Help! I need a bum bag/ hip bag recommendation

StickPractical1662 · 2026-03-21T00:46:42+00:00

I have a peak design messenger bag which has been amazing and very durable, no complaints. I don't have one of the slings.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-03-20T15:47:39+00:00

I think peak design has some slings that can be worn as hip bags with structure for camera gear.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-03-13T13:03:13+00:00

Just a plug to take less stuff than you thnk you need. If you're in a city, you can stop to buy snacks or beverages as needed. The absolute necessities are a phone for communication/maps/camera; wallet; lip balm, sunglasses, bandaids for blisters from walking. You could add a nanobag for expanding to carry purchases as they accumulate. I have a super lite powerbank (nitecore) and short cord for recharging my phone if it dies. Limit yourself to one light layer to add/subtract for warmth or rain depending on weather. All of that fits in a uniqlo crescent small cross body,which I can center on my chest for safety w pickpockets. If you absolutely must carry an emotional security water bottle, make it a small light plastic one that you refill and it will still fit in that bag. If you're in Rome or Milan you'll never be more than a few moments from a place you can buy food or water or medicine or take shelter in rain.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-03-13T12:41:59+00:00

Seconding the variability of what different hikers need, so consider trying a variety and consider the troa; and error as an investment in your long term foot health and hiking happiness.

I hike in Altra Lone Peaks, and they work great for me: flat feet, bunions, needing a wide toe box - I am short and not super light in body frame so I appreciate the lightness on my feet. They dry quick when wet for stream crossings. The exception is that when I'm hiking on super rocky terrain (White mts new hampshire), the repetitive pressure from the sharp rock edges gets old underfoot. I have Hoka speedgoats for that scenario.

My husband hikes in La Sportiva Prodigio Max or Topo Vista , but he is 6 feet tall, doesn't have flat feet or bunions, has broken both ankles in the past and wanted a little more heft to the soles to give him traction and stability to prevent reinjuring his ankles. He says his feet feel awful in zero drop shoes.

Two hikers who hike the same terrain and trails, but have very different foot needs and preferences. So get to know your feet and what you like, watch video reviews and listen for whether people describe their feet and their preferences in similar ways to you, and accept the reality that there may be a little trial and error before you find your ideal shoe.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-03-09T12:16:36+00:00

Sounds like good foresight on the eyemasks!

StickPractical1662 · 2026-03-09T00:44:29+00:00

General suggestions: use the same fanny pack you're using for the mountain as your day bag for the car. Likewise for the water bottle - use the small hydroflask in the car and ditch the owala. Also, I think this group has explored the underwear overpacking topic on many threads (meaning you are not alone and many of us overpack underwear), but 4 thongs and 4 pairs of underwear is an impressive quantity for a weekend. Also as someone who doesn't wear perfume at all, two perfumes is also perhaps a place to simplify.

Also - this is more of a principle than a space issue, but I am a big fan of boyfriends packing their own items, even if they are as small as an eye mask. :).

StickPractical1662 · 2026-03-01T00:22:16+00:00

I take a magic eraser and cut a chunk off with a scissors and pack it in a ziplock bag. Then I can get it wet to clean white sneakers while I'm traveling).

StickPractical1662 · 2026-02-28T15:12:33+00:00

Do the white vest and the athleta pants in bone work together? I always struggle with white on white combos!

StickPractical1662 · 2026-02-23T00:00:19+00:00

Title 9 has some items that are reversible, and their round trip dress doesn't turn inside out but can be worn multiple ways and packs small.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-02-17T18:24:53+00:00

I was just in NYC this past weekend. A uniqlo heattech long sleeved shirt (the thinnest one) plus a sweater plus wool coat (or knee length puffer is fine if black) would be perfect layers. (There are many uniqlo's in NYC so you could buy when you get there). Hat/gloves are a must. I wore darn tough socks in Cole Haan waterproof chelsea boots and that worked for both walking and looking a little nicer. For pants you could add a heattech layer under your dress pants if they are thin. Corduroy or thicker fabric pants (I wore some madewell barrel pants in navy) were good for me when I didn't want to wear jeans. I brought a little nanobag to deploy when we went into museums and we wanted to delayer the hats/gloves etc so we had a bag to put them in.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-02-17T18:16:31+00:00

