Best Ultralight Fanny Packs For Hiking & Backpacking 2026
Last Updated: December 31, 2025
By Jaeger Shaw
By Alan Dixon
Ultralight Fanny Packs to Supplement Your Backpack Storage System
The best ultralight fanny packs, usually in the 1.0-2.5 liter range and weighing 2-4 ounces, perfectly supplement a hiking backpack, adding to your on-hand storage space without crowding out a hip belt. Keep your valuables safe, your phone at the ready, and your snacks or essentials easily accessible. Wear it while traveling, running errands, and most definitely on the trail. Use it with, or without, a backpack. Replace or supplement hip belt pockets. Attach it in sternum strap mode. Wear it as a shoulder bag. There’s nothing a good ultralight fanny pack can’t accomplish!
This guide is a mixture of our favorite fanny packs from our favorite ultralight gear brands, evaluated based on performance, price, features, materials, and stats. While we don’t claim to have tested every model on the market, we’re confident that this batch is excellent, so shop with peace of mind. And while you’re here, why not check our guides to hiking wallets, backpacking backpacks, fastpacking backpacks, or ultralight daypacks!
Cover Photo: Chicken Tramper SwitchPack
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Ultralight Fanny Pack Quick Picks
- Editor’s Choice: ULA Equipment Ultra Spare Tire
- Editor’s Choice: HMG Versa & Vice Versa
- Editor’s Choice: Chicken Tramper 1L & 2.5L
- Versatile Attachment: Zpacks Front Utility Pack Accessory (FUPA)
- Reclaimed Fabric: ULA Equipment Entropy Spare Tire
- Super Ultralight: High Tail Designs Ultralight
- Best Value 2L: REI Trail 2
- Best Value 1.5L: Gossamer Gear Bumster
- Best Value 1.0L: Patagonia Terravia Mini
Ultralight Fanny Pack Comparison Table
| Volume (L) | Weight (oz) | Price ($) | Material | |
| High Tail Designs UL | 1.0 | 2.0 | 65 | Dyneema |
| Chicken Tramper 1L | 1.0 | 4.6 | 55 | X-PAC |
| Patagonia Terravia Mini | 1.0 | 3.9 | 35 | Recycled Nylon |
| HMG Vice Versa | 1.3 | 2.7 | 59 | Dyneema |
| Gossamer Gear Bumster | 1.5 | 3.1 | 29 | Recycled Nylon |
| Zpacks FUPA | 1.7 | 2.7 | 75 | ULTRA |
| ULA Ultra Spare Tire | 2.0 | 4.0 | 70 | ULTRA |
| ULA Entropy Spare Tire | 2.0 | 4.5 | 60 | Reclaimed |
| REI Trail 2 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 30 | Recycled Nylon |
| Chicken Tramper 2.5L | 2.5 | 5.2 | 65 | X-PAC |
| HMG Versa | 2.5 | 4.3 | 79 | Dyneema |
ULA Equipment Ultra Spare Tire
- Volume: 2L
- Weight: 4.0 oz
- Price: $70
- Fabric: ULTRA
Choose the ULA Equipment Ultra Spare Tire for a hyper durable, thru-hiker approved waist pack. We love the use of best-in-class Challenge ULTRA-X fabric, which is waterproof lightweight, and hyper durable. In addition to the main top zip compartment with mesh dividers, this model also offers a zippered front pocket and elasticized open rear pocket. Perhaps the only downside to this model is that the waistband is not long enough to accomodate wearing it as a shoulder bag.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Fanny Pack
- Volume: 2.5L
- Weight: 4.3 oz
- Price: $79
- Fabric: Dyneema
Choose the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa for a full size, 2.5L, Dyneema hiking fanny pack, which sits at the large end of the volume sweet spot range. This model fits all your essentials and then some, and keeps them dry and protected in a vessel of waterproof, stronger-than-steel wunder fabric. Inside the Versa’s main compartment is a mesh storage security pocket. A front external pocket holds extras like lip balm, and a bonus drop-in pocket sits on the backside for frequently accessed items. What’s more, you can remove the nylon webbing waist belt and attach the Versa to your backpack shoulder straps for on-chest convenience. Read more in our full-length Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Review.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vice Versa
- Volume: 1.3L
- Weight: 2.7 oz
- Price: $59
- Fabric: Dyneema
Choose the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Vice Versa for 1.3L of ultralight, minimalist, modular, highly-water-resistant accessory storage. This sleek hiking fanny pack is made with DCF 50 fabric which is exceptionally durable and waterproof. It has a key clip and one security pocket inside the main compartment. Remove the nylon webbing hip belt straps to incorporate it into your backpack shoulder straps. And weighing less than 3oz, Vice Versa is exceptionally ultralight weight. Biggest drawback to this model is no front pocket.
