Osprey Arcane Waist Pack Review

Kate Agathon

Sometimes simplicity is all you need in a carryall, which is what I recently found in the Osprey Arcane Waist pack.

 

One of the first things I noticed when I moved to a mountain town is that no one carries a traditional handbag. Instead, people wear waist packs and sling bags to carry their valuables.

 

Consequently, I was excited to try the Arcane Waist. I appreciated its modern, minimalist, non-technical appearance.

 

I wanted something refined and practical, and the Arcane Waist checked both boxes.

 

Unlike other waist packs, the Arcane Waist doesn’t have bright, retro colors or shiny zippers. I wanted a pack that I could wear with anything, anywhere, and not resemble a complete throwback to the 1980s.

 

Available in Heather Grey and Stonewash Black, the 1L Arcane Waist includes just three features: an internal stretch zip pocket, external zip pocket, and an adjustable web hipbelt. Simple.

 

The Arcane Waist holds my phone, Osprey Arcane card wallet, chapstick, keys, breath mints and receipts with ease.

 

I don’t wear the Arcane Waist around my waist, but I sling it over my shoulder instead. It keeps things where I can see them and are easily accessible. Unlike a handbag, I don’t take it off when I go shopping and leave it in a shopping cart where it can be a potentially easy target for theft.

 

Simple functionality

My lifestyle has changed over the years.

 

When I worked in corporate, I carried designer handbags to the office- the bigger, the better. Later, I became a bike commuter while working at a college campus and swapped out the handbags for backpacks.

 

Now, I work mostly remotely and need to carry only the bare minimum when I step out.

 

Initially, I carried my Arcane wallet, phone and keys in my jacket, but that quickly got annoying because I was forever changing jackets and I needed to keep everything in one place. That’s what prompted me to begin looking into the sling bags and waist bags that are so popular in mountain towns.

 

For over a decade, I’ve used Osprey packs and gear for all my outdoor adventures. I am very pleased that the same quality and detail have been put into their lifestyle products; specifically the Arcane collection (I own the tote, the card wallet, and now the waist pack).

The Arcane Waist is perfect for my needs and my current lifestyle. I recommend it for minimalists on the go.

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Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Utah the Adventure Dog.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, fat biking, snowshoeing, camping, peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers, road cycling, and Nordic skiing. After suffering two major knee injuries within four years, Kate hopes to return to alpine skiing next season.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

We also heard she has a (slight) obsession for blue heelers.