Funky Fanny Packs (at times known as bum bags, hip pouches, or belt bags) are quite simply the little pouches you can buy to store the essentials in when you do not want to lug aroung a handbag or other smal bag like a camera bag.

Photography lovers love them because they can slip a lens along with a memory card and you are set throughout the day. Vacation goers adore belt bags as well because they're ideal for carrying your passport, tickets and a few other bits & pieces. Recently these previously cliche bags have been seen on runways and the fannies of famous people and therefore are currently making a come-back.

They can be super for vacationing and taking pictures but are additionally just the thing for craft shows, concerts, joggers, working out, bicycling, and other sporting activities. Any time you need an extra pocket or two without an annoying shoulder strap, a hip pouch is perfect!

In southeast Asia, many belt bag wearers don't use them on their fanny at all, but alternatively strap them around their chests for a sometimes more trendy appearance.

Whilst they generally do not have space for a ton of items, the majority of fanny packs will fit:

• Billfold

• Mobile phone

• Blackberry or PDA

• iPod or other MP3 device

• car keys

• A small notebook and pen or pencil

And a couple of additional items.

The formerly maligned hip pouch initially made its return to fashion a year ago as a practical accessory for athletics, travel, and everyday shopping. In the past, the hip pouch, or fanny pack as it's also known in the US, wasn't specifically the most chic of travel companions, however it continues to be reinvented by top designers such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel among others and it remains one of the coolest fashion trends this year.

There have been many different pleasant changes to the earlier 1980's type pouches. Today's fashionable bags can be found in recycled, repurposed, and retro textiles for those of us worried about our effect upon the environment and they are generally a lot more fashionable than their predecessors