Fanny packs are popular with hikers who don’t want to use or find hipbelt pockets too small, or don’t have a hipbelt they can use on their pack at all. They also have the added bonus of being easy to use as on-the-go storage during town stops, where thru hikers can run into the issue of not having a way to carry their essentials while running errands. I will admit that I was skeptical about using a fanny pack at first, in part because I didn’t want to have another piece of gear to wear around my waist, as I have always used packs with a hip belt, and the packs I have used (an Osprey Aura 65, a Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 40, and a Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 50), have always had large hipbelt pockets.
The bumster weighs about 3 ounces, has a carrying capacity of 1.5 liters, a large zippered front pocket with two internal mesh pockets, and a zippered back pocket. I find that the 70D robic fabric is very durable, and this pack has held up throughout my Tahoe Rim thruhike, a thruhike of the Collegiate Loop, and several overnights on the Arizona Trail. Perhaps I am not the intended audience for this accessory though, as I have never used the internal mesh pockets. And when I cram my sunglass case, several snacks, a travel sized sunscreen, a small handsanitizer bottle, a chapstick, my iPhone 17, a ziploc bag for the phone (since I am always wary of it is getting wet, even in a pack), and a pair of cheap corded headphones in the front, the back pocket becomes useless, as there simply is not the space to put anything else inside. I also argue that the back pocket doesn’t serve a purpose while you are wearing the bag across your waist on trail, as if you cram everything in the front, it seems like it would be difficult to unzip the back pocket while it is up against your hips. The bag is also marketed as a sling bag, but I have never used it as such.
A final issue—as a petite hiker, I have to adjust the belt nearly all the way down to make it fit, as it is a one size fits all (up to a waist of 45 inches). However, that means I am left with a long tail of fabric that I should probably cut and hem to save some weight and to avoid having another long strap.
While I do find the one big pocket more convenient than hip belt pockets, and this bag is useful for in town errands, I wonder if an even more minimalist approach to the fanny pack would work better for me.
Disclosures
Obtained independently: I paid for this product or received it as a personal gift from someone not affiliated with the brand.
Backpacking Light affiliation: I work for Backpacking Light in a paid or official capacity (owner/shareholder, employee, contractor, or paid contributor), but I am posting this review as an independent user and its content was not reviewed or directed by others at Backpacking Light.
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