Chicken Tramper SwitchPack
- Volume: 1.0L | 2.5L
- Weight: 4.6 oz | 5.2 oz
- Price: $52 | $65
- Fabric: X-Pac VX21
Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear (CTUG) makes many of our favorite ultralight accessories, and their versatile SwitchPacks are no exception. This new-for-2025 version can be converted from a fanny pack into cross body bag or chest pack, and is available in two sizes and a myriad of fun colorways. Both the 1.0L and 2.5L models are generously volumized, durable, pleasantly structural, and highly water resistant thanks to the X-Pac VX21 composite fabric. One major difference between these and other fanny packs is how the main compartment opens on the upper front face, rather than the top. This helps keep your gear dry by preventing water from pooling on top of the zipper gap at the cost of making it slightly harder to look down and see what you’re rummaging for. The exterior features a small front zipper pocket and spacer mesh back panel surface and storage slot. Despite our many praises, weight is the biggest downside of CTUG’s SwitchPacks. While still reasonable light, both SwitchPacks are the heaviest in our guide and the heaviest we’ve seen from ultralight gear brands.
Zpacks Front Utility Pack Accessory (FUPA)
- Volume: 1.7L
- Weight: 2.8 oz
- Price: $75
- Fabric: Dyneema
Choose Zpacks Front Utility Pack Accessory (F.U.P.A.) for an ultralight, nearly waterproof hiking fanny pack. Or remove the modular nylon webbing hip belt and attach FUPA directly to your backpack. FUPA holds 1.7L of gear, right in the sweet spot. It includes an interior compartment mesh pocket for wallet and keys, and an exterior drop pocket for frequently accessed items like your phone. What’s more, it has a padded, spacer mesh back panel for extra comfort. The high price tag – $75 – is because of the waterproof and tough-as-nails Ultra 100X fabric. F.U.P.A. is made in the USA.
ULA Equipment Entropy Spare Tire
- Volume: 2L
- Weight: 4.5 oz
- Price: $60
- Fabric: Reclaimed Mix
ULA Entropy Spare Tire takes the chassis design we love from our aforementioned editor’s choice pick the ULA Ultra Spare Tire, but uses reclaimed fabric scraps, including ECOPAK, X-Pac, ULTRA, Robic, and Cordura, to build out the fanny pack’s body. Each Entropy Spare tire is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind design. And because upcycled materials are even more sustainable than recycled, this one takes our award for most eco-friendly. Thanks to superior quality, features, design, thru-hiker chic, and being USA-made, it bests the similar, one-of-a-kind concept of Cotopaxi Kapai del dia.
High Tail Designs Ultralight Fanny Pack
- Volume: 1L
- Weight: 2.0 oz
- Price: $65
- Fabric: Dyneema
Choose the High Tail Designs Ultralight Fanny Pack because it’s one of the very lightest options on the market, built with seam-taped, waterproof and durable DCH fabric (shop now). This 1L hiking fanny pack is utterly simple, and completely devoid of features beyond the main body compartment with waterproof YKK #3 zipper. But in the end, that’s really all you need to store valuables OR snacks – though it’s a bit too small for both. This fanny pack is known as a thru-hiker staple.
REI Co-op Trail 2 Waist Pack
- Volume: 2L
- Weight: 4.3 oz
- Price: $30
- Fabric: Recycled Nylon
Choose the REI Co-op Trail 2 for an exceptional blend of performance, value, weight, features, and sustainability. REI makes killer basics and this hiking fanny pack is no exception. The Trail 2 holds two liters, which is a sweet spot bullseye in of size range, so there is plenty of room to store essentials, on-hand accessories, and a few snacks. What’s more, it’s made entirely with a recycled nylon outer and recycled polyester liner. Features include a bucket-style main compartment, zippered outer stash pocket, and a flat pocket accessed from the exterior of the interior face. Drawbacks are that the fabric isn’t waterproof.
Gossamer Gear Bumster
- Volume: 1.5L
- Weight: 3.1 oz
- Price: $29
- Fabric: 70D Robic Nylon
Choose the Gossamer Gear Bumster for a well-balanced, simple, ultralight hiking fanny pack at a great price. 1.5L is our preferred sweet spot for storage capacity, and 3 oz is the sweet spot for weight. Long story short, Bumster hits the bullseye. The main compartment is augmented with a key clip and two bonus mesh pockets. An additional flat-ish zippered compartment is accessible from the interior face. The 70D Robic nylon is durable. The nylon webbing waist belt cannot be removed for the purposes of clipping into a pack. Biggest drawback is that the fabric isn’t waterproof.
Patagonia Terravia Mini Hip Pack
- Volume: 1L
- Weight: 3.9 oz
- Price: $35
- Fabric: Recycled Ripstop Nylon
Choose the Patagonia Terravia Mini (formerly Black Hole Mini) for a small, lightweight hiking fanny pack in great colorways that’s made with recycled materials. It features a front external pocket for small items like a tube of lip balm or sunscreen. The 1L size is great for hiking in, as it minimizes weight and bulk, but pushes the boundaries a bit for how small is too small. We wouldn’t want any less than one liter. Biggest drawback is that the fabric isn’t waterproof.
Inclusion Criteria, Volume Sweet Spot, & Price Discrepancy
Our inclusion criteria for a hiking fanny pack is pretty straightforward. Is the fanny pack lightweight? Durable? Comfortable to wear for extended periods of time? Versatile? Durable? ? Can it be transitioned from working in conjunction with a backpacking setup to touring cities? We picked fanny packs ranging from one to three liters, with multiple options for organizing, and that could pull double duty while traveling. Bring these fanny packs backpacking and use them for traveling… get into museums, keep your valuables close, fit your wallet, phone, even a small camera in there.
