A belt bag is a lightweight carrying system that is worn at waist and hip height with the help of an adjustable strap. Other common names for it are therefore waist bag and hip bag. The volume of a waist bag is usually sufficient to hold smaller items such as ID documents, travel papers, pocket knives or compasses.
Variants and distinguishing features
The variety of belt bag models now ranges from small, compact pouches to complex carrying systems that can replace a full daypack. Simple hip bags usually offer space for small pieces of equipment that can be stored in one or two zippered compartments. Larger versions with a bottle holder already provide space for a small water bottle and are therefore particularly suitable for various types and forms of endurance sports such as hiking, speed hiking, jogging or trail running. Belt bags are particularly suitable for short and medium distances where using a backpack is not yet worthwhile. They offer enough space to keep essential gear items quickly to hand. Typical contents include, for example, a pocket knife, pepper spray, blister plasters, mobile phone and small snacks such as power bars. Hip bags, as they are also called, already offer enough room to replace a daypack. They can also be used to carry rainwear, small cook sets and day rations. In addition, waist packs are also ideal for a camera and the corresponding accessories. In that case, special importance should of course be attached to a particularly waterproof coating. See also hip bags.
Handling and care of waist bags
In terms of care, a waist pack can be compared to a regular daypack. Despite their small size, they should definitely not be washed in the washing machine, as the abrasion that occurs there can cause irreparable damage to the product. In addition, detergent residues can lead to skin irritation. Heavy soiling can simply be brushed off or, if necessary, rinsed or wiped off with warm water. However, brushes should be used sparingly on coated areas, as coatings may come off more quickly depending on the hardness of the brush and the intensity of cleaning.
For cleaning buckles and zippers, an ordinary toothbrush is recommended. Dirt should be removed as thoroughly as possible so as not to impair the functionality of the zipper. Sweat residues on the inside of the bag or on the hip belt can easily be rinsed off with clear water. After cleaning, the bag should be left to air-dry in an open state.
Questions: waist bags
For which outdoor activities is a waist bag suitable?
Belt bags are particularly well suited for endurance sports such as hiking, jogging, cycling, trail running and speed hiking. They allow you to carry a minimum of gear without restricting your range of motion.
When trekking, waist and belt bags can be more of a hindrance if you are using a large trekking backpack with its own wide hip belt. In that case, separate leg or belt pouches are a good alternative. When used in tactical field sports such as airsoft, a waist bag can also sometimes be an obstacle when crawling or sliding.
What should you look for when buying a waist bag?
The main focus should of course be on the intended use. The gear you carry should be stowed and lashed down as slip-proof as possible so that everything stays in place. In some cases, especially with faster types of movement, the waist pack can come to feel obstructive or annoying over time. The simplest solution is to just shift it to the side or to your back.
