Everest Unisex Large Size Fanny Waist Pack, Black

Although some may use this as a "Fanny Pack", I use it as a "Belly Pack" to wear in addition to my small Back Pack when I ride my bicycle.I use a Back Pack similar to the one available at Sam's Club for about $30 "SwissGear ScanSmart Laptop Backpack". Amazon also carries similar size packs designed for Laptop or Notebook computers. These are excellent for general use since they are well padded, expandable and have many pockets. The only change to the pack is I sew on a sternum (upper chest) strap to keep the shoulder straps in place when carrying heavy loads. You can buy 1" x 24" webbing straps with side-release buckles at REI or Amazon or buy a pack with one already installed.When I get off my bike to go shopping, I need to remove several items from my bike to prevent theft, e.g. bike computer, bike lights, etc. This pack lets me stow them in front of me without having to remove my back pack. I keep many essentials in the pack, e.g. clip-on sunglasses, small tools for bicycle adjustments, plastic disposable gloves, tissues, hand cleaner, bandages, etc. It has become so valuable that it has become a "purse" but one acceptable to either a man or a woman that is worn and not carried.The pack is made of heavy weight backpack fabric and heavy zippers. The waist pack is installed off center. This means that once you adjust it to fit you waist, he can clip it on with the buckle forward and then slide the pack around where the pack sits at your belt buckle.The pack itself is a good size with three pockets.The innermost pocket is the most difficult to gain access to since it rests against the body. In this pocket, I store soft flat items using several Ziploc sandwich bags storing several folded tissues and plastic disposable gloves. I also store 14" plastic cable ties in this pocket. I use the cable ties to secure items up to 4 feet long to the top rail of my bicycle.The main pocket is large and easy to access. The most frequently used items are stored there.The outer compartment is small and can be used to store keys and small tools. I highly recommend the "Buffalo Tools HKW8M Metric 8-Piece Hex Key Wrench Set" for about $6 at Amazon if you are riding a bike. It is lighter than other Hex Wrench Sets and everything on a bike is metric. I also recommend the "Leatherman 831207 Style CS Clip-On Multi-Tool with Scissors" for everybody at Amazon for about $17. This Leatherman is one of the smallest and best in the line and it includes the three most valuable tools (a large foldable scissors, a knife and a screwdriver). It excludes the nonsense tools that you will never use and have to wade through to find your desired tool. I also recommend the "10 Foot x 1/4" Carabiner Tape Measure" that I bought for 99 cents from Harbor Freight. It contains both inches and cm and is long enough to be useful, yet small and light enough to fit in this pack.Since I am a man, I carry a wallet and keys in my pockets and a smart phone with a few accessories on my belt in a "Nite Ize Clip Case Cargo Magnet Tall" for about $14 on Amazon. A woman can carry these items in this pack when using a purse is inconvenient, e.g hiking or biking or to protect her belongings when traveling.The trick is to find or use items that are small and light. For example, riding a bike, hand cleaner is essential. I buy Fast Orange Hand Cleaner (which doesn't require water) in a large container and then fill one of the tiny small multicolor aluminum seal-able pill cases: "4pc Medium Size / MEDICAL ALERT - FIRST AID container PILL CASE Set" at Amazon for about $6. You can use the pill cases for sunscreen and, if needed, pills. Instead of buying a small pack of tissues, I make my own from a larger box and a Ziploc Sandwich Bag (smaller and lighter than conventional Ziploc Bags).

I love waist packs. I like that since it’s fastened to my waist, I don’t have to hold onto it like a regular purse (both hands are free). I also like that I don’t have to worry about forgetting it at a restaurant, nor have to figure out where to put it when in the little girl’s room (if there’s no hook), etc. like with regular purses.I just took a trip to Europe with my waist pack in tow and noticed something - in three weeks, only two other people were using waist packs - both males. So when I got back, I started looking in the stores that once carried racks of them, only to discover that they were gone! It never dawned on me that it was a fad that had come and gone. I therefore decided that I had better stock up on them when I found a store that still carried them. Enter good-old Amazon. They still carry a wide variety of waist packs. Unfortunately I couldn’t actually put them on to see if they were what I wanted. So I jumped in with both feet and purchased this one.Boy was I surprised at how big it was (yes I know the description said “Large”, but I missed that part of the description - I guess I was looking at the waist pack’s photo, not name)! It’s about double the size of my current one! “Send it back” was my first inclination. But after thinking about if for a while, it dawned on me that this will be perfect for when I go on vacations. On my recent European vacation, I had a walky-talky, a small pouch for my iPod and another larger pouch for my camera all attached to my waist pack’s belt. I’m quite a sight when I come walking down the road. But I didn’t mind, everything was right at hand when needed. BTW: It didn’t dawn on me until later why a lady gave me her seat on the Metro but didn’t get off at the next stop - she thought I was pregnant since my waist pack get-up was under the front of my light jacket - a little embarrassing. But I digress. When I looked at this new large waist pack, I thought hmmmmm, and started placing my wallet, camera, walky-talky, iPod, hand wipes and small bottle of Purell in it’s various compartments and if fit perfectly. There is even a mesh pocket that my iPod fits in perfectly. Now there’s no big contraption around my wast. Just a slim waist pack with everything still close-at-hand. No one’s going to mistake me for being pregnant again! So I am going to keep this just for vacations.Actual dimensions when flat:14 x 8.25 x 1” but 5” wide at the top when expanded and most of that space is usable. The back compartment is large enough to carry a pack of toilet seat covers and a roll or two of Charmin To Go Travel Toilet Tissue packs. Don’t laugh - they came in handy quite a few times when in the Czech Republic bathrooms.Construction: It is made of sturdy material, has good zippers, and a strong clasp.So if you need a waist pack for carrying more than just your wallet, you might give this a try.

I am updating the review I wrote a few years ago (see below) since I just bought another of these fanny packs. I like this item because it is roomy enough to even hold my mini IPad. However, I still have the same problem with the waist strap; it is way too long! I can appreciate that the manufacturer wants the item to accommodate all sizes of folks, but the length of this strap is a bit much! I am going to cut about 12+ inches - - and will still have a surplus of strap. Other than the strap issue, I ended up being very pleased with my original purchase and used it very often, until the inside began to disintegrate.The only reason I kept this fanny pack was because I needed a large one. I am not crazy about the material, but my biggest complaint is about the waist strap. It is so long! I didn't want to cut it in case I decided to return the bag, so I have to either wrap the excess length around itself or I have to knot the excess. Otherwise the excess length hangs and looks pretty bad.

Lasted 1 year, using it every evening for $, in and out of it for change every 10 mins.. 2 zippers fauled within 4 days, but took a year...not too bad since its all made to fail now...