When you think of a fanny pack, chances are you’re not thinking of someone hip, cool, and stylish. You’re either thinking of that one guy who wears his shorts too short (and who always wears socks with his sandals), or you’re thinking of a little kid who isn’t old enough to care how ridiculous his choice of accessories might make him look. While there’s no denying the convenience and functionality of the fanny pack, many of us just can’t get over the fashion faux pas wearing one represents.
But what if there was a way you could have all the convenience of a fanny pack, without any of the fashion repercussions of one? A fanny pack alternative might be for you.
The Drop Leg Bag Utility Bag
One fanny pack alternative is a tactical holster. If you’ve ever watched an action movie, chances are you’ve seen one of these. It’s a holster that hangs from a belt, but it’s strapped to the thigh to put a weapon right at the natural reach of someone’s hand. They’re commonly used on S.W.A.T. teams, and in many military units for carrying sidearms in a way that makes them instantly accessible, while also keeping them out of the way.
A leg drop utility bag is similar in design and style to these holsters, but instead of being contoured for a firearm, they’re meant to hold tools, electronics, or just your daily accessories. The strap still sits comfortably around your waist, the same way you’d wear a fanny pack, but the bag itself sits down on your thigh. It distributes the weight, makes it less likely to bounce as you walk, and best of all it makes you look more like a cyberpunk gunslinger than it does a relic from the days of big hair and synth pop.
Find A Bag That Fits Your Needs
If you’re serious about finding a fanny pack alternative, it’s important to ask what you’re going to use the bag for. For example, if you want something to store your iPad in while you’re on the job (particularly useful for IT contractors, and for sales associates who work mostly from tablets while they’re on the floor), then you need to make sure you have a bag whose dimensions fit your tablet, and whose interior is cushioned to avoid damaging it while it’s in storage.
Alternatively, if you just want a bag to carry around your daily accessories in a convenient, easy-to-reach place so you don’t have to worry about pockets or a purse, then you should make sure the bag has enough pockets (as well as the right dimensions) to hold everything you’re going to need.
There are all kinds of benefits to switching over to a leg drop utility bag. There’s the convenience of having everything at your fingertips, for example. There’s the reduced strain on your back and shoulders since you won’t have to carry a purse or a backpack everywhere you go. You can reach into your bag whether you’re sitting, standing, or laying flat on your back, as well, so no matter where you are, or what you’re doing, you won’t have to re-adjust to reach your stuff.
And, most importantly, when you strap on one of these fanny pack alternatives you’re going to add a certain something to your look. Something that both evokes the older look of the classics, but with a more modern, tactical update. So unlike a fanny pack, which is likely to draw snickers and whispers, a leg drop utility bag will have people asking you where you got it, and if they could get one, too.
