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This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
I used to think the perfect travel bag didn’t exist—that is, until I stumbled upon the now-viral Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag in May. At that time, my long-awaited Hawaiian honeymoon was about three weeks away, and I had spent months trying to track down a compact, hands-free crossbody bag. I needed something that could come with me on mornings spent hiking and snorkeling followed by leisurely afternoons sunbathing, shopping, and sipping Mai Tais.
At the time, the Lululemon belt bag came in two sizes: standard and extended. I originally wanted the extended length in black; however, due to availability, I ordered the purple extended bag and the more versatile black bag in the regular length. The strap lengths only varied by a few inches, and I figured I could always return the regular variety if it was too short.
I wasn’t prepared to love them as much as I did—in fact, I ended up shoving both options into my suitcase. When I slung either bag across my chest, I was immediately impressed by how light it felt. (So much so that I had a moment in Maui of thinking it was lost.) What’s more, despite its compact size, each held a full day’s essentials: an SPF stick, a bottle of sunscreen, AirPods, my iPhone, credit cards, cash, my ID, a lip balm, and, to top it all off, a disposable camera. Even after shoving all of these items into the belt bag, I didn’t feel weighed down like I had in the past (read: no shoulder pain!). While I mostly wore mine as a sling bag, you can also wear it around your waist, fanny pack style.
The clever design is another huge pro: Instead of one main compartment, the Everywhere bag contains several zippered and mesh pockets, which helped me stay organized while on the go. The secure front pocket offers easy access to my most-grabbed items, like my license and AirPods.
As someone prone to spilling and staining my garments, I also appreciate the Everywhere bag’s water-repellent polyester fabric, which is incredibly easy to clean. A wet napkin is truly all it takes to eliminate ketchup stains, coffee spillage, sunscreen residue, and good ol’ dirt and debris that can collect after a long hike.
Lululemon has since phased out the original bag in favor of the longer strap design, which is now simply called the Everywhere Belt Bag. And while the bag’s popularity means it’s been in and out of stock for the last few months, the latest drop includes a slew of colorful new spring hues, from mint to electric lemon and solar orange, as well as a second size option, the 2L Everywhere Belt Bag. If you see a style you like, be sure to move fast—it might not be around for long, and if you can get your hands on one, I'm confident it’ll become your new favorite bag.
