Fanny packs, once the bane of the fashion world, have been making quite the comeback in recent years – including in the everyday carry (EDC) community. Small, versatile and adjustable, fanny packs have become increasingly popular as concealed-carry bags, a trend furthered by companies such as Vertx, which offer an extensive range of high-quality CCW-ready bags, including four fanny packs to suit a variety of needs. The newest fanny pack offering is the Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0, a revamped version of the Everyday Fanny Pack developed in collaboration with ten-time World Champion shooter Lena Miculek as part of the Lena Collection. No detail has been overlooked in the design of this bag; small, flexible, and – dare I say – fashionable, the Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0 is a perfect choice for anyone looking to invest in a high-quality EDC bag. Let’s get into it.

Vertx Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0

The 2.0 was built with the intention of putting function before form, but its form certainly isn’t lacking. Its outer fabric has been upgraded from the original Everyday Fanny Pack to be more water resistant, and it is now offered in four colorways to suit any style: black, oxblood, bone white and wolf grey. The highly adjustable strap is now made of a softer material than the original bag and is color-matched to the body for a sleeker appearance, and the upgraded secure buckle system ensures that your bag won’t be slipping off your waist or shoulders or accidentally coming undone. In testing, I tried pulling on the buckle as hard as I could, and it didn’t budge. That being said, when you do want to unclasp it, it snaps apart with ease. The 2.0 also features quite a few included accessories that make it perfect for out of the box, no need to purchase anything extra. A large Rapid Access Tab comes pre-attached to one of the two zipper tabs, allowing you to quickly pull it and access your firearm. The bag is also highly customizable to suit your preferences for carry and firearms access. The Rapid Access Tab can be moved to either zipper tab, and even the zipper tabs themselves can be removed from the exterior and attached to the interior red loops, allowing the pack to be opened with just one straight pull. This adjustability makes it easy for left-handed shooters to carry with the 2.0 as well. In terms of securing your firearm, the 2.0 comes with the Modular Holster Retention system that accommodates any typical inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster. The main interior space is designed with a Velcro loop panel, so if you don’t want to use the system the bag comes with, you can swap it out for your favorite Velcro holster.

Firearms compartment aside, nothing has been spared when considering needs beyond EDC. The 2.0 boasts a spacious rear pouch that is capable of fitting most of the largest cellphones on the market. My iPhone 15 Pro isn’t the biggest, but I keep it in a thicker case with a large pop socket attached, and it still fit great with room to spare when I tested it out. A handy key lanyard is another included accessory, meant to be attached to a small red loop inside the front pouch of the bag, so you won’t have to worry about losing your keys in your bag.

The front pouch features two mesh pockets to hold everyday essentials for easy, convenient access. This is especially convenient for women, who will be able to comfortably fit essentials that would otherwise have to go in a purse. I tend to go with a Girl Scout mindset of “be prepared,” so the more space something has for miscellaneous everyday items, the better. Out of curiosity, I tried to fit as many bulky items as I could into these pockets and managed to comfortably fit a Welly first-aid kit, a tin of mints, my Leatherman, a stress ball, lip balm, a pen and a container of ibuprofen, all in the front pouch. That being said, carrying so many items will sacrifice space for your firearm. If you’re carrying a full-size handgun, you may not be able to utilize the front pouch much at all – more on that later. Finally, the back of the bag features a low-vis silicone Vertx logo that matches the color of the bag and prevents slipping should you choose to wear it with smooth clothing such as leggings. The 2.0 is also compatible with the Premier Body Armor Level IIIA Insert for added protection – not so useful if you wear it around the waist, but it’s nice for crossbody wear.

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Everyday Carry

Let’s face it; there are many potential ways to carry, especially for women. Hip holsters, backpacks, belly bands and purses are all common ways to EDC, but each carry their own pros and cons. Purse or backpack carry would be the most analogous to the 2.0, but there can be several drawbacks: drawing from a purse can waste valuable seconds, and your firearm can snag. Purses and backpacks are easy to set down and forget or misplace, and accessing your firearm by slinging your backpack or purse around to your front can take too long in a real-world defensive scenario and requires a lot of training to be able to do effectively.

That’s not to say that carrying with the 2.0 wouldn’t require training. You should, of course, practice your draw thoroughly no matter how you choose to carry. The 2.0, though, has been expertly designed to enhance comfort and efficiency in pack carrying, allowing beginners to feel confident and secure in starting EDC. The 2.0’s stylish elements and new color options also minimize a tactical appearance, keeping branding subtle and making EDC feel more comfortable. Plus, the robust and water-resistant material ensures that it can be used in nearly any environment without any concern of damage. I was able to sit down with Lena and discuss the development of the 2.0, and one of the key features in her design of the product versus a purse or a backpack is that you won’t be setting it down. Your firearm is on you at all times, and some of the bag’s new features, such as the rapid-access tab, allow for a seamless user experience straightaway. While the rapid-access tab takes a bit of practice to get used to, I appreciated the various ways it can be adjusted to suit your preferred means of accessing your firearm. It provides an extraordinarily quick draw without interference from miscellaneous objects or the bag itself, something vital for real situations and difficult to achieve via other means of EDC such as purse carrying.

Though it seems small, the bag’s main compartment is capable of fitting full-size handguns. I tested it with the SIG Sauer M11-A1, which is a nice compact handgun, as well as the SIG Sauer P226, a full-size handgun. While a full-size handgun is a much tighter fit than a mid-size or compact, it was able to fit with just some adjustment of the provided holster, which is easily adjusted due to the Velcro system. However, I tried to fit some small items into the front pouch along with it and was not able to close the bag. Even without any items in the front pouch, the P226 is a tight fit, and the hammer somewhat interferes with the zipper when closing. It does technically fit, but my recommendation would be to opt for a smaller handgun if you want to use the 2.0 as intended, with everyday items held alongside your CCW. 

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Parting Shots

Overall, the Everyday Fanny Pack 2.0 is a fantastic option for people who want an under-the-radar, yet highly effective and reliable way to carry. It fits a lot of value into a relatively inexpensive and compact package and is highly customizable to whatever carry style is optimal for you. The provided accessories make it a great entry point into the realm of EDC for someone who may otherwise feel uncomfortable with or intimidated by other options. A sleek, low-profile and highly effective option for EDC, it’s suitable for anybody looking for a way to carry both everyday essentials and a CCW pistol without worrying that they look like they’re geared up for a SWAT mission. It’s an especially excellent option for women, who will certainly appreciate the multiple colorways and the thought put into its various pockets and pouches, but it is an equally great product for men, too. After all, everyone deserves to look their best while keeping themselves protected. And yes… with the 2.0, you can look your best in a fanny pack!