Lumbar pack at a glance
- Typical hiking size
- About 3 to 15 liters
- Comfortable load
- Roughly 3 to 8 lb, per the makers
- Worn
- On the hips, at the small of the back
How is a lumbar pack different from a fanny pack?
Mostly size and structure. A fanny pack is a small pouch on a webbing strap, usually under 3 liters, built for a phone and keys. A lumbar pack is bigger and built to carry weight: a padded belt that wraps the hips, compression straps that cinch the load, and usually side pockets for water bottles. In stores the words overlap, and plenty of listings call a 6 liter lumbar pack a fanny pack.
Why carry weight on your hips at all?
With nothing on your shoulders, your back stays open to the air, which is the whole appeal on a hot day. The load sits low and close to your center of gravity, so it moves less on rough ground. And you can turn the pack around to reach anything in it without stopping.
When does a lumbar pack stop being enough?
For most packs, somewhere between 3 and 8 pounds. A belt holds a load by friction against your hips, and past that weight it starts to slide down and bounce. Makers say so themselves: Mountainsmith suggests adding a shoulder harness to its 13 liter Day lumbar for loads past about 8 pounds. More than two bottles of water or a cold-weather kit belongs in a daypack.
What this means when you're choosing
- Bottle pockets, if you'll carry water on it, since most small hip packs have none
- A padded belt that wraps the hips rather than a plain webbing strap
- Zippered pockets on the belt wings, so you can reach things while it sits behind you
- Compression straps that pull a half-full pack tight
The common mistake
Loading it like a daypack
Two liters of water, a puffy and lunch weigh more than a belt can hold steady. The pack sags below the hips and bounces with every step. Keep a lumbar pack to the light end of a day kit, or pick one with a shoulder strap for the heavier days.
Common questions
Is a lumbar pack the same as a fanny pack?
Close cousins. Both ride on a belt at the hips. A lumbar pack is usually larger, with a padded belt and bottle pockets built for hiking loads, while a fanny pack is a smaller pouch on a webbing strap.
Do you wear a lumbar pack in front or behind?
Behind, for a loaded one, sitting on the top of the hips where the belt can hold it. Small fanny packs are often worn in front, where they are easier to get into.