The 18 Best Belt Bags, Tested & Reviewed by Our Editors
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Can’t say we’re ever going back to a simple shoulder purse.
InStyle / Alexander Huang
In terms of handbags, the belt bag is in a little class of its own. Unlike a classic shoulder purse or tote, it carries only the essentials and keeps you completely arms-free. It’s no surprise, therefore, that blogger and style consultant Lauren Parry mostly prefers the belt bag over any other option. “Whether I’m headed out for errands, traveling, going to a concert venue, or a sporting event, belt bags are a game changer.”
To help you find your own perfect match, we tried just about every belt bag below, assessing organization, function, and style along the way. See and shop them, below.
Best Overall: Dagne Dover Ace Fanny Pack
What We Love: Out of all the belt bags we tested, we found ourselves reaching for this one the most thanks to its effortless style, long belt, and comfortable wear.
What We Don’t Love: There isn’t an extra slot for you to hide your phone away.
We fell in love with the Dagne Dover fanny pack the second we pulled it out of its pouch. Everything from the size, material, and ergonomics appealed to us. Unlike your typical cotton or leather belt bag, this one is made of premium neoprene, Dagne Dover’s signature tear-resistant fabric, which feels thick, plush, and high-end. When we (accidentally) poured coffee over it while camping, it simply rolled right off the bag without leaving a trace, which was incredibly impressive. There are two zipped pockets — a little one at the front and another for the main pocket — with a little credit card slot, key hook, and chapstick strap inside. None of these slits were big enough to compartmentalize our phones away so that we needed to sit in the main cabin along with our wallet, snacks, hair clip, and notebook.
The strap also felt substantial — thick, sturdy, and easily adjustable. It can extend up to 36 inches long, which made it easy to sling across our bodies and change up the style a little. It even fit flawlessly over our thick coat — one that has hide sleeves. Its versatility and generous size allowed us to travel all around Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle with it, leaving not a single scratch or tear on the bag.
Colors: 19 | Material: Premium neoprene, recycled repreve | Size: 9.25 (L) x 5.5 (H) x 2.75 (D) inches
Best Budget: Ododos Unisex Mini Belt Bag with Adjustable Strap
What We Love: Despite the small size, we found that we can fit a lot of items into the pouch.
What We Don’t Love: The stitching doesn’t feel extremely sturdy.
There’s a certain very popular belt bag, namely the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag (more on that below), and we found this Ododos Mini Belt Bag to be the perfect budget alternative. We found it extremely practical, because although it’s quite small in size, it still fit all our essentials. The strap adjusts easily, allowing us to alternate between carrying it around our waist and as a sling depending on the activity we were engaged in. We’ve taken it on hikes, to run errands, to festivals, and on travels, as it can be easily incorporated into any outfit and holds almost anything we put in it, from a wallet to a phone to granola bars and keys. We could even stuff a small Fiji water bottle in it. The mesh divider inside the pouch also helped compartmentalize some items. As an affordable item, the stitching is not always extremely sturdy, we found. At times we worried that the zipper might rip, but if it ever did, it wouldn’t hurt to repurchase the item at this price.
Colors: 1 | Material: Nylon | Size: 8 (L) x 5 (H) x 2 (D) inches
Best Splurge: Senreve Aria Belt Bag
What We Love: You can customize the strap.
What We Don’t Love: The leather won't fair well against friction or sweat, so it’s only reserved for more elevated events
In keeping with Senreve’s luxurious style, the Aria belt bag has to be one of the brand’s most practical bags. Coming with a stylish front flap (with a magnetic snap closure), an extra exterior pouch, and a stain-resistant micro-suede interior, the bag fits all of our essentials including a phone, wallet, lip gloss, keys, and sunglasses. Believe it or not, we even fit a foldable shopping bag and a small umbrella. Inside the zippered compartment, we kept our AirPods, although a small wallet would have fit as well. Two card slots made our hotel card and MetroCard easy to access.
The leather belt portion isn’t sewn onto the bag, so we were able to remove it and swap it with a chain we bought on Amazon. We loved styling it in various ways, using it as a clutch one day, a belt bag another, and a crossbody for nights out. It simply elevated any look with its expensive appeal without loudly showing off any designer labels (keeping to that quiet luxury trend). The leather is not going to weather well against friction, sweat, or rain, however, so make sure to pick the right day and outfit to wear it with.
Colors: 15 | Material: Italian leather | Size: 8 (L) x 5 (H) x 2 (D) inches
Best Sport: lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag Large 2L
What We Love: It seems to expand internally, holding all of our essentials with ease.
