They go by a variety of names: fanny pack, hip pack, and lumbar pack. Outdoor enthusiasts and seasoned travelers have long understood the value of a good lumbar pack, even as ultra lightweight backpacks and hydration packs began to take over the scene. Here are just a few ways in which lumbar packs are useful to outdoor enthusiasts.
Better for Your Back
Many of us have experienced that ill-fitting backpack feeling once we’re a bit too far down the trail. You shop smart, trying on the potential new backpack with weight to confirm it works with your body, and yet out on the trail it fails. Bodies aren’t symmetrical, but backpacks are constructed that way. Most larger packs have adjustable straps, but that doesn’t always guarantee a good fit. Small day packs have very few, if any, adjustable pieces.
A lumbar pack distributes all its weight directly onto your hips and skeletal structure, allowing you to carry the load in a way that doesn’t pull muscles and tendons in awkward, painful ways. A lumbar pack can alleviate a great deal of stress on your back, making it a popular choice among day hikers and adventurers.
Security and Efficiency
How often have you had just enough essential items that definitely won’t fit in your pockets, but don’t warrant a full backpack? Generally speaking, it’s not comfortable or efficient to carry pocketfuls of items on a long hike. Lumbar packs give you just enough room for an extra clothing layer, sufficient water supply, snacks, and a good first aid kit without maxing out your space or burdening your frame.
If you are traveling, a lumbar pack is a key piece of equipment for security, allowing you to keep travel documents, credit cards, cash, and other crucial items on your person. It also helps you move through security or customs quickly with all your personal items in one container that opens and closes easily, leaving your hands free to deal with TSA requirements for quick processing in security lines.
Alternative Options On Your Trip
Bring a lumbar pack in your suitcase or large pack for outdoor day trip options. Some large packs, like backpacking packs, even have a removable belt that converts to an independent lumbar pack. You can then leave all your other belongings neatly stowed in the main pack and only bring what you need for your day or overnight trip to another destination.
You may even find yourself pulling it out for daily errands or music festivals. There are any number of ways in which a lumbar pack can be useful, whether in the outdoors or in the city. If you’d like a new way to transport the necessary gear while remaining virtually hands-free, look into the value of a lumbar pack!
Featured Image from KAL VISUALS/Unsplash
