Best Lumbar Waist Packs for Hiking in 2026

On shorter hikes with stable weather you might feel a little silly bringing a huge backpack (which has to be packed sufficiently to provide stability) only to carry some water and a snack in it. On the other hand, you will always want to have your hands free rather than carrying water bottles, accessories etc. This is where a lumbar waist pack will serve you superbly. If you have back or shoulder problems, a lumbar waist pack can be recommended as the weight of the pack and its content will be carried by your hips rather than your shoulders. You will thus have a better balance and it will be easier to walk with a healthy straight posture. Carrying a waist pack rather than a backpack will also prevent you from getting a sweaty and sticky back which even the most superbly ventilated backpacks cannot completely avert. On warm summer days especially women will also appreciate the possibility of wearing tank tops with thinner straps as a lumbar waist pack, unlike a backpack, will not rub against the bare skin on the shoulder blades.

A lumbar waist pack of course has its limitations; it is not for every hiking trip – or for everyone. If you prefer to bring nearly everything you own for hiking, climbing or mountaineering trips, a waist pack is not for you. Carrying a waist pack truly means lightweight hiking, where you bring what you need and nothing else. A precondition for bringing a waist pack rather than a backpack is stable weather – whether it being good or bad. You can of course tie a light rain jacket or sweater around your shoulders or hips if you don’t need it, but otherwise it is not advisable to only bring a waist pack along if you expect to be changing between layers of clothing for varying weather conditions.

Below we have chosen the five best lumbar waist packs available. We have steered clear of “fanny packs” – which are waist/hip packs carried on your front rather than back, as they are too small to carry water bottles etc. without being in the way.

1. Our Picks of Waist Packs for Hiking

1. Osprey Tempest/Talon 6 Lumbar Waist Pack
2. Evoc Hip Pack 3L Hydration Waist Pack
3. MountainSmith Tour Lumbar Waist Pack
4. CamelBak M.U.L.E. 5 Waist Pack
5. Osprey Seral 7 Hydration Waist Pack

2. Comparison of Hiking Waist Packs

Feature/Product	Osprey Tempest/Talon 6	Evoc Hip Pack 3l	MountainSmith Tour	CamelBak M.U.L.E. 5	Osprey Seral 7
Dimensions	8.27 x 9.84 x 5.91 in.	11 x 7 x 3 in.	10 x 11.5 x 5 in.	9.5 x 10.2 x 5.1 in	8.5 x 12.5 x 6 in.
Dimensions (Metric)	21 x 25 x 15 cm	28 x 18 x 8 cm	27 x 29 x 12.7 cm	24.13 x 29 x 13 cm	21.5 x 32 x 15 cm
Weight	0.9 lbs	12.3 oz.	1 lb. 12 oz.	1 lb. 2 oz.	1 lb. 3.2 oz.
Weight (Metric)	408 g	350 g	795 g	510 g	524 g
Capacity	6 liters	3 liters	9 liters	3.5 liters + 1.5 liters for reservoir	7 liters
Size of included water reservoir	/	1.5 liter hydration reservoir	/	1.5 liter hydration reservoir	1.5 liter hydration reservoir
Fits waists/hips	24 – 44 in. (Tempest) 25 - 50 in. (Talon)	n/a	28 – 48 in.	26 - 42 in.	26-50 in.
Fits waists/hips (Metric)	61 – 112 cm (Tempest) 64-127 (Talon)	n/a	71 – 122 cm	66-106 cm	66 cm -127 cm

3. The Selection

Osprey Tempest 6 and Talon 6

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Climbing
• Running
• Cross country skiing
• Mountain biking

Unlike most other manufacturers, Osprey makes lumbar waist packs for men (Talon 6) and women (Tempest 6) specifically. However, the two lumbar packs are basically identical apart from color options and the fact that the women’s Tempest fits slightly narrower waists/hips (24’’-44’’) than the men’s Talon (25’’-50’’). Both versions have been redesigned continuously over the years, and are today more sustainably made than ever as the fabrics used are recycled, bluesign approved, and treated with PFC-free DWR-treatment. Otherwise the Osprey Tempest 6 and Talon 6 have retained most of their beloved features such as the Horizontal StraightJacket™ compression system to stabilize and compress loads, a zippered stash pocked in front, the two dual-zippered hipbelt pockets and Osprey’s signature AirScape backpanel (now with a flexible BioStretch harness and hipbelt). Osprey’s lumbar waist packs still have two bottle sleeves with bungee retention straps at the sides, but the water bottles are no longer included.

