Lululemon belt bag vs. wristlet: Both are viral — but which is worth it?

I wish I were one of those people who could leave the house with minimal belongings, but I am not. At all times, I need to be with essentials such as credit cards, my phone, earbuds and most importantly — lip balm. So rest assured, I have an immense collection of totes and crossbody purses.

While I am ashamed to say I once scoffed at the idea of a belt bag, I did do a double-take when the Lululemon option went viral. I didn't know this '80s style could come in such a sleek form. So I jumped on the bandwagon and as the name says, I have been wearing it "everywhere" ever since.

But then, a new viral Lululemon accessory entered the chat and has been taking over TikTok. The Dual Pouch Wristlet. Being such a fan of my handy Lululemon belt bag, I decided to see what the wristlet hype was about. Over the course of a couple of weeks, I used both accessories daily in my everyday errands and routine and compared the two based on functionality, style and ease of use — and shared my honest thoughts below.

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L

Everywhere Belt Bag 1L

$38.00 at Lululemon

What we like

• Suprisingly roomy
• Exterior zippered pocket
• Adjustable strap

Something to note

• Strap not long enough for some

Size: 4.5” x 0.2” x 2.8” | Material: Nylon and Polyester | Colors: 19

I've been a longtime fan of the Lululemon brand for its durability and athleisure aesthetic, and I've owned the Everywhere Belt Bag (in black) for about three years now. The bag has been on many adventures with me, from mundane errands to Pilates class to vacations. It's been the bag I reach for most in my everyday life, and to this day, it looks as good as new.

What impresses me most about it is how much it can hold. At first glance, it may not look roomy, but it can hold all of your essentials and more. The main pouch has an interior mesh pocket and an anti-theft exterior pocket. I use this bag mostly for everyday errands, like a quick trip to the grocery store or a Pilates class, and I have packed this thing with my keys, wallet, earbuds, cellphone, lip balm, hand sanitizer and a reusable tote. If I didn't have the reusable tote or wallet, I could fit my small sunglasses in there, too.

The belt bag doesn't look bulky with all these items packed away either. As part of my personal style, I like to wear the bag as a crossbody, however, I will say that if it's stuffed to the max, my shoulder will start to ache after a while, and I will have to switch to the other side. I have worn it as a proper belt bag for more intense outdoor activities, including snowboarding in Aspen, and I'll wear it around my waist during a run through Central Park.

Given my preferences and lifestyle of living in a big city, I like that the belt bag helps me be completely hands-free. It allows me to carry shopping bags and easily navigate my maps app — all while easily accessing my everyday essentials.

Lululemon Dual Pouch Wristlet

Dual Pouch Wristlet

$48.00 at Lululemon

What we like

• Pouches detach for various use
• Can hook keys onto it

Something to note

• Doesn't fit a phone

Size: 4.5”x 0.2”x 2.8” (2 pouches) | Material: Nylon and Polyester| Colors: 8

The Dual Pouch Wristlet is the latest accessory making waves on TikTok. To compare it, I went about a similar everyday routine as I did with my belt bag. After trying it out for a couple of weeks, I see its appeal and perks.

For starters — it's adorable. It comes with two pouches attached to a wrist loop, which allows you to wear them together or separately. Since I have the belt bag in black, I opted for the Flush Pink and Bone. It doesn't hold nearly as much as the belt bag can, so you will have to make sacrifices (or carry another bag). For instance, I placed my ID, credit cards and keys in one pouch, and the other held my headphones or a lip balm.

I did see some TikTokers have a clever approach with attaching their keys or hand sanitizer straight onto the carabiners to free up more pouch space, too. Sadly, the pouches do not accommodate a phone.

However, I do like that the double pouch keeps an organized separation. Each one detaches, so you can wear them separately to lighten the load, or you can utilize them outside of wristlet mode and carry them as a tiny card holder in a larger bag. The loop is easy to carry by hand or comfortably around the wrist/arm to stay hands-free. All in all, you're getting about four ways to wear and style it, which makes it a pretty versatile accessory.

Both of these Lululemon accessories feature the brand's sleek athleisure aesthetic, similar water-resistant fabrics and convenient functionality, however, I find that for my lifestyle, one will always reign supreme: the Everywhere Belt Bag.

I like that the small-but-mighty design of the belt bag holds more essentials (like my phone), and it's much more manageable when it comes to everyday wear. I love that the adjustable strap allows you to easily throw it over your shoulder or waist, keeping your hands free without anything dangling around.

However, some might prefer the versatility of the Dual Pouch Wristlet. It really depends on your lifestyle and personal preference for overall style.

To compare the viral Lululemon accessories, I've been wearing the Lululemon Belt Bag for over three years, wearing it daily on errands, to the gym, traveling and more. While the Dual Pouch Wristlet is new to my closet, I made sure to use it for at least a week while running similar errands and routines as I do with the belt bag. Plus, I packed each accessory with similar items. I've been wearing various Lululemon items for over a decade and am very familiar with the brand's quality and style.

The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.

Shannon Garlin is an associate editor for Shop TODAY. She has been with the team for three years and covers a range of topics, including the latest in fashion and beauty, product reviews, sales and more. She has long been a consumer and fan of the Lululemon brand, wearing its bestsellers from the viral belt bag to Align leggings.