What We Don’t Love: You cannot wash this bag.
Hikers, runners, and ballers, if you don’t already have the Lululemon belt bag, allow us a minute of your time to convert you. The bag somehow expanded internally to fit whatever we wanted as if it were Mary Poppins' bag. We were able to fit our phones, keys, AirPods, lip balms, and even the ball we then used to play tennis with. For us trailblazers, this bag holds trail mix and a bottle of facial sunscreen as well. In the back pocket, we were able to stash our phones and keep the bag flush with the body. Somehow, even with all of our goodies, the bag remained nice and lightweight. It made it very appealing on days when we knew we would be out for a long time. The water-repellent fabric makes it ideal for outdoor use, too. The only con here is that you cannot wash it. If we want to give it a little refresh, we have to spot-clean it carefully.
Colors: 6 | Material: Recycled polyester, recycled nylon | Size: 8.3 (L) x 5.7 (H) x 2.2 (D) inches
Best Plus-Size: Athleta All About Crossbody Belt Bag
What We Love: It has a UPF 50+ protection and is water-repellent.
What We Don’t Love: The strap feels a little thin and doesn’t hold the weight of the bag up against the waist properly.
For a little more sporty and casual look, take a look at this belt bag from Athleta, which entrepreneur and fashion consultant Katie Sturino wears on power walks. We found this one to be smaller and more compact compared to the other options, like the Dagne Dover or Calpak bags, which made the bag much more discreet and practical for grabbing our essentials and running out of the house. The smaller size also makes it easier to wear underneath a jacket without looking too bulky. And while most exterior pockets usually come in a tiny slit, big enough for maybe some keys, this one is big enough to fit a 1.52-ounce hand cream. Accessing our belongings was also very easy here as the zipper curves down the sides of the bag, making it open up widely. And as a little cherry on top, it’s both water-repellent and UPF 50+ protected, making this ideal for everyday adventures out and about.
Our biggest quarrel with the bag was that the strap was rather slim. While it does feed into a clean and minimalist aesthetic, when wrapped around our waist, the weight of the bag pulled it down a little which felt awkward at times. That being said, we appreciated how long the strap was, making it fit a variety of bodies. Any excess strap could easily be tucked into the rubber piece to prevent any dangling.
Colors: 10 | Material: Polyester, recycled polyester | Size: 7 (L) x 4.5 (H) x 2 (D) inches
Most Spacious: Calpak Luka Belt Bag
What We Love: It's extremely spacious without being too bulky.
What We Don’t Love: The strap feels a little flimsy.
The luggage specialists at Calpak knew what they were doing when they designed this Luka belt bag. The bag is deceivingly spacious, fitting our large hair claw, wallet, phone, dog treats, and even a ball. But while most bags that fit that many things look and feel bulky, this one remains rather flat against the hip. It’s definitely bigger than the Athelta option, or even the Dagne Dover one, but we didn’t find it heavy or taking too much space.
Among the bag's most notable features is the hidden back pocket. It’s quite large and even fit our phone sans problem. We imagine this would become a huge help while on the go when you want to keep your passport as secure and close to you as possible. The cushiony exterior also felt comfortable on our bodies and protective of our valuables. And as a bonus, it’s water-resistant, thereby keeping everything nice and dry while you’re sightseeing, in case you get caught in the rain. Even the zipper felt superior, gliding open and closed seamlessly. The only thing we didn’t love was the strap. While it is very gracious in length, its softness lacks structure and width, making it feel a little flimsy.
Colors: 20 | Material: Polyester | Size: 8.5 (L) x 5.25 (H) x 1.5 (D) inches
Best Sling: The North Face Women’s Isabella Sling
What We Love: There is a pocket with a soft interior lining that’s perfect for delicate items like sunglasses.
What We Don’t Love: We wish it came in more color options.
Sure, a sling bag doesn’t necessarily constitute a belt bag, but we felt it necessary to highlight this alternative as something more mom-friendly. We were able to carry our essentials, plus our kids' toys, snacks, and juice boxes in this North Face Isabella Sling. Our hands remained free, and the snap buckle closure on the strap allowed us to easily remove the bag once home or pause between errands. Best of all for folks always working, the large compartment even had space for our iPad, which allowed us to get work done during a quick break from running around.
