I searched the site and couldn’t come up with any discussions on chest packs. Anyone care to share their opinions? I fish for trout on small to medium size streams. I’ve tried a chest box and have ruled it out.
Thanks
P.S. That Fishpond Windwalker looks nice.
personally, I prefer a fanny pack to a chest pack…I just slide it around when I need to get into it and slide it back around to get it out of my way when casting. plus, mine’s got two nice sized bottle holders…
there’s more than enough space for everything I need…
My choice remains the vest from ‘Stormy Seas.’ No, it doesn’t have a lot of pockets;;; that is a ‘good thing!’ 8)
I can’t see where I’m going to step with a chest pack. This is troublesome when hiking in through some woods with underbrush or a rocky path. I like a vest or a shoulder bag.
I have a Fishpond chest pack. It can be worn as a chest pack or a fanny pack. I do not like it as a chest pack. It seems to get in the way when I cast. I use it as a fanny pack for the salt water most of the time.
My sons and I all use Fishpond bags. We can rig them as chest packs if needed, but much prefer to use them as shoulder bags. They are easily flipped around an ride on the small of our back or hip and are out of the way when wading or moving through brush.
It’s been years since I’ve been able to see my feet, and having yet another 4 or 6 inches riding out front doesn’t help me avoid obstacles any better!
i have the fishpond windwalker and love it, seeing as you are walking is overrated you must use the force :lol:
These people aren’t sponsors so forgive if I’m stepping on toes. I saw this Tulli Chest pack while surfing. It’s like a chest pack/vest.
I use a Wright & McGill compact size. Can’t recall the last time I used a full vest. The only other way I wade is a box in the pocket. Sure saves on the shoulders/neck. My .02
Mike K.
I keep a pouch lanyard in my truck for when ever I get the urge. But I LOVE!!! my Filson Shelter Cloth Strap Vest. Light weight and carrys everything I need.
I’ve tried a few for the scenarios I fish. I mostly fish from a kayak in south florida saltwater. I also wade that water and bank hop the fresh/brackish canals down here. Sometimes I even go out in a boat. 
Ultimately for my kayak I prefer a columbia style shirt with big chest pockets. One carries tippet, a fly box & whistle, the other usually carries my portable camera and sometimes my gps. Spin tackle (what’s that?) goes in a clear dry bag I keep at my feet.
The chest packs I have that I like to use are my william joseph flats lite (chest pack that can be a fanny pack) and my tals fishing system. The tals is a little bulky but i found it very useful.
I just ordered the william joseph creel that I found on clearance at STP. I like the design of it and have wanted one for awhile. At the clearance price I just couldn’t say no
Ken
I have a Fishpond “Water Dance” and use it as a fanny pack. It seems to be very well made because all the zippers are still working great and they have been abused as only I can abuse something. I don’t think it is quite as convenient as a vest, but I don’t get that sharp pain between my shoulder blades any more after using it like I did with a vest.
Joe
Last chance,
I have a vest from columbia and a small chest pack from cabela’s. The columbia is about 10 years old so even if I knew the model it probably wouldn’t be relavant today. I forget the cabela’s model, but it was either 20 or 30 dollars. I rarely use either. I take a box of flies and a spool or 2 of tippet and I am on my way. All fit in my waders pocket very easily. I found the chest pack online and I don’t suggest you do that. Take your time and look at every pack you can at every store you can until you find the one you love, then buy it. It will last you forever, or until you find another you fall inlove with.
I found that I carry around a lot of stuff I never use, thats when I started just carrying the essentials. If I dont wear waders I can carry my box and tippet in a shirt pocket or two. Just take some inventory and take your time. Youll enjoy the pocess I promise.
I have the Fishpond Blue River Chaest/Lumbar pack. On the chest is practically impossible to wade in a freestone. As a lumbar (fanny) pack, it works.
I prefer to lengthen the neck strap and wear it over one shoulder and under the opposite arm (like a bandalero). I can flip it behind my left side to keep it out of the way. I found this as the most expedient way top wear it as I usually am in the water over my hips.
It will hold everything my vest would hold and is way more comfortable to wear than a vest.
I have the Cabela’s chest pack (the $30 one). It carries almost all of my junk, even a light rain jacket (total 15# on average), but has its flaws. For one, it no longer has a water bottle holder. It also has lots of things on it that fly line can snag on, such as zippers and extraneous D-rings. The suspension system leaves a lot to be desired. On the other hand, it doesn’t cut into my shoulders like every vest I have ever worn.
Given a choice, I will have a custom pack maker whip up something for me when this one wears out. Maybe back to a vest, but one with a suspension system for those heavy loads.
DG
i gotta nominate my william joseph mini 1 chest pack!!! i love that thing!!! i dont like the looks of the new solo pack they came out with and im glad i got mine before they changed the style for 2007!!!
i would reccomend it to anyone! if you can find it !
I’m so (round) that if I wore a chest pack of any kind I would never see the ground. That makes for some tough wading, especially with bifocals. :shock: I’ve started using a lanyard and I kind of like it. Almost no weight to it at all, but plenty to snag a line on. I just put 2-3 small fly boxes in my pockets and I’m ready to go. For on stream fishing that seems to be enough for me. Unless I’m in a boat, then I take everything I own.
:?
Hi Lo Tech & All: I’m constantly looking for more comfortable ways to lug my fishing stuff up and down the stream. Like most people, I carry way too many flies and boxes, and I go to the same box everytime I look for a new fly. Maybe I should end my obsessive/compulsiveness and quit carrying so many boxes. I know what you mean about bifocals because I’m there, too. LOL!
I’m so (round) that if I wore a chest pack of any kind I would never see the ground. That makes for some tough wading, especially with bifocals. I’ve started using a lanyard and I kind of like it. Almost no weight to it at all, but plenty to snag a line on. I just put 2-3 small fly boxes in my pockets and I’m ready to go. For on stream fishing that seems to be enough for me. Unless I’m in a boat, then I take everything I own.
I’m so (round) that if I wore a chest pack of any kind I would never see the ground. That makes for some tough wading, especially with bifocals. :shock: I’ve started using a lanyard and I kind of like it. Almost no weight to it at all, but plenty to snag a line on. I just put 2-3 small fly boxes in my pockets and I’m ready to go. For on stream fishing that seems to be enough for me. Unless I’m in a boat, then I take everything I own.
:?
I bought a Guide Series Chest pack from Gander Mountain for $30.00 and it is well made and awesome! It fits over my cold weather gear and holds 2 beers in the mesh side pockets. The backpack is just big enough for extra reels and cold weather gear.
It’s just the ticket for cold weather steelheading!
Like many of the others, I am bothered by a full chest pack - it seems to get in the way of vision when walking / wading, casting and rigging.
A split chest pack – or maybe better described as a strap vest – solves that problem. I personally like a split design with vertical pockets. The vertical pockets seem less bulky to me than the horizontal ones.
I’m currently using a Tulli pack (see http://www.sportgear.ca/tullipack.html). I’ve tried a number of alternatives and, for me, this is the best alternative that I’ve found. It’s got a vertical pockets design, plenty of space in the rear pack, and a couple of water bottle pockets. I wish the pockets were more rounded so the zippers would operate a little easier. I also it had a waist belt to help distribute / stabilize the load (I’ve rigged my own addition). But otherwise it nicely fits my needs.