As many hunters have already discovered, having a great fanny pack can increase the enjoyment of the hunting experience. A fanny pack allows a hunter to have a convenient place to store and carry hunting tools and equipment. Getting to that equipment is fast and easy. Choosing the best hunting fanny pack isn’t particularly difficult, either, provided that the hunter knows what to look for.
First up, here are the 3 best hunting fanny packs and why the make the list:
Fanny Pack | Why |
|---|---|
No. 1 Pick and best overall | |
For light to medium use | |
Cold weather and tree stand hunting |
What to Look For in a Hunting Fanny Pack
There are a lot of different hunting fanny packs. Many are made in various styles, out of different materials, in different sizes and in many designs. However, a hunter should first consider what they are going to use the fanny pack for and where they are going to be using it.
Some important considerations can be the durability, how functional it is, how quiet it is and how comfortable it is.
Durability
The importance of the fanny pack’s durability is fairly obvious; however, it goes beyond just saying that it is durable. There are a number of things that go together to make a fanny pack rugged enough to last a long time. For instance, what it is made out of and how it is assembled can have a huge impact. Light weight plastic doesn’t usually hold up as well as woven canvas and seams that are glued together usually work loose faster than stitched seams.
Durability will also be affected by where the pack will be used. A hunter who primarily hunts in open country or from a stand will most likely not have their fanny pack wearing out as easily as someone who hunts mostly in dense brush and forest, by hiking the country.
Functionality
The fanny pack needs to be easy to get to, simple to open and not difficult to close. Additionally, since a hunter doesn’t know when they might be caught in a sudden downpour or need to ford a stream where a fall can occur, the fanny pack should be waterproof to protect the tools it is holding. Even moving through brush that is covered with heavy dew can damage equipment if the pack isn’t waterproof.
Quietness
Again, where the fanny pack is going to be used has a bearing on how much noise it is likely to make through normal use. Still, a light plastic fanny pack is likely to be noisier than one that is better made and designed to be nearly silent. If the fanny pack is noisy, the game can be alerted to the hunter’s presence before the hunter even sees the animal.
Comfort
Since the fanny pack is probably going to be used in the field, it is important that it is as comfortable as possible. This could mean that the fanny pack has shoulder straps. It could also mean that it is highly adjustable so the fit is good when it is put on. The pack should be comfortable to have on when it is fully loaded and carrying weight.
Armed with this knowledge, let’s look at some of the best hunting fanny packs on the market.
ALPS OutdoorZ Pathfinder Pack
Best Overall Hunting Fanny Pack
The ALPS OutdoorZ is a hunting fanny pack that excels in every part of the what to look for list. In fact, it is dual purpose as it can be expanded into a day pack. This pack has a roomy front and main pocket, two side pockets, a fanny pocket and a day pack pocket. The amount of gear that can be held is rather surprising.
According to the manufacturer, ALPS Mountaineering, the day pack is 1900 cubic inches in size and the fanny pack is another 800 cubic inches. The total weight is less than three and a half pounds, yet this pack is designed to be durable under heavy use and conditions.
The OutdoorZ Pathfinder comes with easily adjustable and detachable shoulder straps, which adds comfort even with heavier loads. It also has extension straps for carrying larger than normal loads, such as game and meat. The pack has a padded waist band for comfort and it is camo, so it doesn’t draw attention to the hunter. It can also carry several different kinds of compound bows and is the best gun fanny pack.
The Pathfinder is made of durable and quiet material, again not drawing attention to the hunter.
All of this combines to make this the best all-around hunting fanny pack. This pack is durable, functional, comfortable and quiet. This fanny pack isn’t expensive and it is more than just a fanny pack.
Mossy Oak Blue Jack Fanny Pack – Large
Best Hunting Fanny Pack for Light to Medium Use
The large size Mossy Oak fanny pack has compartments that are equipped with dual zippers, for fast and easy access. The fanny pack is also made of wear resistant nylon and the waist strap is adjustable. This pack is water repellent.
The Blue Jack has front pockets that are the right size for a camera or cell phone, glasses or what have you and there are waist pockets on each side. It has two more compartments for additional carrying capacity and the pack has a handle to make it easy to move around when it isn’t attached to your waist.
Although this hunting fanny pack doesn’t have shoulder straps, it is still reasonably comfortable, durably made and isn’t so large that it continually gets in the way. It weighs about a pound and is only marked down in functionality because it has no shoulder straps. This is still the best inexpensive fanny pack for light to medium use.
Tenzing TZ 721 Hunting Waist Pack
Best Cold Weather and Tree Stand Hunting Fanny Pack
For comfort, the TZ 721 is hard to beat. There is adjustable padding for the hips and the pack comes with hand warmer pockets and a hand muff that is built in. The back of pack has a mesh that limits sweating when it is worn, yet it has a place for three warming pads to help the hunter keep comfortably warm. It also has a pocket that was specifically designed for carrying a cell phone.
This hunting fanny pack weighs about two pounds but has an almost unbelievable 17 compartments for a total of 727 cubic inches of storage. The adjustable belt is variable from 24 to 56 inches.
This Tenzing hunting waist pack is the best hunting fanny pack for cold weather hunting and it was specifically designed with this in mind. This makes it nearly perfect for use in a hunting stand as you can keep your hands warm while you are waiting for that big buck to come along. The downside of this pack is that it isn’t the quietest, especially if it is being used while hiking through dense forests.
In Summary
A good hunting fanny pack makes it easy to get to your equipment. Whether you are carrying a camera, cell phone, flashlight, water bottle, knife, range finder or any other similar product, the hunting fanny pack makes it an easy and efficient matter to get to your equipment without needing to dig through a back pack. The best fanny packs are also durable, functional, comfortable, quiet and they put your equipment where you can get to it quickly. The three packs listed here are among the best hunting fanny packs.