 

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Evoc Hip Pack 3 L

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Climbing
• Running
• Mountain biking
• Cross country skiing

The Evoc Hip Pack 3l is a hydration waist pack where you can use the included hydration bladder for easy hands-free hydration on the go. Unlike the CamelBak M.U.L.E. 5 below, the Evoc lumbar waist pack also has one mesh side pocket where you can store a big water bottle if you prefer this hydration option. The Evoc Hip Pack was designed with mountain bikers in mind but will do equally well for hiking, mountaineering and other outdoor activities. Upon its launch in 2017 (then named the Evoc Hip pack Race) it received the Design & Innovation Award – in no small part due Venti Flap System which regulates the distance to the back and can be individually adjusted to provide ventilation when and where you need it the most. The body of the Evoc Hip Pack is made of 210D PU-coated ripstop nylon, while the back padding is made is of EVA (Ethylene-vinyl acetate) and the straps feature 3D Air mesh. As the name indicates, it offers 3 liters of storage space, and comes in three colors.

 

MountainSmith Tour

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Running
• Tactical use
• Hunting
• Mountain biking
• Everyday use

Mountainsmith prides itself that the brand’s Tour waist pack “helped start the craze in the 80’s”, but in 2020 the brand gave all of their lumbar waist packs a major design overhaul. The Mountainsmith Tour waist pack has the biggest capacity (9 liters) of all the packs on this list and is also the heaviest. It is, however, made to last out of durable 420 Oxford Nylon and 420 HD Nylon Ripstop with a 210d Nylon Liner. Besides the main compartment, it has smartphone compatible hipbelt pockets, reinforced bottle (up to 1L) pockets on the sides, a backpanel stash pocket for flat items, a foam padded sleeve for tablet or such, and a beaver tail attachment pocket on the front, under which you can store a rain jacket. The hipbelt can be tucked away, so you can use the back as a regular shoulder bag with the included shoulder strap. The Mountainsmith Tour is, like all the brand’s waist packs, compatible with a strapette (which is sold separately).

 

CamelBak M.U.L.E. 5

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Climbing
• Cross country skiing
• SUPing
• Running
• Mountainbiking

The Camelbak M.U.L.E. 5 is like the Evoc Hip Pack Race a hydration pack and thus features an internal 1.5L CRUX™ water reservoir (included) and a long tube to drink from when needed. As there are internal compression straps securing the reservoir, it won’t start to slosh around in the bag as you gradually drain it. The CRUX reservoir is furthermore designed to position the weight of the water low on your back for more stability and better balance and is equipped with a magnetic tube trap that lets you stow your drinking tube in place with one click, so you can drink without hassle. While the Camelbak M.U.L.E. 5 is not among the biggest waist paclks, it is nevertheless cleverly designed with lots of pockets so you can arrange your essentials in the most optimal way.  In addition to the bladder sleeve, the pack also has water bottle pockets on either side. The CamelBak M.U.L.E. 5 is available in six different colors.

 

5. Osprey Seral 7

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Climbing
• Running
• Mountain biking

The Osprey Seral 7 has a lot of features in common with the Talon 6, but rather than being equipped with side pockets for water bottles, it is a hydration waist pack with an included Osprey Hydraulics 1.5 L lumbar reservoir by Hydrapak. It was designed with mountain biking in mind, but works perfectly for hiking and mountaineering as well. The reservoir fits into a hydration sleeve inside the large main compartment, and the hip belt is equipped with a magnetic bite valve attachment point, so you always have it handy for easy hydration on the go. Besides the main compartment, there is a zippered front pocket (with a zippered internal compartment for valuables) and two zippered hip belt pockets for quick access. Like the Talon 6, the Osprey Seral 7 is equipped with an AirScape backpanel and has compression straps for the lumbar waist pack to fit perfectly on your back, regardless of how stuffed it is. If you are looking for something slightly smaller, the Osprey Seral is also available in a four liter version.

 

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4. Hiking Waist Pack Buying Advice – What is important?

Water capacity and Hydration Options

The most important thing to bring for any longer-lasting outdoor activity is water. If you know that you will be passing by sources of drinkable water on your trip, you don’t have to bring much more than a half-liter bottle, but otherwise it is crucial to bring enough water to stay sufficiently hydrated. This is especially important on warm summer days where you can easily become dizzy or disoriented when dehydrated. How much water you need depends on your speed, body weight and the weather. As a general rule you should drink 33ml of water pr. kg bodyweight pr. day, but more when you are exercising and/or in very warm climate. For this list we have prioritized waist packs which can carry 1 liter of water or more. The hydration waist packs come with included hydration reservoirs, while you have to buy your own water bottles for those models meant to carry water bottles in the side pockets. If you can’t decide between a waist pack with water bottles or a hydration waist pack, you can learn about benefits and shortcomings of hydration reservoirs in the article Hydration Systems Vs. Water Bottles.

