I just walked 500 km with this $38 Lululemon belt bag — here's my honest review
I used Lululemon's Team Canada mini belt bag every day on the Camino de Santiago — would I recommend it?
Earlier this summer, I crossed off a years-long bucket list item: I walked 500 kilometres of the Camino de Santiago with my dad. Our route, the Camino Portugues Coastal, took us nearly three weeks and several 30+ kilometre days to complete. For anyone familiar with the Camino, or any long-distance trekking for that matter, you'll know that carrying your pack is an integral part of the experience — no pain, no glory, as some pilgrims say.
My backpack, the Gregory Jade 43 Backpack, was the perfect size for day-to-night gear like clothing and my sleeping bag. However, I also wanted a smaller, more easily accessible bag to hold my wallet, phone and other essentials, so I brought along the Team Canada Future Legacy Mini Belt Bag from Lululemon.
Shop the Team Canada belt bag in four colours: beech white (pictured), black, atmospheric purple and spicy red.
- Water-repellent fabric
- Exterior and interior pockets
- Lightweight and compact
- The strap can be finicky
- Fabric isn't great for heavy rain
- It's a tight squeeze for anything more than your essentials
Part of Lululemon's Team Canada collection, the belt bag was not only the perfect size for frequently used items, but with its embossed maple leaf, it garnered the attention of other Canadian pilgrims, opening the door to many mid-hike conversations.
Unlike its roomier counterparts — the Everywhere Belt Bag 1L and Everywhere Belt Bag Large 2L — the mini belt bag is just that — mini. It measures 18cm x 4cm x 10.5cm (7.1" x 1.6" x 4.1"), which amounts to just enough space for your phone, lip balm, headphones, keys and card case. I have a small card holder (similar in size to Lululemon's True Identity Card Case), but I have my doubts that the belt bag would fit anything larger.
Crafted from water-repellent fabric, the belt bag has exterior and interior pockets and an adjustable strap. Like all of the retailer's Team Canada collection, 10 per cent of sales support Team Canada athletes. It comes in four colours: beech white, black, atmospheric purple and spicy red.
Lululemon's Team Canada belt bag in spicy red.
Why it's good
The size: the mini belt bag is great if you're looking for an ultra-compact bag. It fits what you need, but that's about it. When you walk the Camino, you want to pack as little as possible. Because of its teeny-tiny size, it forces you to pack strategically. If you want to head out the door with as little as possible, this is the bag for you.
The pockets: the easy-access exterior pocket definitely came in handy for items like Kleenex and storing trash from food wrappers. The interior pocket is pretty shallow, but it's nice to have for your keys and passport.
Team Canada: more than anything, I love that it's a Team Canada bag and that a portion of its sales goes towards supporting our athletes. I'm a big Canadiana gal, so I tend to be a sucker for anything with a maple leaf.
Room for improvement
The fabric: now, this is to be taken with a grain of salt because nowhere does the Team Canada bag claim to be waterproof; however, I'd like to know where the line is drawn between water-repellent and waterproof. It rained on and off for a few of the days we were hiking. If it was misty outside, the bag was fine, but when it properly rained, I had to keep the belt bag inside my rain jacket to protect its contents. Again, the bag doesn't claim to be waterproof, but I'd be weary to wear it in anything more than a drizzle. P.S. This is the rain jacket that I brought — I loved it.
The size (again): I cannot stress how small this bag is. I have an iPhone 15, and it fits, but some reviews caution that larger devices may have a more challenging time squeezing into the belt bag. If you are the type to want to pack a snack, bring any makeup or have a portable charger on hand, this bag is likely too small.
I walked 500 km of the Camino de Santiago: here's what I packed
Over the next little while, I will review everything I packed for the Camino de Santiago and share my thoughts—the good, the bad, and the blistered—on everything. To read my post-pilgrimage thoughts, make sure to check back regularly. As a sneak peek, here's what else I brought with me:
Merrell Women's MOAB Speed Mid Waterproof Hiking Shoes
Gregory Jade 43 Backpack
MEC Camino Traveller 15/22C Sleeping Bag
MEC Pack Rain Cover
Gregory 3D Hydro 2L Reservoir
Kathmandu Trailhead Stretch Jacket
Women's Merino 260 Fastray II 8" High Rise Shorts
Merino Hike+ Light Crew Socks
Women's 125 Cool-Lite Merino Blend Speed T-Shirt
Lululemon Align Cropped Cami Tank Top
Women's Merino 150 Tech Lite III T-Shirt
Explorer Merino Sock
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