Bellroy Sling, $99, available in four colors
As a kid, I used to make fun of my dad for sporting a fanny pack on occasion. But now that I'm older, I've come to realize that as uncool as they might be, they're extremely useful. My list of essentials has gone from a Game Boy Color and maybe a few extra games, which all fit in my pockets, to a variety of daily necessities, whether I'm staying local, commuting around the city, or traveling abroad.
Not only is the Bellroy Sling way more stylish and versatile than the fanny pack my dad wore around his waist like a kangaroo's pouch, it also has a ton of expandable storage space.
It is spacious enough to carry (pictured roughly from left to right) my small umbrella, lip balm, hand sanitizer, Mophie Powerstation XL, Nike+ Apple Watch Series 4, AirPods, iPhone Xs Max with a Scooch case, passport and boarding pass, Ray-Ban sunglasses, Gucci wallet, work ID and MetroCard, car keys equipped with a Tile Mate Pro, and Bellroy Travel wallet.
The Belroy is the perfect middle ground for me. I no longer have to overstuff my pockets to the point where they're awkwardly bulging out, and I'm not forced to carry a cumbersome backpack that's mostly empty.