It’s hard to believe that just a year ago I was still sustaining ire for wearing a fannypack on the trail. This ’90s staple had been back in fashion for a while, but it was still mocked by many as an emblem of hardcore “endur-bros.” I believed fannypacks could be for everyone—at least, everyone who didn’t want to wear a sweaty hydration pack but needed to carry more than their pockets could hold. Yet it was surprisingly hard to find a good one for riding. I tried models with water reservoirs, but they were bulky and slid around.
I tried one that held a bottle, and the weight imbalance exacerbated the sliding. More minimalist packs stayed in place, but lacked storage. I began to think maybe the haters were right.
Then I found the Trail Buddy. Its simple design forgoes a reservoir and sits flat, so it doesn’t bounce around. (Carry your beverage in Bicycling's limited-edition, vintage-logo water bottles.) The Trail Buddy's low profile and wide hip straps make it stable—even on rough trails—without having to be cinched crazy tight. It’s big enough to hold a mountain tube, tools, phone, snacks, and an extra layer or small camera. The Cordura fabric is tough, zippers are water-resistant, and Velcro straps allow you to mount it on a handlebar. It comes in six colors.
At some point in the past year I started seeing fannypacks on people riding drop-bar bikes. That’s when I knew they had mainstreamed. Suddenly friends who had ribbed me for wearing one were asking which model to buy. And I’m glad that now I can recommend the Trail Buddy.
- Cordura fabric
- Water-resistant zippers
- Velcro straps for mounting on a handlebar
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