|
01-24-2013, 02:02 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 197
|
|
chest pack vs. vest???
So at the end of last year I had all my fly gear stolen from my truck. I guess lessoned learned not to leave it in there anymore. Luckily insurance did cover it and actually ended up giving me more than what I had asked for. Anyway, I am replacing my gear and am unsure on what to do, whether to buy a vest or a chest pack. I had a cloudveil vest and it worked ok. I had it packed though and not sure i could fit that much stuff into a chest pack. The other part of me wonders, do I honestly need all that stuff???? Anyway, what are your thoughts? What do you guys find works for you?
|
01-24-2013, 02:05 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Mountains
Posts: 533
|
|
i have a backpack with a chest pack biult on in the back pack part i can put tow rods 3 reels and flie box so on food whatever else im ont using at the emidiate moment and then i can put pliers and such in the front works great plenty of storage and tough as nails
__________________
The pike are calling my 5 o diamonds back
"Theirs a fine Line between fishing and standing on the shore like a dummy" - steven
|
01-24-2013, 02:17 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: southern alberta
Posts: 2,246
|
|
I use a vest for larger rivers ..and a small waist pack for mountain creeks
|
01-24-2013, 02:20 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 63
|
|
i also have a backpack with a front chest pack which can detach so I can use either solo. I love it day trips I can take food, clothes, bearspray... Or just a quick drop in after work I can grap the chest pack and go. I have a simms waist pack which I hardly use anymore. Mine is a William Joseph, I have been impressed with their products the past couple years.
|
01-24-2013, 02:37 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: The woods
Posts: 42
|
|
I have a vest because I carry way too much stuff. But you never know when you will need a roll of electrical tape.... haha
|
01-24-2013, 02:46 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Uh, guess? :)
Posts: 26,739
|
|
I use a mesh vest. Light but holds lots of crap, doesn't get in the way. Have thought about a chest pack but never seen anything I thought was significantly better or held more than my $50 vest.
|
01-24-2013, 02:48 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,923
|
|
x2!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hopper
i also have a backpack with a front chest pack which can detach so I can use either solo. I love it day trips I can take food, clothes, bearspray... Or just a quick drop in after work I can grap the chest pack and go.
|
|
01-24-2013, 03:53 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 859
|
|
I use the back pack type as I like to have spares of everything, but I seem to be the "go to guy" for my fishing buddies "hey Darren got any spare..." They are comfortable as long as you dont get carried away and overpack them. It's nice though to have a spot to put bug spray, sun repellent so you dont have to go back to your vehicle.
__________________
If there is fishing in heaven, I hope I don't catch one on every cast.
|
01-24-2013, 03:56 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,362
|
|
I bought a chest pack, I use it for wadding lakes. I do haul around a bag as well, reels, extra rod, water etc. I'd like to go to those neat backpacks with wheels and a strap, it's big with the college girls, but I'm scared I'd get bullied at the lake for being a nerd.
__________________
“One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain.”
Thomas Sowell
|
01-24-2013, 04:04 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 521
|
|
x3!!
I found the vests awkward with not enough payload for a 10 hour walk-n-wade.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ÜberFly
x2!!
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hopper
i also have a backpack with a front chest pack which can detach so I can use either solo. I love it day trips I can take food, clothes, bearspray... Or just a quick drop in after work I can grap the chest pack and go. I have a simms waist pack which I hardly use anymore. Mine is a William Joseph, I have been impressed with their products the past couple years.
|
|
01-24-2013, 04:14 PM
|
Banned
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,779
|
|
I used a vest for a while and then switched over to a Simms chest pack because I kept getting the bottom pockets of the vest wet. I can't carry half of what I used to but I don't miss any of it either.
I intended to get the simms headwaters daypack so I could clip the chest pack to it for longer hikes but I wasn't really impressed with we what you get for $150. There are far nicer packs for that kind of money.
|
01-24-2013, 05:56 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 4,306
|
|
I use a frot pack and a backpack. The hip pack holds stuff I use all the time like flies tippet etc and the backpack holds food and jacket etc.
I used to use a vest but I won't go back to it
|
01-24-2013, 07:04 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: St Eh
Posts: 562
|
|
I went to a William and Joseph chestpack last year and still getting used to it. I really like the magnetic closure feature and the slot to hold a bottle. Keep in mind if you are a big guy to begin with ( here) you are now much bigger out front...and if you like to carry a net check for the ring attachment on the back.
|
01-24-2013, 07:11 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 521
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by midgetwaiter
I used a vest for a while and then switched over to a Simms chest pack because I kept getting the bottom pockets of the vest wet. I can't carry half of what I used to but I don't miss any of it either.
I intended to get the simms headwaters daypack so I could clip the chest pack to it for longer hikes but I wasn't really impressed with we what you get for $150. There are far nicer packs for that kind of money.
|
The Simms daypack is probably the best designed backpack that I have ever owned. It is a little smaller than you might expect. It has good tactical fly-fishing. The main compartment has room for water bladder, is insulated and white (being white makes it much easier to find something with sunglasses or in the dark).
There are few small magnet pockets. There are pockets on the waist supports as well as standard mesh side pockets with tie-downs (perfect for that travel rod). I totally love the super soft sunglasses carrying pocket. The chestpack clips to the front or the back.
The only issue I have is that the backpack straps sit on top of the wader. I agree though---it does not look like much, but I think that the design and functionality is genius. There is enough room to comfortably carry 3 flyboxes, 1 thermos, headlamp, gloves, extra sweater, and 2 bottles of water.
