I’ve been looking for the perfect convertible fanny pack for traveling, nature walks, and watching our kids’ activities. I knew that Lululemon’s Belt Bag was a well-loved one, but I wanted something bigger for essentials as well as snacks. I also wanted one with plenty of zippered pockets so that I could stay organized. And if it could be worn as a crossbody bag, that would be a nice bonus. Oh, and it needed to be black so that it would look good with all of my activewear. It took a bit of research, but I finally settled on this bag…
Athleta’s Excursion Waistbag
Athleta’s Excursion Waistbag is a large convertible fanny pack made in water-repellent, snag-resistant recycled nylon/recycled polyester. It was designed to be worn for hikes or trail runs, but I find that it has so many attributes of a great travel bag too (i.e. it has plenty of pockets and is easy to wipe down after a trip).
The Size And Shape
The Excursion Waistbag has a trapezoid shape and is unstructured so it molds to your body. At first, I thought it was too big and a bit awkward, but I think that’s because I’d gotten used to seeing the box-like smaller convertible fanny packs.
If you measure the bag from the back (which is flat) it measures about 15.5″ wide at the top and 9″ wide at the bottom. The middle, which I think gives you a better idea of the usable space, is about 12″. The height of the bag is about 7.5′” measured from the back and about 9″ on the front (to give you room to store bulky items.)
I can carry my phone, keys, wallet, a couple of protein bars, and even a small water bottle in this convertible fanny pack.
It is currently available in gray and black.
The Pocket Details
Inside you’ll find a zippered mesh pocket, two small open pockets, and a cord with a clip for keys. There is one more zippered pocket outside, which is where I actually put my keys, as I don’t want them to scratch up my phone.
The Straps
The straps are easy to adjust so I can convert the bag from a fanny pack to a sling to a crossbody bag even while I’m walking. There’s a metal buckle that is not too heavy and easy to unclasp with a squeeze. There’s an additional strap to carry the bag in your hand and straps on each side that you can tighten, but I haven’t found much of a need for these yet.
