#25 Fly Fishing Vest

Fly Fishing Vest vs. Chest Pack or Back Pack, Too Many Choices!

As many of you are learning to fly fish for the first time, by now you are starting to show signs and symptoms of accumulation sickness. This is where you start to buy things in an effort to get that next great thing, or “if I just get this _______” I will be complete.

There is a lot of choices

Fly fishing is an activity that offers a huge choice of options when it comes to gear. Different situations require the right gear to maximize the experience. The wide choice of fly-fishing equipment is overwhelming, choices can be intimidating and fishing vests and packs are no different. This article will give you things to consider when looking for the ideal storage solution for your fly-fishing adventures.

Back in the dawn of time when I was a beginner fly-fisherman, I started to show signs of accumulation sickness early on. I would go to the fly shop, and my eyes would begin to glaze over at all of the shiny objects that adorned the walls of my local fly shop. I was slowly accumulating a little of this and a little of that, and before you know it, I was able to fill the back of the 1980 Toyota 4x4 to the brim with all of the things I think I “might” need for my 2 hours of fishing.

When I hit the water I looked like a pack mule on a 16-day trip to the Grand Canyon. I carried every tool that was known to man, I carried every gizmo and gadget that a fly-fisherman needed, heck I carried enough stuff for other fisherman as well.

All was the norm, until I started to develop neck problems from all of the excess weight that was pulling down on my neck and shoulders. I realized that I needed to make a change if I was to keep fishing. So, I looked at the available options and decided it was time to try a hip pack. This was difficult for me because I had to leave a large portion of my prized gadgets behind.

This was actually a blessing; it forced me to decide what was actually important and what I left behind.    I cut my fly boxes down from 10ish to maybe 3, I found combo tools for all of my prized gadgets, in no time I had a very comfortable and functional waist pack.

The reason for this rambling is that today’s fly-fisherman has a startling amount of choices when it comes to which design they choose to wear. You have the traditional vest, chest packs, hip packs, backpacks, and now sling packs.

Which one is a person to choose? And what if I get the wrong one? Are you already showing symptoms of acumination sickness? Can you choose only one to fit all of your angling needs? Should I buy another one?

Let’s try to break this down and help you to decide what is right for you based on your personal needs, and the situation that best fits your fly-fishing scenario.

Vest vs Chest pack, which ones better?:

 The Vest is ideal for fishing situations where you only have to carry the essentials flies, leader, tippet, and basic tools like nippers, and forceps. If you’re fishing for trout you don’t need much because you don’t wander too far from base or parking area. Your Vest has easy access to tools, lines, flies.

The vest typically has several front zippered pockets, as well as a large pocket on the back, where you can stash a sandwich, or small water bottle, or even a light rain fly. With a vest you can attach a net to the provided ring located right on the back of the neck.

The problem I find with a vest is when you start to “stuff” your vest with everything, the fit begins to get a bit too bulky for me, it may even make casting cumbersome, be mindful to watch for the neck pull or shoulder fatigue from the added weight.

Pros:

Everything you need is within easy grasp in front of your torso.

Wears seamlessly over light layers like a fishing shirt or a shell without insulating layers.

You might look really good wearing a vest!

Cons:

Limited storage for bigger items.

Can feel bulky when layered over winter clothing and a shell.

Might cause neck or shoulder strain.

Can get wet if you wade too deep.

The Chest Packs is a smaller version of a vest, but they do ride a little bit higher on the front of your chest. The chest pack has slightly less storage than a vest, so you will need to be choosy as to the things you can and cannot carry. Also, if you are wearing a chest pack and you need additional layers of clothing, the chest pack can make things more bulky than normal. Chest packs have a fair number of extra clips so you can attack extra gadgets on the exterior of the pack. Most packs have a buckle located at the neck so you can attach a net for easy access. A nice feature of a chest pack is that most are manufactured with adjustable buckles that allow you to fit it to your unique body shape, so you will be able to customize the chest pack.

Pros:

The chest pack is easily accessible. It sits higher than a vest so you can get a good look at everything you need.

Ride higher to keep things dry, if you wade too deep.

They’re perfect for day trips! You aren’t going to fit a ton, but whatever you might need for day trip.

Cons:

You can’t carry a full day’s worth of gear in a chest pack! There’s little room for food or water that can be stored, so keep that in mind.

Organization can be a bit of an issue with a chest pack since it’s a little smaller than most packs.

An excess of straps can be uncomfortable if you’re moving quite a bit with a fully loaded small chest pack.