We believe 1-2 liters is the sweet spot for fanny pack volume. One liter is as low as we’d go, 2.5 liters is as high as we’d go. Size down if you only want to store essentials and a quick snack. Size up if you want to store lots of essentials, multiple snacks, and keep a bit of contextually relevant gear on hand for easy access (map, head lamp, charger, etc).
There’s a pretty big price discrepancy on this list. Most bags seem to be about $30 while models from ultralight brands are around $70. As most of these models are relatively similar in form and function, why would you choose a pack that costs more than double a comparable model? Some of the price discrepancy comes with cottage-industry branding and smaller production runs. And ultralight fanny packs made with Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) or Challenge ULTRA will also be more expensive, like the HMG Versa. This fabric has a higher cost of production than nylon, but a durability-to-weight ratio that’s hard to beat, and it’s waterproof.
What to Store in a Fanny Pack While Hiking
The type of items you’ll want to store in your ultralight fanny pack fit into two general categories – (1) handy essentials that are used multiple times throughout the day while hiking, or (2) valuables that justify the guarantee of zippered storage. But keep in mind, what you store in your fanny pack also depends on what you store you in your pants pockets, hip belt pockets, shoulder strap pockets, front mesh pockets, etc. What follows is a list of the type of items that might make it into a fanny pack.
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Headphones
- Wallet
- Keys
- Passport
- Map & Compass
- Phone
- Snack
- Sat Comm Device
- Camera
- Portable charger and cords
- Sunglasses
- Knife
- Gloves
- Beanie
Ultralight Fanny Pack Use and Definition
An ultralight fanny pack is a small (1-3 liters) zippered case, weighing 2-4 oz, that sits snugly over your hips via a nylon webbing belt. They are used either in conjunction with a backpack or on their own. Over the past few years, ultralight backpackers have started using waist packs in lieu of, or in addition to, their hip belt pockets for more quick-access to trail gear. Waist packs are also experiencing a resurgence with cyclists, day hikers, and as an everyday fashion accessory for those going about town.
How much volume does a hiking fanny pack need?
We recommend models in the 1-3L range. A one-liter pack can comfortably hold a few bars, a small headlamp, and a phone, while a pack in the two-liter range can fit a hiker wallet, filter, charger, snacks, headlamp, and a few other miscellaneous items. 3L models can even fit a camera! However, we recommend against 5L sized hiking fanny packs, and “hydration fanny packs” which are too small hold a complete hiking kit (so you’ll be carrying a pack anyway), bulky and awkward to hike with, and are too big to use in conjunction with a backpack. From our perspective, they exist in no-man’s land.
Waterproof fanny packs
This is kind of a no-brainer. Chances are you’ll be protecting your most high-value items such as phone, headphones, and wallet in your waist pack, so you’ll want to keep them dry. If you opt for a less water-resistant model, it isn’t a huge deal to protect them in a Ziploc bag or dry ditty sack. None of these models are truly waterproof, but many have waterproof or DWR-treated fabrics and highly water-resistant zippers. The Dyneema models are extremely water resistant, but still not dunkably waterproof. In short, if you can afford the price bump, there is pretty much no reason not to choose a waterproof fanny pack.
Pairing a fanny pack with a hip belt-less backpack, or below a backpack’s hip belt
Ultralight hikers love to tout the benefits of hiking with a pack light enough that they don’t need a hip belt. The obvious question is then why would you use a fanny pack as opposed to just getting a backpack with a hip belt and integrated pockets? If you’re hiking with a light enough load that you don’t need a hip belt, you might still want the convenience of gear stashed around your waist. If you’re hiking with something like the MLD Burn or the Pa’lante V2, a fanny pack can be an easy way to add an extra few liters of easily accessible storage space to your pack while having it be portable for town days. Some people find backpack waist belts to be confining and uncomfortable, and an ultralight fanny pack can provide storage without the sensation of a full backpack strapped to your waist. You may also wish to supplement your pack’s hipbelt storage with an ultralight fanny pack for even more easy access to snacks and gear.
Wearing it as sternum strap storage
If a hiking fanny pack is designated as modular, that’s likely because you can remove the webbing waist belt and attach it to the shoulder straps of your pack to create storage in front of your rib cage. There are pros and cons to this approach. Your gear will be pretty much the same amount of accessible as it would be around your waist, it’s just a matter of personal preference and how the fanny pack interfaces with your body and your backpack. Photographers might like the vantage point and the ability to clip their camera to the outside of compatible packs (Peak Designs Field Pouch), but note that attachment modifications might need to be made with certain models to secure the waist pack between your shoulder straps.
Conclusion: Ultralight Fanny Packs
We highly encourage you try hiking with an ultralight fanny pack. In supplementing a backpack, they’re superbly useful, versatile, and generally affordable. Keep more gear stored on hand, at the ready, and promise you won’t go back.
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