A backpack and cooperating waist bag carrying system is provided. The bag portion of the backpack releasably contains the receiver of a waist bag when the belt of the waist bag is secured around the bearer's waist and the backpack is worn on the bearer's back. The receiver of the waist bag can be moved without having to take off the backpack so that the receiver of the waist bag is disposed to the bearer's front and the bearer can gain access to the contents the receiver. The bearer can then move the receiver back to the lower region of the backpack. The combination of the backpack and the waist bag then will appear to be a normal backpack with a waist belt. While moving the receiver, the waist bag remains operatively connected to the backpack.