The organization capabilities of this bag were also impressive. While in a rush, it was always easy to know exactly where all of our things were, sparing us from rummaging through what seemed like a black hole. There’s a pocket on the strap where we kept our phone for easy access, as well as a front pocket with a softer lining, good for keeping sunglasses scratch-free. We only wish we had more color options, as the cream would get dirty quickly and the blue is not always fitting to our outfits. A classic black would have sealed the deal.
Colors: 5 | Material: Recycled polyester | Size: 9.5 (L) x 14.5 (H) x 5.5 (D) inches
Best Unisex: Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag
What We Love: It fits an impressive amount of items in the pouch.
What We Don’t Love: We wish it had outer pockets.
People of all genders and ages have something to love about the Uniqlo mini shoulder bag. While it isn’t labeled as a belt bag, it holds many of the same functions as one — and you can wear it as such. The simple demi-circle design might not seem like much at first, but it holds an impressive amount of items while on the go, including AirPods, wallets, keys, and even a 16-ounce water bottle. The unisex appeal made it easy to share with our significant other, with whom we now alternate usage of the bag. We also loved just how lightweight the bag is. It’s thickly lined so that it doesn’t feel at risk of tearing, but weighs as much as a T-shirt. With adjustable straps that accommodate a range of body sizes, we felt that this bag would be universally loved by all. Unfortunately, there aren’t many compartments inside the bag, nor is there an outer pocket. You will have to be okay with throwing everything into one big pouch.
Colors: 9 | Material: Polyester | Size: 11 (L) x 6.7 (H) x 3.9 (D) inches
Most Durable: JanSport Fifth Ave Fanny Pack
What We Love: The durable canvas will easily last over a decade.
What We Don’t Love: It’s a little chunky and large.
If you’ve ever had a Jansport backpack in high school, then you already know how much weight (and careless tossing around) the bag can withstand. It’s likely the beat-up bag is still in your closet somewhere, looking a little dusty but ready to be at your service at any given moment. You can expect the same durability in this indestructible fanny pack.
More than just reliable materials, however, the bag was thoughtfully constructed. The exterior pocket is not just there for decoration, as some tiny bags have, but spacious enough to hold hand creams and facial sunscreen. We were able to place everything from small notebooks to snacks along with our everyday essentials in here. On top of being very strong and stretch-resistant, the strap is easily adjustable and long enough to wear around the waist or the body. As a size 16, we felt we had enough of the strap to wrap around our body, so we qualify it as size-inclusive. All of these great amenities are bundled into a rather large and chunky-looking bag, which may not be fit for a stylish day in town, but is perfect for travel and exploring.
Colors: 10 | Material: Recycled polyester | Size: 6 (L) x 10 (W) x 2.5 (D) inches
Best for Travel: Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack
What We Love: It’s tear and weather-resistant while being extremely lightweight.
What We Don’t Love: It doesn’t have many neutral color options.
Belt bags in general are always great options for travel, but this one in particular has a leg up on the rest for two very unique reasons. The first is that it can be converted into a carrying pouch simply by turning it inside out — this allows for easy packing and transport. The second is that it’s extremely lightweight, almost featherlike, minimizing the amount of weight you need to schlep around on your trips.
We traveled around Europe with this bag and found it extremely easy to pack our everyday essentials. Passports, chapsticks, sunglasses, wallets, and AirPods alike fit into the two main compartments of the bag. Despite it being small and airy, the recycled nylon ripstop fabric was very durable and even weather-resistant, expertly protecting all of our valuables. The strap was also quite long, which made it easy to adjust around our bodies whether we wanted to wear it on our hips or diagonally across our chests. It always remained flush against our bodies which freed up our eyes to take in the sights worry-free. Aside from the black, the bag isn’t offered in many neutral tones, making it difficult to match with our carefully curated travel outfits.
Colors: 6 | Material: Recycled nylon ripstop | Size: 4.75 (L) x 8 (H) x 2 (D) inches
Best Expandable: Peak Design Field Pouch V2
What We Love: The interior is felted, soft enough for delicate camera gear.
What We Don’t Love: The straps are a little slim and flimsy.
On any given day, your essentials can change from just a wallet and a phone to a camera, water bottle, and a tripod. Peak Design took our ranging activities to mind and created this expandable waist bag. It can carry anything between 1.5 liters to three liters, simply by extending the top fold. It features a zipper closure, eight compartments, and a soft interior lining fit to protect any camera gear. In other words, it’s ideal for the outdoorsy adventurers who need their extra batteries and different lenses easily grabbable, on top of their other essentials.
