The fanny pack – the often-mocked pack that you wear around your waist – is actually becoming quite fashionable among, you would never guess, hunters. Yes, the hunting fanny pack is increasing in popularity among hunters.
Are you self-conscious that a fanny pack might rub the wrong way on your masculine ego? Still afraid that you’re going to walk out of the truck with your pouch around your waist, and all your hunting mates take one good look and burst into uproarious mockery?
That’s not the way it is viewed anymore. It’s not your fanny pack. It’s a man-pack.
The Hunting Fanny Pack
Advantages
The fanny pack is a pouch or other device which is used to hold items around the waist. Below are some of the advantages of the hunting fanny pack:
- Mobile
- Cheap
- Additional features
The hunting fanny pack is mobile
The hunting fanny pack, being carried around the waist, allows the hunter free mobility of his shoulders. Even the largest fanny packs you can purchase probably won’t weigh more than a couple of pounds.
The fanny pack also allows the hunter to access his supplies much more directly. With a backpack, the hunter must take the trouble of slipping his arm through the shoulder strap, hauling the backpack, setting it on the ground, rummaging through his supplies, and then finally go through the process of slinging the pack over his shoulder again.
That takes many precious seconds, for which potential quarry may escape; space which the hunter may not have room to move; and the noise generated by the shuffling movement, will alert potential quarry to his presence.
Do you hunt in a tree stand? Yet another great reason why you should switch from a cumbersome backpack to a sleek, dexterous man-pack.
Hunters have widely attested that, when climbing up to their tree stand, there isn’t room enough for a large pack dragging down their shoulders full of gear.
For raining death from above on potential game, they keep their load light and store their supplies in a hunting fanny pack.
Fanny packs are cheap
With its small size, comes its relatively smaller price. The cheapest fanny packs come at just under $10, while the most expensive only reach to about $150.
If you are on a budget, I would recommend getting the Allan Nomad Waist Pack. But if you have money to blow and wants the VERY best, the Badland Monster Fanny Pack is the one you should consider.
Additional features of Hunting Fanny Pack
Many hunting fanny packs will come with additional features for your convenience. When choosing a fanny pack, we recommend looking for the following features:
- Water bottle pouch
- Many compartments
- Light yet durable fabric
- Water resistant material
- Soft material that doesn’t brush up against your clothing
Be sure to select a fanny pack that has one large compartment in the center. This will allow you to store your largest items, but several smaller compartments as well.
Disadvantages
It would seem the “man” pack possesses all the advantages. However, there are some disadvantages of using the hunting fanny pack. Some of them are:
- Negative Stigma
- Enough for Basic Necessities
The fanny pack stigma
There are loads of negative stigma against the fanny pack. It is often derided with the pejorative term of “man-purse.” The fanny pack denotes a lack of masculinity – an utter contrast from the highly masculine sport of hunting.
But the hunter’s fanny pack is much different than the typical tourist’s fanny pack, the jogger’s fanny pack, or even a fanny pack that is intended to store and conceal a gun. Dressed in sleek camouflage and tough, durable leather, the hunting fanny pack transforms from a silly-looking waist purse to a very efficient carrying device.
Besides how ridiculous fanny packs are typically perceived by the general public? This, of course, is hardly a true setback at all. No one will be seeing you anyways, except your hunting buddies and the game you will hopefully catch. Why be self-conscious?
The bare necessities
The waist pack, being small, allows the hunter mobility — but the cost for that is packing space. The fanny pack is ideal for the part of the day or a single-day excursion into the wilderness for hunting. Most hunters do not spend more than one day at their game.
Don’t even think about packing a tent, sleeping bag, or very much food if you’re taking the fanny pack on your hunting getaway.
The Hunting Backpack
If there is any major factor which the backpack wields over the fannypack, it can be summarized in one word:
Space
It is recommended by the hunting community that a backpack be no larger than a carrying capacity of 30 liters, and that’s only for a day-long hunt. Many backpacks, designed for multiple-day hikes in the wilderness, can carry between 70 to 80 liters.
In case of emergency
There is, of course, always the possibility that you might become lost in the woods. This could be a dire situation – in such an event, you might regret that you only brought the small fannypack.
The larger backpack would have been quite useful for carrying more supplies, in the event of the emergency when you would need them. But the possibility of such a disaster occurring is, at best, slim. At least if you bring a compass and you know what you are doing.
Hunting backpacks are cumbersome
It’s unlikely that you are going to be trekking out for several days in the great unknown, following the path of the same prey until you find and kill it. Hunting trips last the day, or even just part of the day. It is highly unlikely that you will require or even use all of the space that a full-sized backpack will afford.
Also, consider that you will be required to store your rifle or bow inside of the backpack. Not all backpack models are designed to accommodate the hunter’s weapon, so it is important you are careful and keep in mind that it has the compartments that you need.
The size and fabric of the backpack generally does not allow for stealth as easily as the fannypack, since the hunter’s ability to move will be decreased. Zippers will sometimes create loud noise that will stir any potential game and ruin the chances of a good hunt.
Hunting backpacks are expensive
With the additional size, comes additional cost. The price range of a hunting backpack can reach more than $300 for the finest model.
The Consensus
We believe that the hunting fanny (“man”) pack is superior to an ordinary hunting backpack. The best models of fanny packs are small, light-weight, they free the shoulders of the hunter, are mobile, and relatively inexpensive.
The fanny pack is better suited for giving the hunter maximum freedom, movement and stealth in hunting his game.
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