The Best Fanny Packs: Recycled, Waterproof, and More
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Photograph: REI
Best Mountain Biking Pack
Bontrager Rapid Pack Waist PackBontrager’s convenient waist pack is perfect for my after-work mountain-bike putters around the park. Unlike most mountain-biking lumbar packs I’ve tried, it’s not so tall that it swallows my entire (admittedly short) torso. And despite having a padded foam back, it’s soft, not stiff. The pockets are conveniently located on the sides instead of in the middle of your back, so I can reach back and grab things without twisting myself around. The water bottle pocket also fits my tiny 9-ounce S’well when I have, again, forgotten where exactly I stored all the horrible plastic sports water bottles and hydration bladders (or forgotten to clean them). It’s also big enough to fit car keys and a wallet, along with a tool and a tube, and it comes in colors subdued enough that I can take it hiking and dog-walking, as well. —Adrienne So
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Photograph: Moment
Best Camera Bag
Moment Long Weekend Monterey SlingMoment's fanny sling is a camera bag disguised as a small, minimalist, back-saving fanny pack. It's one of our favorite small bags from our camera bag guide. You can wear it as a sling bag cross-body or as a fanny pack, and it's comfy whichever way you go. It's not huge, though. The 2-liter capacity means this is meant for carrying a slim point-and-shoot, phone, or compact mirrorless camera, not your DSLR. Its main compartment has a thin sleeve to store an item alongside your camera, and over on the front are two pockets for spare batteries or keys. It's made of recycled 500-denier nylon and 210-denier ripstop with YKK zippers. —Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Pacsafe
Best Travel Pack
Pacsafe Venturesafe Recycled Sling PackIf you're traveling, you're probably frequenting places where tourists gather, with hefty bags full of valuables that are targets for pickpockets. Pacsafe's sling pack has many anti-theft features —like pop-able, lockable zippers—that should puzzle any thief trying to surreptitiously open it while standing behind you on a bus. Other security measures include wire-reinforced, slashproof straps and an interior RFID-blocking pocket. It's stylish, made from recycled nylon, and is big enough to fit both a Kindle Paperwhite and an iPad Mini. —Adrienne So