But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a photographer to enjoy this bag. We found it plenty useful as a travel bag as well, leaning the pouch on our hips while using the long straps as a crossbody bag. Which brings us to an important note: the straps were a little thin and flimsy. We wish they were thicker, or able to convert into a belt, but instead we mostly used it as a messenger bag.
Colors: 3 | Material: Nylon, leather | Size: 7.5 (L) x 9.4 (H) x 0.4 (D) inches
Best Everyday: Alo Explorer Fanny Pack
What We Love: We could even fit a rolled up tote bag and a water bottle in this bag.
What We Don’t Love: It’s not weatherproof.
For our everyday pick, we wanted something sleek, well-designed, and durable — this Alo Explorer Fanny Pack fit the bill. It has three zipped compartments: in the main one, we fit everything from a rolled-up tote bag to a water bottle. On the front pack, we kept our AirPods and our keys (although there’s room for more), and in the back zippered compartment we concealed our phones so that the bag could safely remain flush against our body.
There’s a metal buckle on the strap which feels significant and sturdy, making it easy to snap on and off. The whole body of the bag has a smooth satin-like finish to it and puts up a strong fight against any distressors. Even after wearing it daily, it showed zero scratches or rips. That being said, it’s not weatherproof. If a sudden rain shower commences, make sure to hover over your bag to protect it.
Colors: 5 | Material: Nylon | Size: 4.75 (L) x 10.75 (H) x 4.75 (D) inches
Best Leather: Quince Italian Pebbled Leather Sling Bag
What We Love: Despite its sleek and slim appearance, it fits a surprisingly large amount of things.
What We Don’t Love: The clasp on the strap is harder to handle.
If you thought you couldn’t wear fanny packs to a nice dinner, think again. This leather option from Quince offers a more elevated touch to belt bags, with its pebbled exterior and slim body. At first glance (and touch), it was evident how well the bag was made. The leather felt thick and soft to the touch, somehow managing to be durable without being stiff or rough. And even through nights prancing around, it has yet to reveal any scratches or markings.
The bag is slim but long, so while it may look like it won’t fit a whole lot, it surprisingly accepted all we offered it without a fight. A cardholder, phone, AirPod case, keys. Lipsticks, gum, and a pills case all fit comfortably into the main compartment. There is also an internal leather card slot that could fit two cards at most and a zippered pocket on the back panel for any emergency cash. The strap is closed with a clasp, rather than a buckle, which added to its sleek appearance. Although we do have to say, it’s not as easy to hook on and off each time, so we mostly resorted to pulling it over our heads.
Colors: 5 | Material: Leather, cotton | Size: 11 (L) x 5.75 (H) x 1.5 (D) inches
Best for the Waist: Silver and Riley Parisian Leather Belt Bag
What We Love: The calfskin leather will only become better with time.
What We Don’t Love: It comes with complicated care instructions.
Few belt bags on this list are designed specifically to be worn at your waist — most fit around your hips or are intended to be worn as a sling — so if that’s how you intend on wearing it, we’d love to introduce you to the Silver and Riley bag. The belt on this one was sized to wrap around your waist, so it sits higher than your standard belt bag. It offers you the ability to wear it with different styles, like a dress, instead of just some jeans. Made with structured calf leather from Italy, the little pouch has a minimalist appeal, with only a single extra pocket in the interior, big enough to hold some cards or loose change. Otherwise, the sleek design feels very mature and is available in light brown and pink as well.
It does come with a few complicated care instructions, however. The brand recommends avoiding direct sunlight, rain, or heat. They also recommend keeping tissue paper in the interior when not in use, to maintain the shape and absorb any moisture. If you hope to maintain its pristine condition, take heed of these precautions.
Colors: 3 | Material: Calf skin leather | Size: 6 (L) x 5 (H) x 2.4 (D) inches
Best Designer: Bottega Veneta Cassette Belt Bag
What We Love: The criss cross pattern is easy to dress up or down.
What We Don’t Love: It’s not very big, so you won’t be able to fit all your essentials in it.
The Bottega Veneta Cassette has taken the world by storm, so of course, we had to mention it here. The leather used by the label feels substantial, even more so than other designers. The simple criss-cross pattern can be incorporated into any outfit, be it sporty or classy. At 6.9 inches in length, it will fit less essentials than the Dagne Dover option, but it looks more elevated. And you can still fit most needs, like a phone, card holder, keys and some lipstick. But anything more might require you to fit it in your pants pockets or to leave home.