Hip pack vs. Sling bag

The Hip pack is next up for your consideration. The Hip pack can be good for fishing in situations where you’ll likely be traveling greater distances whether by foot or boat and require more gear for longer days on the water away from where you parked the car. These packs come in all types of configurations and can range from very small to very large. The larger packs can carry a surprising amount of tackle in addition to water, snacks and light rain gear. Since the Hip packs are carried on your hip just like a belt, you can slide it in the back while you are fishing, and then simply slide to the front to access your tackle. This is a unique function of hip style packs.

Pros:

Easy access from front to back

Can carry a lot of stuff including snacks and beverages

Most have a net holder

The weight sits on your hips, not your shoulders.

Most have added clips and “d” rings for additional attachments

Cons:

Not the best for wading in the deep, especially if you’re short in stature

You can tend to overfill

Not the best organization or lack of compartments

Not all hip packs are waterproof or submersible

The Sling Pack is one that has gained considerable use as of late. I personally have switched over to a sling pack because I tend to carry a light load, and it is very comfortable for me personally. Sling packs come in a variety of sizes from very small to very large. A sling pack is great for day trips when you are a few miles or less away from your base. These packs are very easy to swing out of the way while you are fishing and then swing back to access your tackle. Most have additional mini storage slots on the exterior of the pack for easy access, like tippet, and forceps, and a fly patch.

Pros:

Fits a ton of gear, generally second only to a backpack.

Easy access to everything you need, whether it’s forceps on the chest strap, or your tippet spool and interior compartments within reach at the swing of the bag under your arm.

Lots of adjustments

versatile in many fishing situations

Cons:

One strap can make it feel unbalanced

Few choices for the left-handed fisherman

You tend to overfill

Not big enough for overnight trips

Not as comfortable as a backpack for longer treks.

The Last item on our list is the Backpack. I saved this one for last because I feel they are in a class of their own. The key to catching trophy fish is getting to areas others can’t, and a good fishing backpack makes this easier. You can hike into remote locations with all your gear and be ready for whatever you may come across. If you do choose to go with a backpack you will want to make sure it’s waterproof, imagine hiking for 5 miles only to have both you and your gear wet.

Backpacks have the highest amount of storage out of all of the prior options, there ergonomically designed to fit your shoulders and waist. Me personally I have a backpack, but I seldom is it for several reasons. I bothers me to always have to take it off and every time I need something from the pack. If I do bring it I will usually just ditch it in the brush and just take what I need, and make pit stops to get what I need, and then pick it up to continue to march on.

Pros:

Can carry everything you need for a day on the water, including clothing layers for changing weather, food, big streamer boxes, and more.

Comfortable on long treks to alpine lakes and creeks, or remote river accesses.

Another reason to use a backpack is that it’s likely able to store an extra rod in case you’re going to find yourself fishing for different types of water that need differently weighted rods.

Cons:

More difficult to access most pockets than other pack options.

Unnecessarily bulky for wading short distances from the car, or lodging.

Most fly-fishing backpacks are quite expensive, you’ll spend more coin on a backpack than you would on a vest, sling pack or chest pack.

Backpacks make it challenging to wade deep. They’ll sit low on your back, and limit you from getting above your waist unless you are using a waterproof backpack

Boat Bags, I put boat bags at the end, I feel they are in a class by themselves. If you do spend time floating rivers or lakes, you will want to consider the use of a boat bag. They are roomy enough to hold all the tackle you might need during a float trip. Most bags are waterproof, because these bags usually spend the majority of the day on the floor of the raft exposed to water. They do a great job of keeping dry things dry, and enough storage for a large number of flies, extra reels, tippets, whatever you feel you might need on your float trip. These bags are not intended for walking trips, as they do not have shoulder straps, only a top handle.

I have one that I use when I take the raft out for a day float trip, and they work very well for the task at hand. I never feel like I left that one thing at home due to lack of room. I even have room for some of the Wife’s’ items.

Pros:

Large enough to lug all the things you may need for your day’s float trip.

Most are waterproof, keeping dry.

Many have external pockets to access easy to get at items.

Cons:

Not made for backpacking.

Only a few have fly patches on the top.

You need the room to set it somewhere in the boat.

Hopefully this post will help while processing all of the different choices that are available, maybe even give you a vaccination form the dreaded “Accumulation sickness” I suffered from.

Before you buy a pack or vest, think carefully about which fishing trips you will be doing the most of? Maybe this will help you narrow down your ultimate choice. Don’t worry if you get it wrong, you can always buy another one…

Tight lines

Gary