First, let's define "hunter's fanny pack." I am referring to a fanny pack dedicated specifically to carrying the basic necessities for a hunter in the field. This is not your daily wear fanny pack, a concealed carry fanny pack, or a jogger's fanny pack. The hunter's fanny pack should be stored already packed and ready to go.

The hunter's fanny pack differs from other fanny packs because of the nature of its use. It must, for example, be made of a "quiet" material so as not to alert game to the hunter's presence. It must be neutral (earth tone) in color with no flashy red, yellow, purple, shocking pink, lime green or other bright colored accents so that it is not spotted by wary animals. My favorite fanny pack material is soft, finished leather. Leather is a quiet material, and it is usually dyed black or dark brown, which are ideal colors for use in the field.

In size, "medium" is an appropriate choice. Small packs probably won't carry enough gear, and a large fanny pack, if filled (and somehow fanny packs always wind up full), is probably too heavy for long term comfort.

Whether made of leather or some quiet fabric, the hunter's fanny pack should be durably constructed of reasonably heavyweight material so that your gear is not lost because it wears through a lightweight fabric or a poorly sewn seam splits open. Some of the possible contents are expensive (knives, a hand held GPS unit, etc.) and could spoil a hunt if lost.

This fanny pack should also be quiet to open; noisy closures like Velcro are out. A fairly course zipper with metal teeth makes a suitable closure, as it can be opened slowly and quietly. Some flaps secured by snaps are also pretty quiet to open and close.

A fanny pack used in the field usually does not need to be waterproof (depending, of course, on where you hunt), but it should be reasonably water resistant so that its contents do not become a soggy mess in inclement weather. Zip-Lock freezer bags can be used to keep essential items dry inside of a fanny pack. Again, finished leather is an example of a sufficiently water-resistant material, particularly when treated with a water-resistant product such as Scotch Guard or any number of leather specific products. Various synthetic or treated fabrics are equally or more water-resistant.

The hunter's fanny pack should have a wide, comfortable, and easily adjusted belt strap to distribute its weight, as it will probably be heavier than, say, a jogger's fanny pack. The fanny pack's belt strap is also a natural place to hang sheath knives, compact binocular cases and the like, so insure that it is up to the task. A quick release buckle is a convenience, but it must be secure when fastened and small enough to pass through things like the belt loops on knife sheaths.

A fanny pack with a large central pocket is necessary, as it will carry the most stuff and the biggest items. But, two or more smaller pockets are handy to keep small items separated so that they can be located quickly when needed.

What kind of items are usefully carried in (or hung from the belt of) a hunter's fanny pack? Here is a list I made for the article, "Deer Hunting Gear: A Minimalist Approach," which can be found on the General Information Page.

"I keep the most essential items in a zip-lock freezer bag, which keeps them together and dry. These include my compass, a Cutter snake bite kit, a 1-ounce bottle of insect repellent lotion, a pair of leather shoelaces . . . water purification tablets, the smallest Pelican light with a fresh battery and a spare, a book of matches, a pair of tweezers, and a very small first aid kit."

"Also in my fanny pack is a pocket pack of Kleenex, a standard Leatherman Tool, one 30-gram bar of compressed Trioxane heating fuel . . . a disposable butane lighter, an emergency thermal blanket, about 30 feet of small diameter nylon cord in a zip-lock bag . . . a couple of empty zip-lock freezer bags, my hunting license and deer tag . . . and a pen to fill out the tag. Fully loaded, this fanny pack weighs less than one pound, so it is not a great burden."

I should add that hanging from the fanny pack's belt strap (and adding to the total weight) are my hunting knife, a belt case containing my Leupold compact binoculars, and a small cartridge case with 5 or 10 spare cartridges.

That brings up one of the most important aspects of the hunter's fanny pack: keep it light for comfort.