Colors: 5 | Material: Lambskin leather | Size: 6.9 (L) x 3.7 (H) x 2 (D) inches
Best Minimalist: Banana Republic Heritage Leather Belt Bag
What We Love: Despite the lack of zippers, this all-leather belt bag remains securely shut at all times.
What We Don’t Love: The 1-inch depth is a little too slim to fit a phone and a wallet side by side.
This belt bag truly looks and feels like it was handmade by an Italian craftsman in a remote city — it even smells of fresh leather when you unbox it at first. The beautiful and minimalist style comes without any metal detailings (except on the belt closure), magnets, or hidden pockets. It’s a very straightforward leather piece that you close by inserting the little front strap through the loop. Despite the lack of zippers or fasteners, we were pleasantly surprised to find it remaining closed the entire time. There are also enough belt loops to tie it snugly against the waist, which increases the number of ways one could style this bag. But the 1-inch depth was too slim to fit both a phone in its case and a wallet side by side. We had to swap some cards and coins into a cardholder to make it all fit.
Colors: 2 | Material: Leather | Size: 6 (L) x 3.5 (H) x 1 (D) inches
Most Practical: Caraa Sling Bag
What We Love: The faux leather almost looks like real leather.
What We Don’t Love: The two side zippers on the front are just for decoration.
Offered in various sizes, colors, and textures, this leather bag (also available in vegan leather) works for pretty much all situations. It’s quite large, so it’s ideal for anyone who needs a little more room than many of these other stylish bags offer, like mothers or avid travelers who like to keep their hands free. We were able to stuff snacks (yes, snacks plural, as in you can fit granola bars, a pack of Cheez-Its, and more in here), a passport, a handkerchief, multiple beauty products, and of course, a wallet and a phone. We did find it a little odd, however, that the two zippers on the sides of the outer pocket don’t offer much space; the inside is only good enough for perhaps a few quarters, so it serves as more as a design element than anything else.
Colors: 1 | Material: Leather, antique gold, nylon | Size: 10.5 (L) x 4.5 (H) x 3.6 (D) inches
Best Quilted: MZ Wallace Metro Belt Bag
What We Love: The quilted details continue up the strap a little as well.
What We Don’t Love: We wish the zipper detail wasn’t red.
We've previously featured many MZ Wallace quilted products; in general, the bags offer a consistent design and don't skimp on function (which is why the tote bag is great for work). In the belt bag specifically, we loved that the quilting goes beyond just the bag, but into the belt a little as well. Function-wise, there are four compartments — a little zipped pocket in the front, and a main pocket that features another zip closure on one side and an open pocket on the other. While it might not be enough for an adventure on the mountain, it’s ideal for everyday needs and casual outings into town.
Colors: 7 | Material: Nylon, leather | Size: 8 (L) x 5 (H) x 2 (D) inches
What To Keep in Mind
Material: Before you go ahead and purchase your belt bag, make sure you shop the right material for the right occasion. A leather bag might look fantastic with elevated outfits for a day in the city, but doesn’t weather great against athletic adventures. For such excursions, you want belt bags made of nylon or polyester, preferably with a water-repellent finish.
Occasion: Do you need a belt bag for travel? Something to bring on your hike? The bag you choose should fit your needs accordingly. If you’re about to board a plane, the belt bag frees your hands to take care of the million stressful things around you. You’ll want a zippered section close to your body for your passport, ample amounts of space to store your ticket, and hold close to you some travel skincare like chapstick and moisturizer. Similarly, for stylist Ashleigh Ashton, a belt bag that has both ample amounts of pockets and still looks elevated is essential while she’s on her gigs. “For me the perfect appeal in a belt bag is comfort and functionality. Something basic or neutral in color so I can wear it with almost everything.”
Your Questions, Answered
How do you style a belt bag?
For her daily look at the gym, Parry likes to sling her belt bag across her body, and wear it over a matching workout set, but in less sporty scenarios, like to brunch or running errands, she uses a bag over a dress or long skirt. And while most belt bags look better with sneakers (leather or sporty) and some biker shorts, some could easily be dressed up in some heels. If the bag comes with a longer belt, you can wear it over a thick coat, sweater, and jeans in the winter as well.
Why Shop With Us
Bianca Kratky is commerce writer covering fashion and beauty at InStyle. She tested a third of the listed belt bags here and sorted through dozens more insights provided by the testers and their real-life experiences to compile this list. She also spoke with Ashleigh Ashton, Katie Sturino, and Lauren Parry for their tips on styling the accessory.
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