The 9 Best Fanny Packs for Running, Walking, and Taking Anywhere

There is a reason the Bataan bag has a cult following: It’s made of an ultralight yet durable nylon ripstop fabric sourced from leftover fabric scraps to reduce waste. No two packs look the same so you’re guaranteed a colorful, one-of-a-kind creation. It holds tons of stuff—up to 3 liters worth of essentials and extras.

The front zippered pocket is convenient for accessing your stuff in a snap and there are two internal mesh pockets for more storage. The belt on the bag is adjustable on both sides of the clip, and stretchy loops hold excess material after adjustments to minimize the bag from bouncing.

This is more than just a running belt: It holds so much that it deserves official fanny pack designation. If you typically run with a FlipBelt, you'll appreciate that Nathan’s 5K belt has so many more convenient features.

First, there’s the fabric: thick, supportive neoprene prevents bounce when you run. The loops on the adjustable belt kept the excess material out of the way. It also scores points for its looks. Unlike most fanny packs, this 8-ounce one is sleek and unique ( it comes in an eye-catching Storm Green/Finish Lime color.)

While this pack admittedly isn't a great option for running, city dwellers will find a lot to appreciate with this water-repellent nylon twill fanny pack. (If you’re looking for something a little sleeker, it also comes in vegan leather.)

There are many features that make the 12-ounce Metro perfect for commuting like its four interior pockets and keychain carabiner. The interior lining is anti-bacterial and made from recycled water bottles. But the best feature is the hidden, full-length, zippered back pocket that keeps essentials at the ready.

The Janji Multipass Sling Bag is truly the most chameleon-like of all the fanny packs we recommend, thanks to a simple extra strap that can be attached when you want to wear the pack cross body, but have it stay firmly in place.

Its large capacity—3.5 liters in one primary pocket—makes it easy to stash gym clothes, phone, and other necessities. If you're heading out for a run, you can easily fit snacks plus a water bottle.

The strap is wider than that of many of the other options in our roundup, which makes this pack more comfortable, and the elastic pulls on the straps as well as the pack section allow for on-the-go adjustments that may decrease the bounce quotient considerably.

It’s available in eight colors ranging from neutral black or white to wild tie-dye.

The Nike Premium Hip Pack looks simple on the outside, but when you unzip the main pocket, you realize that it’s the organized soul’s best friend, thanks to two small pockets in the interior plus one on the exterior that fits most phones.

This 8-liter pack—the biggest of the ones recommended—can be used pretty much the same way you would use a big purse or small gym bag.

This might be an ideal fanny pack or cross-body satchel for a parent who needs to be handsfree while still carrying various kiddo-accessories like snacks, plus the adult life essentials of phone, wallet, and keys.

While I wouldn’t do a long run with the 2L Belt Bag, I would definitely take it for a short jog, and it certainly wouldn’t stop someone from sprinting for the subway when running late. It looks and feels great when worn as a crossbody bag.

At 2 liters, and constructed of polyester and nylon, this bag has twice the storage room compared to the brand’s cult-fave Everywhere Belt Bag (1-liter) which consistently sells out.

If you want more space but a less obvious fanny pack vibe with a more streamlined design, this belt bag for you. Highlights include a ‘garage’ space for extra strap length, an easy-access exterior zippered pocket, and a mesh interior pocket that has a carabiner-like key loop for more secure key storage.

The Camelback Ultra Belt is a belt/fanny pack hybrid for runners. It’s more than a belt thanks to tons of storage space, but unlike a fanny pack, it keeps gear close to your body to avoid bounce.

Unlike some single-pocket options, this pack enables lots of organization, making it ideal for racing. You don’t have to worry about where your gel got to—it’s exactly where you stashed it. It also is designed to hold a 17-ounce soft flask so you’re not saddled with a splashing hard water bottle for your whole run.

For people who trek around with poles, there are clips to pack away poles when you don’t need them. The only downside is the small and specific size range offered for this fanny pack: While you can adjust the three size options slightly, it doesn't allow the same maneuverability that the more strap-based fanny packs offer. But that’s also the reason it stays in place so well, so it’s a trade-off.

Want to go long and not worry about water stops? The Salomon Active Belt Hydration Waist Pack lets you run with 20 ounces of water plus snacks without feeling bouncy or weighed down.

This ergonomically designed fanny pack sits nicely on your lower back with a low-profile fit that renders it nearly bounce-free. Today’s giant smartphones can be a bit of a stretch on the single pocket, but you can fit one in here along with a few gels.

It also comes with Salomon’s lightweight 3D water bottle that holds 20 ounces of water—perfect for runs under two hours, or for runs with easy refill stops along the way. The bottle fits tightly in the pocket. During my runs, I was never worried about it coming loose, but it was still easy enough to pull out for a drink.

Pro tip: Take Salomon’s advice and trim the straps to avoid flapping. But when you cut them, give yourself a few extra inches of slack since you may realize you prefer it sitting in a different spot, or determine that you need it to be looser to breathe deeply.

If you’re reading this and thinking "Nope, a full-on fanny pack isn’t for me,” you may prefer something low-profile like the Flipbelt to stash your phone, keys, cash and a (small) snack on your runs instead.

This is a sleek, minimal alternative to a fanny pack—and more comfortable than carrying your keys and phone in your hand during your run, but without the bounce factor found with some fanny packs. Use it for any distance run, or even slip it on if you’re heading out for the day in an outfit that’s sans pockets!