**Just for the sake of a friendly discussion what fishing vests do you all favor? I’ve been using an Umpqua Chest pack for about the past 5 years. I like it, but was thinking about trying a vest again. **
I have been using a fanny pack and some fly boxes with a lanyard on them.
Rick
I love my Filson waist pack! On my second one in 16 years. They hold up incredibly, don’t get in the way of casting, and hold a full trips worth of flies. The vests are just way too hot for around here, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
I have been a vest guy for all my fly-fishing life and have a closet with old, retired vests. For the past 20 years, my three-season vest is from Patagonia. I find it to be lightweight, comfortable and has more storage space than I need. My fourth season summer vest is an older LL Bean mesh vest. I like the airiness and storage capacity of that model. During the last two seasons, I experimented with a Patagonia waist pack that could also be used on the shoulder with a cross-chest strap as a grab and go pack for local streams where I didn’t need carry the kitchen sink and microwave.
1 Like
I use the same vest I bought at Cabela’s in 1981. It’s still good. I have always liked it. It holds everything I need. I added a water bottle pocket and a few extra sheep fur pads with velcro for extra flies. Back pocket holds fish if I want to keep some. Jim.
Vest person here, I have 2, one from the 80’s that has been retired and a vest purchased at Cabelas which has been in use for many years, probably from the early 2000’s.
I change up how I carry gear quite frequently; however, I do have a Simms Guide Vest. I really have zero complaints about it. It may not breathe as well as some of the others mentioned, though. If wading in freshwater, I have grown to prefer a hip pack - I think. For that, I have been using the FishPond Switchback Pro. It is really nice how easily the pack slides around for access and net storage is great. One of the Thunderhead options will provide more protection from water. I have spent the past year in a saltwater environment where I carried nippers on a lanyard around my neck, tippet in my pocket, and also a puck with just a few different flies. I really prefer the simplicity of this approach.
I have a Columbia vest that I really like. HOWEVER, all of my vests are getting filled with more stuff each season. My solution of late is to go with chest packs and only fill what space allows. I am surprised at how much they will hold without wearing me down by the end of each trip. Because all of the contents are at waist level or slightly higher, it makes both visibility and accessibility a pleasure as opposed to searching through the many pockets in all vests and un-velcroing pocket flaps. Tight lines!
I have been using Simms for decades. The current one I have is 15 plus years old. I don’t recall the model, but it wears like iron.