When choosing a lumbar waist pack, consider how much water you realistically need to carry. For short hikes where you pass reliable water sources, 0.5–1 liter may be sufficient. For longer, exposed, or hot-weather hikes, look for models that carry at least 1 liter — ideally more.

There are two main systems:

• Bottle-based packs with side sleeves (often angled for easier access).
• Hydration reservoir packs with integrated bladder and hose.

Bottle packs allow quick refilling and easy monitoring of intake. Hydration reservoirs offer hands-free drinking but are slightly more complex and require cleaning discipline. For most hikers, 1–2 liters of total capacity hits the sweet spot between weight and practicality.

Comfort, Fit and Stability

Comfort is non-negotiable. Even small packs become uncomfortable if poorly designed or overloaded. A good lumbar pack should sit securely on your hips without bouncing, sagging, or digging into your lower back.

Look for:

• A wide, supportive waist belt that distributes weight evenly.
• Sufficient padding in the back panel and hip area.
• Breathable mesh or ventilated foam to reduce sweat buildup.
• A highly adjustable strap that fits both narrow and broad waist sizes.

If you plan to move fast (trail running, scrambling, biking), stability becomes even more important. Wider straps and structured designs reduce bounce. Slim, minimalist designs may feel comfortable when lightly loaded but shift around once filled with water and snacks. Some packs can also be worn crossbody as a sling. While that adds versatility, the primary purpose of a hiking lumbar pack is stable weight distribution around the hips which are your body’s natural load-bearing zone.

Capacity and Organization

Capacity typically ranges from minimalist 0.5-liter models to 6–9 liter lumbar packs capable of replacing a small daypack. The right size depends entirely on your use case.

• 0.5–1.5 L: Phone, keys, small snack.
• 2–3 L: Essentials, gloves, small layer.
• 4–6 L: Water bottles, food, light shell, basic safety gear.

But raw liter numbers don’t tell the whole story. Usable space depends on structure and layout. Well-designed packs include:

• Internal mesh dividers
• Key clips
• Stretch front pockets
• Secure zippered compartments
• Quick-access exterior pockets

Good organization saves time and frustration. On the trail, you want instant access to sunscreen, lip balm, or your phone — without digging through a single large compartment.

Durability and Materials

Durability largely depends on fabric choice and construction quality. Waist packs sit close to your body and often get exposed to sweat, dirt, rocks, and repeated abrasion.

Common materials include:

• Ripstop nylon (balanced durability and weight)
• Polyester (slightly heavier, durable and color-stable)
• Technical laminates like Dyneema or Ultra fabrics (ultralight and highly tear-resistant)

Denier rating gives an indication of thickness: lower denier is lighter but less abrasion-resistant; higher denier is more rugged but heavier.

Pay attention to:

• Reinforced stitching
• Strong zipper construction
• Quality buckles and webbing
• Bottle sleeve durability (a common failure point)

If you are hard on gear or hike in rough terrain, durability should rank high on your priority list.

Weather Resistance

Most lumbar waist packs are water-resistant rather than fully waterproof. For fair-weather hiking, that’s usually sufficient. However, if you carry electronics or hike in consistently wet climates, weather protection becomes more important.

Features to look for:

• Water-resistant fabrics
• Coated or laminated materials
• Weatherproof zippers
• Taped seams (rare but effective)

Some ultralight fabrics repel water very well but may absorb moisture over time. Also note that packs with thick padding can retain water once soaked and take time to dry. If you expect prolonged rain exposure, consider either a waterproof model or store sensitive items in a small dry bag inside the pack.

Weight and Minimalism

One of the main advantages of a lumbar waist pack is weight savings. If you don’t need a full daypack, there’s no reason to carry one. Ultralight models use advanced materials to minimize weight, but they often sacrifice structure and padding. Larger 5–6 liter lumbar packs with bottle holders and padding naturally weigh more but offer better load stability and carrying comfort. Be realistic about your needs. If you consistently overload a minimalist pack, it becomes uncomfortable and unstable. It is often better to choose a slightly larger, structured pack than to max out a small one on every hike.

Gender

Lumbar waist packs can easily be worn by both genders – no matter the model. A few brands, like for example Osprey, have made slightly diverging models for men and women respectively, but we would dare to suggest that any women’s model can be worn by a male and vice versa. This is not to diminish the efforts of Osprey and others, but simply due to the fact that lumbar waist packs are meant for carrying relatively small loads unlike backpacks where it might be smart to choose a model that serves your body shape best.