Waist Pack/Fanny Pack

Nothing would scream "TOURIST!" more than a waist pack. I don't know where they are trending, but I sure haven't seen any in Europe recently. Go with a cross body bag.

While I'd personally never, ever wear one to sightsee abroad, this recent discussion might be useful?
I do see their usefulness for, say, festivals which provide dancing ops. It's no fun to boogie with abandon wearing a shoulder bag, ya know? 🕺🏻

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/fanny-packs-a1cfb9ad-604f-4de1-8a12-c79ca45409de

Yes, I've seen they are trending as well.

I think they are much more difficult to keep secure than a Cross Body bag where you can keep your hand over the zipper closure when you are in a crowded situation.

I have seen the convertible ones in TJ Maxx but have not tried one. I'm too old and poofy around the waist for this to be a good look for me, hahaha! I'd want to check the strap out to see if it would be comfortable as a cross body strap. It might be too thin and dig in on your shoulders?

anything that is "trending" is a good enough reason for me not to follow.As
to cross body bags, that's the easiest way to spot an American tourist.

Message received. No fanny pack!! Lol. Crossbody bag wins. Thanks.

I have used waist bags/fanny packs/belt bag, whatever you want to call them since I purchased my first black leather one for a 6 weeks trip with our 2 teens in 2002. I have quite a collection now, most recent purchase a few months ago from Vera Bradley. I like them for a few reasons. I don’t have to worry about leaving them behind anywhere, especially bathrooms; I have to pare down what I carry, no extra stuff; I know where everything is; I can put my hand on it very easily in crowded situations to discourage pickpockets; when needed, I have both hands free; I can wear it under my coat or rain jacket when necessary; if we are with our grandkids, I have hands free to attend to them. I can also wear it cross body if I want to. My daughters also use them when traveling, especially when they are with their small children. I even use them when I go to the mall shopping.

In Barcelona and Provence in May/June, many Spanish and French women were also wearing cross body bags.

I have also used a (front) waist pack during my 20 years of European travel, for all the reasons Barbara mentioned plus the fact that when I leave my house for the airport with my waist pack and my backpack suitcase and nothing in my hands (or bearing down on my shoulder), I have a wonderful sense of freedom!

And don't call it a fanny pack in the UK!

Waist packs wouldn't be "trending" for me. I'd be embarrassed to be seen with one.

Whichever you choose, don’t let it be a substitute for a money belt that you wear under your clothes to carry your ATM & credit cards, large Euro bills, and passport (if you’re carrying your passport). If unfamiliar, just do a search on this site for “money belt”.

Kathy, I use a small backpack to carry my camera, some money & water bottle to keep my hands free; if it get crowded my husband will stand behind me and if it gets really crowded I put it in front of me. Never had a problem. My husband has a small non-bulky 3x5 zip around wallet that his belt goes through and has a shirt or jacket that also covers it. He carries our passports, credit card & money in it.

Cheers,

Jean

I'm definitely in the waistpack camp. I've been traveling to Europe since the early 1980s and have carried the same one compartment Kelty model. Whenever I am in a city, I may be out and about for the whole day and with my waist pack, I can carry a lot of essentials such as compact umbrella, camera, snacks, maps, or whatever else. I'm definitely not the stereotype tourist type but independent solo traveler who likes to blend in whether or not how the waistpack may make me appear. I also use a small combination lock to keep potential pick pockets at bay.

I've owned a large PacSafe for a decade. Use it for the airline tirp (under seat bag) and as my day bag when needing to carry a sweater, etc.
A few years ago I bought a smaller PacSafe (like this)
https://www.ebags.com/product/pacsafe/citysafe-cs50/290320?productid=10351020
for my wife or daughter-in-law to use when we traveled in Spain.
Neither of them wanted it, so I used it :-)

The good (for my model) it is large enough to hold the relevant section of my Rick Steves book in one pocket. The main pocket can hold the hotel keys and other important small items. If I jam a water bottle in it, it distorts the bag a lot, so I'd like a slightly bigger bag. It is so small that I can hold it to my body when needed.

@Evan - look at a Vapur or Platypus "flat" water bottle. I love mine.

