JanSport Fanny Pack - Review 2023

Stay hands-free. Move with style.

Your crossbody fanny pack from JanSport found the sweet spot with its looks. A line between the minimalist 1-liter type and the usual boxy 3-liter design. It’s crafted with round edges to give off the typical bag feels. No one will bat an eye on you like you’re carrying some out-of-style fanny pack from the ’80s.

This belt bag model comes in plain black, army green, blue dusk, and misty rose. You can also have it printed. Options like camouflage, tie-dyed, paint-splashed, and butterfly marks are available as well.

The most stylish is the travertine corduroy in a light khaki shade. The fabric’s texture is very distinct, and you can pair it up with your favorite outfits. Use it as a crossbody fanny pack to add a little bit of classic touch to your daily attire.

There are two zipper pulls in the main compartment of this JanSport belt bag. It makes it effortless to turn your fanny pack into a sling bag. Different from Waterfly Fanny Pack with a single zipper pull. You can only wear it as a crossbody fanny pack when hanging on your left shoulder. You can slip any extra strap inside the elastic keepers so that they don’t dangle your way.

JanSport Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack doesn’t have any safety features. There’s no back pocket or at least a zipped inside pocket. If you plan on carrying precious items, you should wear your belt bag on your front, either crossbody or the traditional way. You might want to opt for Sportsnew Fanny Pack and Maxtop Fanny Pack (with key holder too!) for your trips to tourist hotspots. Both give you extra safety measures and an earphone hole for a more affordable price.

This belt bag from Jansport keeps you on the move hands-free in a stylish way. Although, it lacks any feature to keep your items away from crooks’ hands.

What is it good for?

JanSport Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack is spacious enough to store items without bulkiness. With a capacity of 2.5 liters, there’s plenty of room left after you put in your car keys, wallet, phone, cards, and a 12-ounce bottle of water. It’s a little smaller than the box-type Cotopaxi Bataan Del Dia Fanny Pack.

It’s not too small or too big for your daily errands, to your work, or the grocery. You won’t have any trouble taking out your items. It’s tricky for small crossbody fanny packs. It’s a pitfall that Champion Signal Fanny Pack and Herschel Supply Co. Fourteen Waist Pack have.

It’s not fit for your outdoor adventures, especially on rainy days. It’s got no lining, not waterproof, although it has water-resistant properties. See how Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack used ripstop nylon with polyurethane coating. It gives extra protection from water (although still not waterproof).

If you want a belt bag you can submerge without any problem, look at YETI Sidekick Dry Waterproof Gear Case. It’s air-tight secured by magnets and crafted using a DryHide shell. You can go on your boating and fishing adventures without worries.

But as for JanSport Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack, you can use it as a crossbody fanny pack for your usual walk to work. For your trip to the corner shop and your stops at arcade city too.

How does it compare to other fanny packs?

The main fabric used in JanSport Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack is polyester. Although the fibers are waterproof, the material itself is not tightly woven. Water can still go through the tiny holes between threads. But on a brighter note, polyester has thick fibers and is tear-resistant.

Remember that this thickness means polyester doesn’t stretch as much as nylon does. Nylon-based crossbody fanny packs are versatile. You can fold them up when not in use. Even Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack tucks into its own pocket-sized bag. Throw it inside your backpack when you’re not using it. You won’t even feel like it’s there at all.

JanSport Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack is held together by sturdy stitches. But keep note that there’s no soft lining inside. Your phone might get scratches. The only fabric dividing the main compartment from the front pocket is thin nylon. Not the same thick polyester outside. If you have any pointed items inside, they might rip the divider.

This crossbody fanny pack from JanSport also has a thin webbing strap. It’s good enough since it’s only carrying 2.5 liters. But if you want a better fit, you might want to see belt bags with thicker and padded belts.

Its 3-pronged buckle was of cheap plastic material prone to breakage. Mesh padding can also be of use in the back section of this JanSport belt bag. It’s more needed for breathability during the summer season.

For roughly $20, it’s a bit of a rip-off. There are feature-jammed crossbody fanny packs you can look at for options. Check out Sportsnew Fanny Pack and Maxtop Fanny Pack for under $15.

The Company

JanSport started its life in 1967 with reliable gear for outdoor enthusiasts in mind. As years passed by, the company started paving its way towards sustainability.

Now, they saved around 13,000 plastic bottles during production. They use recycled polyester as the primary material. Their eco-friendly packaging saves roughly 1,338 trees per year.

To make it better, JanSport also offers a lifetime warranty for its products. Meaning more trees and fewer plastics consumed, and there’s a lower carbon footprint.

And of course, your damaged JanSport bag will be good as new.

The company also gives back to the community through partnership programs. These reach-out projects help nature lovers and the youth experience the world more. It can be through their summer camps and providing training programs.

JanSport also coops with organizations to put their products on brutal outdoors. With results that give the company more insight on developing their products’ quality.

Sustainability is in the spotlight with most outdoor-related companies.

Cotopaxi and Patagonia are also going on a persistent effort to provide green goods. They’re molding the world into a less horrible place.