Hiking waist bags
A waist bag is a handy, small bag for carrying items during a hike. As the name suggests, you wear a waist bag around the hips, giving you easy access to all your things while hiking too!
What do you take in your waist bag?
It's very important to drink enough while hiking, so it's handy to bring a small bottle to drink from. Something to eat shouldn't be missing from the bag either, even if it's just a sweet or a biscuit. Since you can't carry that much in a waist bag, it's always handy to bring your wallet along, so you can buy a tasty sandwich or another snack along the way. Also bring your phone in case you get lost. So think carefully about everything you want to carry in the waist bag. That way you can decide in advance what size suits you.
Why wear a waist bag while hiking?
A big advantage of a waist bag is that it doesn't put strain on your shoulders, letting you move your arms freely and not hindering your walking motion. Because you can keep walking freely and your shoulders are spared, the risk of injury is lower.
You can grab something from the waist bag at any moment, even while walking! With one turn of the bag it sits at the front, giving you easy access to your things without having to stop.
Another advantage of the waist bag is that it forces you to make choices about which items to bring and which to leave at home. The waist bag ensures you only bring what you really need, meaning you don't carry unnecessary items and therefore no extra weight.
Tip
Fasten the waist bag securely, since it shouldn't be dangling around. Waist bags have adjustable straps, letting the bag always be worn snugly against the body. Also distribute your items evenly across the waist bag so it doesn't hang lopsided.