I’ve always used waist bags, both in the US and while traveling, whether they trend or not. And frankly I don’t give a damn about what other people think. They carry more stuff and more securely than my pants’ pockets. I’m in Italy now and I have 2 iPhones (US and Italian) and a small flip phone on my leather fanny pack, in addition to ID, IDP, wallet, and car keys. I bought mine on Amazon for a fraction of what Gucci or Fendi sell over here (I’ve seen one for 980€ yesterday). Do only tourists wear them, I doubt it. I was wearing them in Italy when I lived here in the 1980s. If you happen to want to buy one in Italy, it’s called MARSUPIO, just like the Kangaroos’ front pocket (hence the name marsupials for the animal species).

“Nothing would scream more TOURIST then a fanny pack”

Sure! As if an Italian couldn’t spot a tourist without a fanny pack from a local.

Chances are I look more Italian with my fanny pack than most of you without one.

Don't do it, you will be a huge target for pickpockets. For men, I recommend a money belt or at a minimum, neck wallet.

For women a pack safe purse or neck wallet.

I have been using a pack basket for the last several years. You can throw all kinds of things in it. It's hand woven from ash splints and it's indestructible. They are currently trending with the local Amish and in the Adirondacks.
Seriously, who cares what's trending? Use whatever is convenient for you. Fanny packs (we call them geek sacks) will never be fashionable or stylish but they serve a purpose and do it quite well. They will hold and organize things for you, the things are easily accessible and it allows you to keep your hands free. Whether or not they offer protection from pick-pockets is a bit dubious..
Personally I prefer a small back pack since I prefer to carry weight on my shoulders, not my hips...but this is a really personal choice.

Waist packs are really on trend right now if you're in the right generation. I saw them all over Italy when I visited in April on women under 35-ish. Maybe they were all tourists as well but they weren't all English speaking tourists.

My wife has a Travelon anti-theft cross body and I use a money belt and a Maxpedition tactical cross body bag. Both have kept our stuff safe in Rome, Prague, Paris, etc...... I think its just as much your attitude and how vigilant you are as much as the equipment

I wore a leather waist pack in the 80s/90s. I loved it and thought it extremely practical. I would wear one now if I still had such a waist. Sigh. But maybe I will look at them again anyway as I hardly care whether other people like what I am wearing...

Just to note: although I use a waist pack, I do not keep my credit or debit card in there, more than 50 euros or my passport. Those are in a more secure location. I do carry my phone in the waist pack.

Lumbar packs are appropriate to fair weather light hiking/touring conditions. The better lumbar packs have waist straps that transfer the pack's weight through your hips and don't load your shoulders. Lumbar packs are fair weather packs in that they don't have enough volume to carry foul weather clothing.

I'm partial to Mountainsmith lumbar packs. The have internal zipped pockets to better secure small stuff like keys against accidental dropping when unloading the pack. I keep my wallet in the internal pocket hiking or skiing, but not in crowded urban settings. My lumbar pack also has a removable shoulder strap. It's an option in a pickpocket zone or used in combination with waist strap, if carrying a heavier load (sharing load between hips and one shoulder).
https://mountainsmith.com/tour-classic-heritage.html

X2 on the Mountainsmith lumbar packs. i have used the Tour model on several teips that involved mountain hiking and urban adventures. I use it as a waist pack when hiking and then convert to a cross body shoulder pack when in the city. Extremely functional, safe (multiple interior zippered pockets) and versatile.

If the trip is only an urban adventure, I use a Tom Bihn Co-pilot cross body bag. This blends n well with other urban professionals going to work. I have NEVER looked like a tourist.

These bags are very popular for european men and women now. I even saw a group of French male tourists in my mountain town of Winter Park Colorado carrying cross body shoulder bags (looked like LV).

We live in London now and are doing a bunch of travel around Europe. I have seen pretty much everything, and I say go with what you find comfortable. Be it backpack, cross-body, or waist pouch! Honest, the locals don't care that you are a tourist nor do the other tourists! Even locals can get pick pocketed. When you are in a crowded area, just be alert to your surroundings and don't keep your phone and cash in pockets that are easy to take from. I just suggest don't carry anything too big, as your shoulders may get tired with the weight after so many hours. You don't have to carry water with you, but just pop into a cafe and purchase one if you are thirsty. Better yet, take a break and sit down for a quick drink. Enjoy your trip!