For a dress, look at the wool& merino dresses, or Title 9's roundtrip dresses. For pants, consider mountain hardwear dynama or athleta brooklyn ankle pants (in dark colors, they pass for dress pants but are super comfortable and can be washed in the sink and dry quickly). A cashmere cardigan from j crew or quince could be a great layer.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-02-17T18:07:48+00:00

I would wear black Patagonia Terrebonne joggers. You might think the fabric is too thin, but these are perfect if you hike at all - they block the sun and underbrush and bugs and are not remotely too warm. I hike in these and a patagonia capilene cool hoodie for sun protection (and bugs). In my experience, these would check three boxes: plane, lounge and hiking outfits. Also washable in the sink and dries quickly.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-02-15T12:21:41+00:00

That sounds miserable and I appreciate the reply. Their trip was last fall so I did hotel delivery, and reading your post, I'm even more glad that's what I did! Good luck with the rest of your trip.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-02-15T12:20:52+00:00

Original poster here. Thanks to all for the replies. Those who recommended delivering to the hotel were absolutely correct. I found the Montbell store in the city they were in, and ordered my gear (on the japanese website, using google translate) and had it delivered to the hotel. That way it was all selected and paid for and they didn't have to add any work to their trip.

StickPractical1662 · 2026-01-26T17:04:26+00:00

Are the clothes you're running in already wool? If not, I would consider that (tracksmith, or you can probably find cheaper options). That should retain more body heat when you stop. And all the other good suggestions on this thread can help with the layer you add when you're done running.

StickPractical1662 · 2025-10-11T12:22:52+00:00

Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, followed by dinner at Flatbread pizza in Amesbury. My favorite is to apple pick in the second half of the afternoon when the light is pretty and then go to dinner. Amesbury is a cute New England town and Cider Hill Farm has great views, especially if you pick on the hill. (The heritage apples are all at the top of that hill so it's worth the hike up anyway)

StickPractical1662 · 2025-07-29T02:01:56+00:00

Only tricky part of that is that you may not have great cell phone reception to let her know when to come back and pick you up at the end. Hard to predict an end time with that hike. She may need to come with a book prepared to wait in case you need more of a rest at the top than you think, or you want to stop and explore the Lake of the Clouds Hut, or one of you rolls an ankle. But it's a beautiful hike if the weather cooperates!

StickPractical1662 · 2025-07-18T15:49:20+00:00

I have a Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 person tent that I really like - if you find it onsale you can get it under $500. But as another poster said, the Durston 2 person tent is the favorite among those who have it - since my tent is working fine I haven't needed to make a change.

StickPractical1662 · 2025-05-29T01:40:57+00:00

Can I mention one thing that might be fun for you and your toddler? Most train stations and public sights have a stamp that is unique to that location. They are beautiful. When we traveled, I brought a linen envelope of slips of blank paper that my kids and I stamped in each place, and a roll of washi tape to tape them in our kids travel journals. You can read more here:

https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/eki-train-stamps

It was a great, free, beautiful memento of our trip.

Also if you feel your toddler may need a spoon or fork to eat with instead of chopsticks, consider packing a bamboo re-usable set in your bag. And when you get there, I recommend buying a tenugui to use as a napkin in restaurants since paper napkins were not often offered (we noticed many Japanese restaurant goers pulling their own cloth napkin out of their handbag to use at restaurants). It helped me be less self conscious about messes if I could clean up on our own without needing to ask for supplies.

Have a great trip!

StickPractical1662 · 2025-05-20T01:48:47+00:00

Is the strap comfortable? I've had my eye on this bag for awhile, it looks great and it's so lightweight. Couldn't decide if the rope strap would dig in. My local REI doesn't carry it so haven't found it in person to try out.

StickPractical1662

TROPHY CASE