A fanny pack (US, Canada), belt pack (US), belly bag (US), Buffalo pouch (US), hip sack (US), waist bag (US), hip pack (UK), bum bag (UK, Canada, Oceania, Ireland), cangurera (Mexico), banano (South America) or moon bag (South Africa) is a small fabric pouch secured with a zipper and worn by use of a strap around the hips or waist.
The name "fanny pack" is derived from the fact that they were traditionally worn facing the rear above the buttocks, for which "fanny" is a slang term in the United States. Despite the name, many do not wear fanny packs on their rear because they are easier to pick pocket and harder to access. In the United Kingdom and Anglophone Oceania, the term "bum bag" or "belt bag" is used, since the word "fanny" means vulva, rather than buttocks, in those countries. Fanny packs reached the peak of their popularity in the late 1980s and early-to-mid 90s. Today, fanny packs are considered to be a fashion faux pas.[1]
Many consider the fanny pack a sure mark for an out-of-place tourist, invoking the traditional tourist stereotypes known around the world, also an item worn by older people. Musician "Weird Al" Yankovic mocks the wearing of fanny packs in his song "White & Nerdy." The handiness and ease of opening of fanny packs has also resulted in them being used as holsters for handguns. Many manufacturers make fanny packs that are designed for concealed carry. Recently, the fanny pack has made a comeback, with designer labels offering stylish and expensive designs.[2][3]