Everyone is wearing the lululemon Everywhere belt bag — so I bought one to see if I should wear it ‘everywhere’ too

You’ve probably seen lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag cropping up on your social media feed or have admired the look on someone at your gym or local grocery store. You may even own the popular belt bag, but is the growing fashion trend really worth the investment?

lululemon’s belt bags have taken over as the go-to bag of every season as the athletic retailer continues to reinvent its appearance with new fabrics, patterns and adornments. The Everywhere Belt Bag has tons of function, which probably is part of its appeal, and it’s not just for women as the style is suited for men as well.

To see if lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag is really worth the purchase, I bought one and used it daily. Here’s what I thought about the belt bag that I literally see “everywhere.”

What is the lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag?

Price: $38

If lululemon’s athletic wear is not yet a part of your wardrobe, you may not be fully versed in the Everywhere Belt Bag trend. Available in two sizes — a 1 L and a larger 2 L — this belt bag, as you would imagine, is designed for function.

It can be worn across the chest, as a shoulder bag or literally slung any way you like. But the real beauty of the belt bag is its ability to hold “everything” you need for the day while still being easy to wear and move with. It features an adjustable belt with a longer belt style also available to fit over bulkier clothing like a puffy coat.

lululemon offers the Everywhere Belt Bag in a extensive rainbow of colors, including Sakura Pink, Paradise Green and Washed Mauve. There is also a range of neutral colors like White Opal, Traverse Grey and Raw Linen currently available.

I opted for the fan-favorite Black colorway in the 1 L size for a more universal look.

How much does the lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag cost?

Depending on your personal price preference, lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag costs $38-$48 in the 1 L size, depending on color choice. The larger 2 L option is $48 while other styles of the belt bag, such as the 2 L fleece ($68) or 2 L Wunder Puff ($58), cost a bit more.

However, the belt bag I chose was $38, which I think was a pretty affordable price tag after using it and especially when you compare it to other bag options available to buy today. Plus, lululemon often runs a special on the Everywhere Belt Bag in its “We Made Too Much” overstock section, where you might be able to find it marked down, if you’re not picky about color or size.

Shipping and Delivery of the lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag

lululemon really shines when it comes to shipping and delivery of its beloved athletic wear. Most importantly, shipping on my belt bag order was completely free. To me, this is a huge perk as there is no purchase minimum on lululemon’s online orders for free standard shipping, which is said to take two to six days for processing and delivery.

Because lululemon’s shipping is totally free, I didn’t feel that nagging need to add more items to my cart to meet the minimum purchase requirement. Delivery of my belt bag came within the delivery window suggested by lululemon and it arrived via FedEx without any issues.

My review of lululemon’s Everywhere belt bag

Upon receiving my lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag, I have to admit I was pretty stoked. I wanted to see if I would love this bag and want to wear it “everywhere” too.

Exterior

First, the feel of the bag is pretty quality. While the nylon material surprised me at first, I soon realized its importance. The outer body of the belt bag has a water-repellant fabric. This was key in the winter months and proved to be a lifesaver when mistaken dropped on my wet car mats.

But it is very easy to clean because the nylon material can just be wiped off. lululemon doesn’t recommend washing or drying the belt bag, which I agree might cause it to fade or get misshaped. So, with a little care, a quick damp wipe removed any dirt and salt marks that I seemed to have accumulated over time.

Interior

The interior of the Everywhere Belt Bag has three mesh pockets that can hold smaller items and keep them in their place. This was helpful to me in some instances, but at other times I wished they weren’t there. I think that is more of a personal preference and was really based on what I was carrying at the time. When I had bulkier items stuffed in the bag, like a dog leash, dog treats or sunglasses, I wanted all the room I could get.

The one feature of lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag that I absolutely adored was the hidden pocket at the back. This zipped close and was a really great spot for essentials that I didn’t need constant access to all the time like my phone. This secret pocket is surprisingly roomy and was really handy when I walked the dogs to keep items close but out of the way.

Personally, I am always leery of zippers breaking or getting caught on something and I find it quite frustrating when they do. I think it’s pretty safe to say that lululemon’s belt bag zippers work pretty well. I didn’t have any issues while I was using the bag but it still remains to be seen if they will hold substantially longer. It does seems like they will and they do sell an Everywhere Belt Bag with a metal zipper and other metal hardware.

Size

Sizing of the Everywhere Belt Bag strap seemed ideal at its reported 41.7 inches. I was able to slip the belt bag on and off with ease using the buckle clip to keep it in place. But honestly, I am not a huge fan of the plastic-like buckle as it seem like it could break if took it off too recklessly. I just wished for something a bit more sturdy and durable, which the Everywhere Belt Bag with metal hardware offers.

Overall the capacity of the belt bag in the 1 L size was a good fit for me. It wasn’t too big or bulky, which is not to say I didn’t cram it with “everything” on occasion. I think for me the 2 L version of the bag would’ve been overkill and a bit heavy for my taste, but again it really depends on what you use it for and what you want to put in it.

Use

I mostly used the belt bag when walking my dogs. But like many of you might do, I continued to keep all my regular use items (chapstick, bank cards, money, phone, keys, etc.) in it for daily use. It was a great bag for going out casually as it kept me handsfree when grocery shopping, running errands or going out to dinner with friends.

It also would be a good bag to bring to a concert or other event, where you want to have some fun without having to constantly worry about forgetting it.

Pros and Cons of lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag

So, after some consideration, here is my list of pros and cons of lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag that I generated after using the bag.

Pros

• Water repellant material
• Easy to clean
• Several pockets for essentials
• Secret back pocket
• Generous size capacity
• Multifunctional use
• Easy to wear
• Affordable price point

Cons

• Zipper could be more durable
• Belt clip could be more sturdy
• Non-machine washable
• Mesh pockets not always needed

My Verdict

After running around with lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag on the daily, I think the bag is a good sidekick. It’s great for casual wear and it’s intended athletic use. It also makes a great bag when you need your hands free but still want to have all your stuff at your side too. Also, it doesn’t fall off your shoulder like some handbags do.

The belt bag also has a pretty solid quality to it and beyond just a few details it really is a durable bag that you can use daily. I do wish the zipper and belt clip were sturdier, as mentioned, but the metal hardware version of the belt bag may fix these fears for me.

This Everywhere Belt Bag really has all the room I need to carry my essentials and perform my daily running around at a price point I feel comfortable with. It is an easy bag to quick to sling on and go and you may even see me wearing it “everywhere.”

Shop lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag collection online here.

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Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/.