We're developing a fanny pack for multipitch climbing and could use some input

Yeah, as far as a fanny pack-type thing goes, I think Josh at Tufa absolutely nailed it with the Salathe Sack. Everything else I’ve seen is too wide. 

I use the Mammut multipitch chalkbag and no backpack for anything under 6 pitches. It's fantastic and fits everything I need! I don't know that I would opt for a regular chalk bag and a fanny pack instead. 

Gumby the White wrote:

Your cruxing on a #2!?!?

Good point! "Cruxing on a .75!"

I’ve thought about wearing a fanny pack to carry a camera, but yours wouldn’t do it. I have a Mountainsmith dry tour that has worked well from Belize to the Bering Sea... Once the world settles down and I can get back to multipitch climbing I’ll try it and, if I remember, report back. I expect it’ll be a while. 

I use the Lowe ones. They sit high, above the harness in the small of the back 

Adam Wood wrote: Everything that would fit in a fanny pack would also fit in your approach shoes and or chalk bag sipper pouch. I like what trail running has done in blending backpack with running vest/pack/shirt. i know it sounds silly but a garment that also holds small items without wiggling around seems more useful. If you look at "primitive" hunter gatherer societies their clothing was designed as a tool IE Anoraks or kayak skirts. 

This, basically. The less stuff to carry while climbing the better.

My wife climbs multipitch with a fanny pack and makes a pretty good argument for it.  It's nice to have a few things strapped down tight instead of swinging from the harness when they are used infrequently (phone for camera and route info, water, snacks, shoes for the walk off, etc).  It's also nice to have these things in a pack that can be spun around the waist at a belay instead of taking the pack off and potentially dropping the entire pack.  She has a small REI-branded fanny pack, I want to say it's 8L and pretty slim.  It can also be tossed over the shoulder sling-style.

I'm always jealous when she pulls out snacks.

Jason4Too wrote: My wife climbs multipitch with a fanny pack and makes a pretty good argument for it.  It's nice to have a few things strapped down tight instead of swinging from the harness when they are used infrequently (phone for camera and route info, water, snacks, shoes for the walk off, etc).  It's also nice to have these things in a pack that can be spun around the waist at a belay instead of taking the pack off and potentially dropping the entire pack.  She has a small REI-branded fanny pack, I want to say it's 8L and pretty slim.  It can also be tossed over the shoulder sling-style.

I'm always jealous when she pulls out snacks.

Snacks are aid.

Tradiban wrote:

Snacks are aid.

Fannies are aid.

Fritz Nuffer wrote:

Fannies are aid.

True dat. 

Double true!

Tomily ma wrote: Here’s a cool bag from eBay that might give you some ideas.

I and wife have this fanny pack.  She never uses it, I use it on occasion. It does get in the way of racking if you put in on the side or front; hooked to the rear is OK, but not that easy to get into. THAT's the major problem with most fanny-on-harness "packs".  Also, for Northeast it's a bit small for more than 2-3 pitches. It came with a 1/2 li "Platapus-type btl that fit into a rear zippered & netted compartment.

my partners give me a lot of shit for it but I've been rocking the multipitch fanny pack for a while now. I don't feel too cluttered with it, especially when the alternative is carrying a real pack. i'll usually have a light puffy + food + maybe water in the fanny and then water + light shell in small stuff sack clipped to my harness (new BD harness bags work great). avoid backpacks at all costs.

If you need snacks that make you feel cluttered on a 5 pitch route there are other issues that need to be addressed...

clip a 1/2 liter to the little loop on the back of your harness, maybe one bar or gu in a zipper pocket and you have everything you need....

You can stuff things into your approach shoes as Adam has noted above. However, I've been using a fanny pack for longer routes for years, especially for cameras, phones, glasses and snacks, and it has been very useful without being cumbursome. A fanny pack is preferable to a small backpack because of it's slimmer profile and easier access.

Small company out of NH makes these in small batches:  ailero.co/sale

High quality, streamlined designed.  I've used them and they don't interfere with gear loops at all.  Fits phone, keys, granola bar, headlamp, etc..  Ultralight wind shirt fits in the chalk bag.  

The Guy Lacelle tribute video shows him soloing (ice, of course) with a fanny pack. Pretty sure that gives it full hard man status.

fanny packs are so hot right now.  Urban Outfitters has a whole section devoted to them.  Adidas, Nike, File, BDG, Patagonia, and more!
https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/search?q=fanny+pack&sayt=true

I've used an REI trail 2 a few times on multipitches, it was relatively unobtrusive. Ultimately though I found that everything I put in there equally unobtrusively and more efficiently fit in my pockets or clipped to my harness. On really long stuff where I want multiple layers, a big lunch, lots of water, and to not have approach shoes dangling from my harness all day: I just carry a Blue Ice dragonfly.

Metolius tried it about 10-12 years ago and it didn't catch on. Too big and too bulky.

Right now I'm down with the Mammut multi-pitch chalk bag and the Trango Ration Capsule. Both work great IMO.

Locker wrote:

 huge 

Any pack Locker would rack must have room for the down-T in a sack.