From Purse to Fanny Pack: Your Guide to Effortless Bag Transitions

We've all been there, standing at the door, (kids asking, "Are you ready yet?") frantically digging through our purse to grab the essentials before switching to a smaller bag. Whether you're heading out for a quick errand, a day in nature, or just want the freedom of hands-free convenience, transferring from a purse to a fanny pack (or everyday waist bag) doesn't have to be chaotic.

After years of perfecting this transition, I've developed a simple system that eliminates the guesswork and ensures I never leave home without what I need. Here's how you can master the art of the seamless bag switch.

The Foundation: Your Core Item Categories

The key to efficient bag transfers is organizing your essentials into five clear categories:

Sustenance – snack bars, gum, mints, drink sachets

Survival – lighter, multi-tool, knife, weapon

Personal – Lip balm, hand sanitizer, tissues, hair ties, contacts

Communication – Phone, earbuds, portable charger, notepad, pen

Medical – bandages, medications, natural remedies, emergency med

RELATED: My EDC For Women Digital Guide helps walk you through all of these steps and more!

This categorization works whether you're packing a large tote or a compact waist bag – you just adjust the quantity and size of items based on your bag's capacity.

The Two-Bag Strategy That Changes Everything

Here's the game-changer: duplicate the affordable items and transfer only the investment pieces.

For items under $10-15 (lip balm, hair ties, hand sanitizer), buy multiples and keep a set permanently in each bag. This eliminates most of your transfer work right away. You'll only need to move your wallet items, keys, phone, and any higher-value items between bags.

Your Digital Checklist: Never Forget Again

Create a note in your phone with your personalized checklist. Mine looks like this:

Fanny Pack Essentials:

• ID Card ✓

• Cash/Cards ✓

• Keys ✓

• Phone ✓

• Battery Bank ✓

• Knife ✓

• Weapon ✓

• One snack bar ✓

• Electrolyte ✓

• Pepper Spray (permanent) ✓

• Lip balm (permanent) ✓

• Hand sanitizer (permanent) ✓

• Hair ties (permanent) ✓

• Bandaids (permanent) ✓

• Iodine swabs (permanent) ✓

• Pen (permanent) ✓

  
  

Purse Additions:

• Extra snacks

• Hand cream

• Sunglasses

• Female Hygiene (only put in fanny pack when needed)

• Wallet

• Tourniquet

• Bleeding Control Kit

• Bulletproof Purse Insert

• Notebook

  
  

Having this digital checklist means you can quickly scan and confirm you have everything before leaving home.

Adapting to Your Bag Size: The Minimalist vs. Maximalist Approach

For your fanny pack: Think minimalist. One of each category item, focusing on multi-purpose options. A lip balm that also works for dry skin, a small multi-tool instead of separate items, one snack bar instead of three. I love my Vertx fanny packs for so many reasons-quality and wearability being one of them, but also, for the beautiful way that I can use their Tactigami system to make my organization so much better!

Update October 2025: The brand new Vertx Everyday Carry Fanny Pack + (holds a full sized handgun) and the Everyday Carry Fanny Pack 2.0 are stunning and so purposeful! I'm LOVING the outpost tan colorway.

The inside of their bags comes with a hook & loop technology that allows for integration of so many moving parts. I really love this mak band addition for all of my utility tools!

RELATED: Use code AMBERELLE always at Vertx for an exclusive discount!

For your purse: This is where you can expand. Multiple snack options, full-size products, backup items, and those "just in case" additions that make you feel prepared for anything.

Making It Automatic: Building the Habit

Start by placing your bags near each other when you get home. Before switching bags, do a quick 30-second scan using your phone checklist. After a few weeks, this becomes automatic – you'll instinctively know what needs to move between bags.

The beautiful thing about this system is that it removes decision fatigue. You're not reinventing the wheel every time you switch bags; you're following a proven template that works.

Your Next Steps

1. Audit your current essentials – What do you actually use when you're out?

2. Categorize them using the five categories above

3. Identify duplicates to buy – Start with the most affordable items

4. Create your phone checklist – Customize it to your specific needs

5. Download the template (link to your PDF) to get started immediately

   
   

A Final Encouragement

Friend, you don't need to make being prepared overwhelming-we have to have systems that are duplicable! The freedom of a streamlined fanny pack – hands free, back pain free, and stress free – is worth the small effort it takes to set up this system.

Trust yourself to know what you actually need. You're more capable and resourceful than you think, and you definitely don't need to carry your entire life on your shoulders (literally).

Start small, be consistent, and give yourself grace as you build this new habit. In a few weeks, you'll wonder how you ever managed without this system.

Ready to get started? Download your free checklist template and take the first step toward effortless bag transitions today!

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey toward confidence and preparedness. Never stop equipping yourself for whatever life brings—I'll always be cheering you on.