Are Hip Packs Good For Hiking? [Why You Need One]
If you’re heading out on a hike, having a backpack isn’t always the only thing you need! You might be wondering if hip packs are good for hiking.
There are a variety of reasons why you might want one – extra space, to leave the packpack at home, or to have the essentials close by.
I’ve started using hip packs on almost all of my adventures, because I find them to be so practical and easy to use!
In this post, we’ll talk about why they’re great for a hike, what to look for in your next one, and how you can use them.
Disclaimer: This blog post is written in partnership with adidas. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own and do not reflect those of adidas.
Are Hip Packs Good For Hiking?
If you’re thinking about wearing a waist pack, fanny pack, hip pack, belt bag, or whatever else name you’ve given it for a hike, you’re in luck.
These little bags make for a great addition to your hiking gear, especially because they’re the perfect size for carrying just the essentials.
So whether you’re adding it on in addition to a backpack, or you’re wearing it all on its own, they can be a great way to get some extra space and organization for the trail.
I personally have started carrying one on all of my hikes, and am going to share with you why they’re so awesome to have in your gear closet!
Reasons to Use a Fanny Pack While Hiking
There are many reasons for using a fanny pack while you’re on the hiking trail. Here are a few of the top reasons why you might want to wear one.
Keep Essentials Close By
One of my favorite reasons (and the reason why I carry a hip pack hiking) is because you can store your essentials in a spot that’s easy to reach.
We’ve all been there, where we’re rummaging around in your backpack to find a snack or sunscreen or something small.
I always keep my go-to items close by in my belt bag. This includes my phone, sunglasses, a snack, chapstick, car keys, and anything else I might need close by on longer trails.
Less Weight to Carry
Carrying a hip pack instead of your backpack can be a great way to reduce waste and go a bit more ‘minimalist’ on the trail.
Fanny packs allow you to just carry your phone, keys, a small water bottle, and maybe some sunscreen for those shorter hikes.
I’ve actually found myself leaving my hiking backpack at home when I know that the trail is going to be short and easy, and taking my hip pack instead.
Now I don’t recommend going minimalist when you’re going on a full day or multi-day, strenuous hike. But if it’s a shorter, easy trail, having less backpack to carry can be nice!
Extra Space
If you need just a little bit of extra space in your pack and don’t want to size up in your backpack, having a hip pack can be just what you need.
I’ve found that having mine with me gives me just the right amount of extra space.
I’ve been able to pack a few extra ‘comfort’ items that make me more comfortable on the trail, since I have that extra 1-3 liters of space.
This could be the difference between packing the chocolate bars and leaving them at home…
Organizing Small Items
Having a hip pack also makes it really easy to organize small things that you’re carrying with you.
From chapstick to a flashlight or headlamp, or even small water purification devices, having a fanny pack will help you organize.
I’ve even seen people place a fanny pack inside of their main backpack, strictly to organize!
Less Rummaging Through Your Backpack
When you have all of your go-to items right in the hip pack, there’s no need to go rummaging through your pack, just because you need chapstick.
This makes for a less stressful, tidier time on the trail, plus less time spent searching for those small things that easily get lost in a big backpack.
What to Look For in a Hiking Hip Pack
When you’re looking for a fanny pack for hiking, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to make sure you get one that works for you. Here’s what I recommend you look for.
Size
One of the biggest things to consider for your hiking hip pack is the size.
There are a variety of sizes, from very small to very large. For longer hikes, a larger pack may do great, but for shorter hikes, typically a smaller bag will suffice.
I usually like a hip pack that’s around 3 liters, since this tends to be a medium size and can fit all of my daily essentials for the trail.
Pockets
Having a variety of pockets in your belt bag can be very helpful in organizing the stuff that you’re storing in it.
I like a bag that has pockets on the outside and the inside so I can easily store things in places that make the most sense for how often I’ll need them.
For example, my phone being in an outside pocket makes it easy to grab anytime I want to snap a photo, but my car keys being in an inside pocket makes them easily stored in a safe spot.
Adjustability
I personally like having a waist pack that can easily be adjusted to make sure that it fits comfortably around your waist, especially if you’ll be wearing an additional backpack with it.
Most of the time this just comes with having a strap that’s adjustable, which is pretty standard.
Water Resistance
Not all fanny packs are water proof or water resistant, but having this extra protection is very nice.
It helps keep your stuff dry in case it rains or you find yourself in a stream.
I wouldn’t necessarily call this a make or break it factor, but if you find one that is water proof, that’s just an added bonus!
Conclusion: Fanny Packs for Hiking
From having extra space to better organization, there are many reasons why hiking with a hip pack can be beneficial.
So for whatever reason you’re wondering if hip packs are good for hiking – the answer is yes, and they can actually make your life on the trail so much easy.