Simms should start paying me.
|
01-24-2013, 09:16 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lethbridge
Posts: 1,808
|
|
I have a chest pack and dislike it as when walking and wading I can not see where my feet are going, and in the float tube it is awkward to be stripping and all the line piling in front of you and you can not see it. I am gong back to a vest this summer.
|
01-24-2013, 09:56 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta
Posts: 4,063
|
|
I am running a big waist pack that holds all of my gear real nice. If I need to pack a coat and lunch I will use my small hydration bag for that.
Seems to work pretty good so far. Nice light weight set up that is out of the way while you are walking or fishing and easily accessible when you need something out of it.
|
01-25-2013, 07:59 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 2,669
|
|
In colder weather I wear my wading jacket or one of my larger guide vests. As it gets warmer I go to a chest or waist bag, for me it depends what time of year it is and where I am fishing.
__________________
Often I have been exhausted on trout streams, uncomfortable, wet, cold, briar scarred, sunburned, mosquito bitten,
but never, with a fly rod in my hand have I been in a place that was less than beautiful.
My blog - casting on the waters
fishing regulations and facts on fish handling
Fishing Regulations
|
01-25-2013, 12:40 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,464
|
|
Backpack with everything but the kitchen sink in it for survival if i get in trouble out there somewhere but still light enough for a old guy. And a small waist pack.
|
01-25-2013, 02:18 PM
|
Banned
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,779
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by scel
The Simms daypack is probably the best designed backpack that I have ever owned.
|
It's a nice pack, no question but it's not worth $150. The thing that bothers me is that the only difference between it and any other decent daypack is the clips for the chest pack and $80. They better be pretty fancy clips for $80.
Look at this bag from MEC:
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Packs/...8-backpack.jsp
|
01-25-2013, 04:37 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 1,796
|
|
I
Started with an Army gas mask bag about 50 years ago. A little short of storage so I headed off into vest land. And things grew and grew till the vest went over 35 lbs. Had to lighten things up so I acquired a chest vest to force down the load. Worked OK but there was no provision for water bottles, toilet paper or rain jacket is I needed another pack. That was a pain so back to the vest. The largest Fish Pond just fit the fly boxes etc. Trouble is, it's about as comfortable as strapping on two 2*4's.
Here's hoping someone figures it out and comes out with a decent vest.
Simms is about the only outfit coming close.
Catch ya'
Don
|
01-25-2013, 06:08 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Prince George, BC
Posts: 1,190
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBT
|
Thats a nice looking pack, but 170 for it? A little steep.
I have a couple things that see multiple use. One is a columbia ultralight pack. Fits a net, fly boxes and lunch pretty good. Also have the sage typhoon waist pack which is nice when doing minimal hiking, and less items are necessary. Carries my DSLR and a fly box pretty easily. This year i got a full sized hiking backpack, big enough to fit a friggen float tube if i want. But it will mostly be used for bring camera equipment into more remote areas. A 4 piece rod tube almost fits in it for god sakes.
|
01-25-2013, 10:24 PM
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 521
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by midgetwaiter
It's a nice pack, no question but it's not worth $150. The thing that bothers me is that the only difference between it and any other decent daypack is the clips for the chest pack and $80. They better be pretty fancy clips for $80.
Look at this bag from MEC:
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Packs/...8-backpack.jsp
|
It is at least $50 better than the MEC pack.
The Simms pack has:
Lightweight metal frame and mesh. The back does not sit directly on your back and the Simms will stay rigid.
The design is like the Deuter packs
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Packs/...28-daypack.jsp I would not be surprised if the design were licensed from Deuter. This feature is worth at least $40. (i.e. the price difference between the Deuter and MEC)
The bag opens from the top. A design feature that makes it less likely that something will fall out, but not worth money. The inside, however, is lined with a different white material. It is mildly insulating and makes the bag more usable. This is worth $10. (total $50)
The straps are thicker with more padding. Worth $5 (total $55)
The entire front pouch is fly fishing specific. Not worth a great deal more, but for the person who will appreciate it, it is worth $5. (Total $60)
The Simms bag has a patented reinforced metal clip for attaching your net. It is probably worth ten, but we can gauge at $5. (Total $65)
The Simms bag has the attachment for the chest pack. $5 (Total $70)
So, just on raw features, I think that the Simms comes close in value. If you take into account that it is a super comfortable bag designed for fly fishing that is made in USA, I think that it is worth the price tag. Of course, this does not take into account any of the costs associated with design and testing.
I can understand when someone would look at the bag and find $150 too much to spend. After 2 years of heavy year-round use, there is not a single thing wrong with it. Like everything that I have ever bought from Simms, it has been worth the money.
|
01-26-2013, 09:30 AM
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,844
|
|
I'd go with a good smaller hiking pack, with a couple of waistband pockets. I have a gregory 30L and I can either fit a ton of stuff in it, or cinch it down and go minimal. Its got nice small pockets on the hipbelt that I can fit floatent, bear bangers and a point-and-shoot camera. The rest of the time, I dont find it much of a hassle just to pull my pack off and dig out my flyboxes, or get my buddy to grab it for me.
I have it more for versatility, and the fact I like to haul camera gear when I fish.
I think what you need depends on how you fish..
|
01-27-2013, 04:37 PM
|
Banned
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,078
|
|
Chestpacks depending on where I am going in combination with a climbing pack that holds a short barrel shotgun.
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:27 AM.
|