. So I want my phone to be safe while it is inside the waist pack.
Comfortable While Running
A lot of people get waist packs for trail running purposes. They do not want to bring a heavy backpack. A very light waist pack that can carry their phone and keys are often enough for a lot of trail runners. Some do not even bring a water bottle. So the waist pack has to feel very comfortable while running. If the waist pack gets in the way of running or it shakes while running then people will not use the item at all.
Best Hiking Waist Packs
Here are some amazing hiking waist packs that are very good. These items are very durable and very comfortable to use. I like them and I know that a lot of people like them as well. All product links are affiliate links.
1. Osprey Packs Osprey Talon 6 Lumbar Pack
Weight: 11.8 oz
Dimensions: 7.9″ x 11.8″ x 8.3″
Material: Polyester
Water Bottle Holder: Yes
Feature Summary: Two 570 ml BPA-free Pack Bottles included, padded bottle sleeves with bungee retention straps, zippered slash pocket, durable and easy to carry
Short Review: I love Osprey and this hiking waist pack of theirs is amazing. This is an incredibly good hiking waist pack, and it is exactly what I hoped it would be. I like that this is extremely sturdy and has enough room for two water bottles. Osprey is a great company and I love their backpacks and other outdoor items. Comes with adjustable and flexible hip belt with dual zippered pockets. The pockets are pretty roomy and can be used for car keys, credit cards, money and so on. The waist pack uses Osprey’s body-hugging Biostretch waist belt which stabilizes the item when hiking or when the body is moving. A pretty good item that will lasts for a very long time.
2. Everest Lumbar Waist Pack – Holds Two Water Bottles
Weight: 10.4 oz
Dimensions: 10 x 4 x 7in.
Material: Polyester
Water Bottle Holder: Yes
Feature Summary: Sturdy Dual side pockets to hold any water bottle, waterproof Polyester material, three generously sized zip pockets, tie down straps
Short Review: This hiking waist pack is amazing and should lasts for a very long time due to its durable construction. Equipped with 3 zippered pockets for more storage and organization. Enough room for valuable items like credit cards, money, car keys and so on. Aside from the pockets, this can hold two water bottles which is great for people who need 2 liter’s worth of water. The pockets have zippers that are very easy to pull which means they are easy to open and closed as well. Waist belt has a large buckle snap that allows you to get a perfect fit. A great item to have for hiking and other outdoor activities.
3. WATERFLY Fanny Pack with Water Bottle Holder
Weight: 0.48 lbs
Dimensions: waist belt 22″~52″
Material: Nylon
Water Bottle Holder: Yes
Feature Summary: Pockets for two water bottles, hands free, zero stress, enough place to store and hide your belonging, durable, nylon
Short Review: This really is one of the best hiking waist packs that I am aware of. This is extraordinary and I still happily recommend it even though I have tried a large amount of similar items. This has enough room for two water bottles which is perfect if you are hiking on a hot day or going on a very long hike. The nylon is water resistant so it can repel rain water to keep your valuables dry. Has multiple compartments to store different types of items. The pockets are rather big so you should be able to carry a large capacity of items while hiking. A good waist pack for hiking and jogging as well.
4. Everest Signature Waist Pack
Weight: 5.6 oz
Dimensions: 11.5″ x 3″ x 4.5″ (LxWxH)
Material: Polyester
Water Bottle Holder: No
Feature Summary: This hiking waist pack has lots of space, three zippered compartments, perfect sized waist pack designed for everyday use, multitude of colors to fit your personal style
Short Review: This is a pretty outstanding outdoor hip pack from Everest. This is the second one from Everest that I have listed. They just make very good waist packs for hiking and for casual activities. This is extremely high quality and it is made by an incredible company. Available in three colors that all look great. Easy to put on, comfortable and stays on. Great for jogging, hiking, casual activity and has a plethora of other uses as well. The drawback is that this does not have a water bottle holder. Just a simple fanny pack that can hold various items.
5. WATERFLY Slim Soft Polyester Water Resistant Waist Bag Pack
Weight: 4.2 oz
Dimensions: 11 x 1.2 x 3.7in.
