I’ve gone through a number of vest and pack alternatives through the years, but have never found a vest or pack that I’ve been completely happy with, so I’m shopping again and looking for suggestions. This would be primarily for fishing small trout streams on foot. I frequently hike a bit, so I want to carry a fair amount of stuff – 32 oz water bottle, lunch, rain jacket, 4-6 fly boxes, net, camera, net, small first aid / repair kit, etc.
I want something comfortable that doesn’t shift or tug in the wrong places when it’s fully loaded and that’s not too hot during the summer. I’m leaning towards something with a waist belt or backpack straps for stability.
I want something that’s efficient on the stream, but smooth zippers and good organization are more important to me than the specialty organization like tippet systems and fly ports.
I like the split,vertical chest packs, but I don’t like the one-piece chest packs as I’m on the stout side and like to see where I’m stepping.
I don’t have a retail store in my area where I can look these, but I’m considering the following. I would be glad to hear other suggestions.
Lots of storage space. The accessory straps help keep a heavily loaded lumbar pack from slipping.
One small box of readily accessible flies, and a tippet spool or two go in a shirt pocket. I wear tools on a lanyard. Extra fly boxes, leaders, tippet, lunch, light rain jacket, etc. go into the pack. I don’t bother with a net, but some of the light collapsible nets can be affixed to the back of the pack for hiking, then released and clipped on with a carabiner or other device when fishing.
John, consider finding an outfit that makes backpacks and having something custom made for you. Like you, I can never find anything that I really like, and some day will break down and get one made.
One option, you may consider…go to the William Joseph web site and check out the “Equinox”, unit.
Instead of the conventional vest, or, chest pack, it’s more of a a “bandoleer pack/vest”. One of our club members has one and loves it for what type fishing he likes to do… “running up and down mountain sides, looking for remote streams and lakes”! (his description, not mine!)
In October '04 I went to a Camelback Rim Runner hydration pack and a Fishpond chest pack. The Rim Runner has a 100 oz reservoir and two outside mesh pockets which will handle quart bottles, bear spray, etc. The capacity of the Rim Runner is about 1700 cubic inches. It will handle a rain or fleece jacket, a second reel and a number of small to medium fly boxes, food, and the chest pack in the main compartment. The smaller compartment will handle most of the “ten essentials” I carry with me at all times plus a first aid kit, snack bars, toilet paper, and a small aquarium net.
The Fishpond Chest pack carries enough fishing stuff that I can get by without the Rim Runner when fishing closer to the car.
Between fishing and hiking, the Rim Runner has well over 600 days use on it, anywhere from several hours to full day outings. About an inch of stitching for the zipper on the main compartment has failed, and it shows the effects of thousands of hours in the sun and the elements, but otherwise it is in good shape and may go another 600 days.
The Fishpond chest pack has between 400 and 450 days use on it. It looks like new !!
If you like the approach, take a look at Camelback’s website. The Rim Runner goes for $85, and they have a number of other packs which might be more suitable to your needs, if you decide to go this way.
The Fishpond website shows the chest pack for $49.
I haven’t checked on any of the outdoor equipment vendor’s sites, but you might find a “buy” on a suitable Camelback pack at rei.com, sierratrading post.com, or campmor.com.
Like boats and vehicles there is always an element of compromise needed.
I tend to find the rainjacket is the bit that is hard to cope with, None of my jackets G3, Deep Wading, pack down small enough to fit in a vest without leaving me feel like the hunchback of Notre Dame.
One thing you might try is getting a really lightweight packable Jacket like the Simms Invest or similar, to keep the bulk down
So the packs have some appeal, until you land in the heat of an Arkansas summer. So I have ended up guiding out of a Fishpond Waterdance, holds 2 waterbottles, all the fly boxes I need and all the other odds and sods, and I sling the net from the neck strap. But not a jacket. Keeps all the weight on my hips.
Which is a problem in winter when Im wearing my G3 as it rides on top of the pack and heavy enough to push it down.
So Ive been looking at the Wasatch - Gore Range and other vestpacks to take over for winter and the shoulder seasons when you need a rain jacket.
Im like you not a huge fan of chest packs _ I don’t like the bulk on my chest.
But perhaps you might like a couple of new packs from Fishpond.
They could be the answer for you hiking needs, take a full jacket lunch, water bottles etc when you really need to be self-sufficient, _ more so than me Im never more than a mile and half from my vehicle or boat.
I prefer the Orvis Sling. Sometimes I accidentally LOL wade a little too deep and fanny packs get water logged. Same thing with a regular vest. The sling hold ALLOT and I can swing it out of the way.
I bought the Fishpond Wasatch about 18 or so months ago and I love it. Its expandable for the times that you need that little bit more room for the olong walkin-wade trip. And its just find for the stop-the-truck-and-bail-out-with-the-pole-and-a-prayer trip.
I have the Fishpond Gore Range vest and I like it especially for spin fishing. I tried the Open Range vest but thought the front pockets bulge out too much and kinda make it feel like you have double D breasts. I can imagine this gets in the way when you’re stripping line. The Gore Range is not “as” bulky in front and you still have a ton of pockets.
My brother is a more experience flyfisher who first bought a Gore Range but now actually prefers their “fanny pack” option better because he can swing the pack behind him when he’s doesn’t need his gear. He has this one http://fishpondusa.com/waterdance.cfm
For your needs I think the High Country pack (like mentioned above) and the Double Haul are worth a look from Fishpond. They don’t look as bulky up front like the vest would get with those pockets that can really bulge out on either side if you fill them up.
Here’s what I usually use for my summer trout fishing. I love it. I think I got it on clearance at REI or something…sorry if the pics are a little large…
It has plenty of room for lunch as well…
during the winter, I usually use a chest pack (I think mine’s a Watermark) since it’ll hide under my raincoat a little easier…
The main thing I don’t like about chest packs is that most of them are just too bulky in the front…I don’t care for the added bulk…that said, there are times when I throw on the backpack plus a small chestpack if I am hiking a ways from the car…
I actually have the same problem with the chest pack I use sometimes during the winter!!! don’t really like that part…otherwise, it’s a really great pack.
Because my trips are only a few hours each in duration, I have paired down my requirements to a small fanny pack, and the heck with the vest and all the rest. I guess I like the minimalist approach, and I know I’m a lot more comfortable out on the water.
