Yesterday I went to Orvis to look at their chest or fanny packs. I wanted to find a simple large fanny pack to hold a few boxes of Saltwater flies and some tippets, clippers and “stuff”. What I desired was one large pocket and one small pocket. What I saw at Orvis was comical. Now even though my kids nick named me “Gadget Man” this was more than even I could stand.
Their chest/ fanny pack had the following:
A waist strap that was adjustable with padding to carry a heavy load.
A flap to secure the waist straps when not in use
Four micro adjustments on the waist strap to allow for fine tuning
A large pocket on the main pouch
A pocket inside this one
A mesh holder with two compartments of leaders
A Medium pocket
Sholder Straps for making it into a chest pack
A velcro pouch to add on another pocket
Shoulder straps to make the econd pouch its own vest
mesh on the outside of that that did nothing except create a place for hooks to catch
Two water bottle holders
Two water bottles
a built in GPS/Cell Phone
okay, they did not have the GPS/Cell Phone option
I asked the clerk and he did not even know what some of the “features” were for. I swear didn’t they ever hear about simplicity? It just seems so overdone. The total weight of the bag itself was greater than the weight of all the items I hoped to put into the bag. The only thing I could say is it was reasonably priced ($79) with a 30% sale.
After thinking about it for a while I decided not to buy it because the steamer on the cappiccino accessory did not produce enough bar of pressure.
you want simple I’ve got simple.Go to WalMart look in the sporting goods area for a butt pack.Thats where I found mine.It is simple waist strap and big pouch open pocket inside the main compartment and a zip open pocket on the front 2 pouches 1 each side that has water bottles in them.Even had a carabineeron it I use that for my forceps.the inside pocket is for a cd player but I have tippet in it there is a hole for head phones (tippet feed through)
It holds 2 medium 1 small and a spare spool wallet 2 leaders 1 tippet keys and sunglasses.
I think it was $10 -15
[This message has been edited by teasels (edited 27 October 2005).]
jed, you bring out a great point. the manufactuers keep giving us MORE, when what we need is LESS. i go in the fly shop and look at 30 different vests and ask WHY? there should be two vests–a light weight and heavy weight. incorporate all the good things from each vest into these two–waterproof pocket for wallet, water bottle holder, etc. I think if someone started a fly fishing company and instead of always increasing the product line and adding more to already too complicated items they went back to basics, they’d make a fortune (and i’m willing to cut you in on this idea if you can give me a million in venture capital).
i ordered one from dicks that had 1 big pocket, a water bottle holder, and 1 small pocket. perfert for hunting, but i can use ot fishing if i want to also
Jed;
I have one from Clear Creek that came with a rod case. 1 divided pocket approx 10" by 2" by 6" deep, holds leaders, tippets, line dressing, spare spool, etc. A fold down “Tray” with sheep skin to hold flys. Some small pockets behind the tray for chap stick, a tube of split shot, etc. It has one large velco flap the covers everything when closed. It also has belt loops and “D” rings for a chest harness. It’s got a couple of grommets for drain holes when you fill it up.
No water bottles, coffee maker or cell phone!
I thing I paid around 60 bucks for it and the rod case.
[This message has been edited by Jack Hise (edited 28 October 2005).]
Lately, for saltwater, I carry only one fly box and everything goes in my pockets or in the top of my waders.
Nippers and such on a lanyard
Very liberating
Dick, Thats the closest of any bag I’ve seen. I was looking for a spec 10x5x5 on the main compartment. This one is very close and I can probably change the boxes I use to accomodate this.
I like the simple waist straps and the simple design. Thanks for showing me this.
Jed…
All I can tell you is that I went through two of the fancy butt packs before settling on this one. It holds two of my C&F Waterproof Saltwater boxes and everything else that I have found that I need on the flats. We are usually not that far from the boat so a water bottle is just extra weight. It is built really tough.
Stopped by our new Wallyworld store
today just because I could.G Walking
through the sports department I was looking
at the tackle packs. They had a fannie pack
that had a medium sized Planobox that would
easily hold salt water flies with a quick
access rubber safty strap and two additional
velcro pockets that would accomodate all of
my other goodies. At $8.88, it appears to
be designed for just the purpose you plan to
use it for. Warm regards, Jim
i have a complaint about wally world! after about 7 years of hard use the zipper on my wally world chest pack finally broke! and there is no warranty! see if i spend $7 on another one! that works out to a buck a year!
The same pack is probably at K-Mart, Target, Cabela’s, Gander Mountain…