Material: Nylon
Water Bottle Holder: No
Feature Summary: Multi-purpose design, water resistant, lightweight fanny pack fit for women men or child, adjustable polyweb waist belt, accessories extended band straps
Short Review: There are a good deal of consumers that like this simple fanny pack. This is a very good fanny pack with a very simple design. It has basic functionalities and does not have a big capacity. In doing so, this remain to be lightweight and easy to carry which is ideal for outdoor activities and jogging. While the pockets are not that big, this has enough room for money, driver’s license, car keys and more. A good item that is very durable while also having an affordable price tag.
Check Out My Other Reviews – mosquito jacket – hiking shoes – hiking windbreaker jacket – hiking hydration bladder – hiking boots for kids |
6. Mind and Body Experts The Belt of Orion
Weight: 4 oz
Dimensions: 16 x 4 inches
Material: Neoprene
Water Bottle Holder: No
Feature Summary: Water-resistant fabric, great item for outdoor activities and very durable, unisex, lightweight, comfortable fanny packs
Short Review: This is one of the most effective hiking waist packs that I am aware of. The design is extremely good and this is the reason why this item is wonderful. I am extremely impressed. Has enough room for phone, keys, money, earbuds, airpods, and snacks. No water bottle holder though so good for people that do not need to drink water or for short hikes. Very comfortable and the fabric feels durable so this should lasts for a long time.
7. Bp Vision Outdoor Fanny Pack
Weight: 20 oz
Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 6 Inch (LxWxH)
Material: Wear-resistant nylon
Water Bottle Holder: Yes
Feature Summary: Multi-purpose and very useful, 2 extra shoulders straps, 3 ways to carry, wear-resistant nylon, breathable mesh
Short Review: This hiking waist pack is amazing and I like it a whole lot. I like the design of this item. It looks beautiful to the eyes and I like the contrasting colors. Has two side pockets for water bottles so this is great for hiking or other outdoor activities that are very strenuous. The hip belt is very comfortable and easy to latch on, can adjust range 28 to 50 Inch. This also has a very big capacity so the pockets can hold a significant amount of items.
8. Evoc Hip Pack Pro Hydration
Weight: 16.7 ounces
Dimensions: 11.02 x 3.15 x 7.09 inches
Material: Nylon
Water Bottle Holder: Yes
Feature Summary: Stores a 1.5L bladder, 3D air mesh, Airo Flex, and 210D nylon ripstop, the Airflow Contact system offers cooling back ventilation
Short Review: This waist pack is wonderful and this has a great deal of positive consumer testimonials. The best part about this is that it can store 1.5 L bladder in one of its compartments. This is great if we are doing outdoor activities that uses our hands. The bladder will let us drink water without the need to use our hands. However, this also comes with two side mesh pockets that can hold water bottles. The item is originally meant for bikers but I find this to be comfortable enough to be used for hiking. A good multipurpose fanny pack that works very well.
9. Stashbandz Unisex Travel Money Belt
Weight: 3 oz
Dimensions: Multiple Sizes
Material: Spandex Fabric
Water Bottle Holder: No
Feature Summary: Item is great for the outdoors, soft and comfortable. Durable and stays put for runners, discreet small logo, wider and deeper than other money belts
Short Review: You will definitely like this outdoor hip pack mainly because this is amazing. This is an incredible item. I just like the way it looks simply because of the design. Very comfortable to wear and will not jiggle or shake going for a jog or going for a hike. The pockets are pretty deep so they have enough room for credit cards, car keys, money and other similar items. The spandex fabric feels very comfortable on the skin. A great item for jogging, biking, casual activities and more.
10. dimok Running Belt Waist Pack
Weight: 3.2 oz
Dimensions: Waist sizes from 28″ to 49″
Material: Neoprene
Water Bottle Holder: No
Feature Summary: Durable and made by an amazing company, machine washable and made for heavy duty use, great for exercising or running errands, flexible and adjustable belt
Short Review: This hiking waist pack is among the finest that you can acquire. This is extremely simple to use and very comfortable to wear. Made out of Neoprene material that feels good on the skin while also being very durable. This is very easy to clean because it is machine washable. The main pocket prevents items from bouncing around while you run, jog, walk or traverse obstacles. A very simple yet durable fanny pack that works well and should lasts for a long time.
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These are great. Used mine for jogging around the block also.