ColumbiaTandem Trail Backpack

This hip pack works great being a busy mom of toddlers. I usually have my hands pretty full and this is able to carry my essentials while we go on walks or to the park.

This is much lighter in weight than the MountainSmith hip pack I have (and used to love). I find the MountainSmith pack to be more up to withstanding off-trail wandering, but this Columbia is good for anything that doesn’t involve thorns and twigs snatching at it. However, the MountainSmith is not well designed – the pack likes to spill it’s contents when unzipped if they are at all heavy or the pack is somewhat full. This Columbia hip pack is much better designed. The main opening faces up, rather than out like the MountainSmith pack. What an improvement! It’s also deeper. Sadly, it does lack the inner pockets that the MountainSmith has.This is lightly padded all around.But that’s JustMe. (I received this product in exchange for an honest review, and that is what I have offered here.)

The Columbia Tandem Waist pack is made of ripstop nylon and has 4 zippered compartments. One goes across the top, and is the main compartment. Two smaller openings are found in front of the main compartment, and there is one small pocket on a support piece to the side of the main pouch. The other side of the hip belt also has a padded support, but lacking the zippered compartment. The pack is padded on the back and comfortable to wear. This would be a great waist pack for an excursion where you need a few smaller things. None of these pockets are huge, but for a trip to an amusement park or garage sale-ing, where you need money and a few small things this is great. I actually got it for my granddaughter who likes to carry little trinkets around with her when walking or riding her bike through her neighborhood.

We have a very long driveway (a third mile) and the family walks up it regularly to see the neighbors. This fanny pack is the perfect size to keep my cell phone, an extra diaper for the baby, a small pack of wipes, and my chapstick. It's really nice to just grab this rather than lug the entire diaper bag around.

This is a good size waist pouch. It has four pockets. The main one is big enough for a small water bottle. The back is padded and comfortable to wear. This is a great pouch for hiking or a tiny trip that needs several items to be with.