Simms Back Packs?
- This topic has 10 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated Aug 10, 2012 at 7:12 am by
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Does anyone have any user reviews on the Simms back packs? I saw my friend’s Headwaters pack this weekend.
I’m sure you’ve done this, but if I was hiking 6 miles with a pack, I’d make sure it fit and felt comfortable with a typical load; and that would mean walking around the store for at least 1/2 hour (most good stores that sell hiking gear have weights you can stuff in a pack; you may have to improvise at a flyshop).
The Headwaters pack is very nice. Nice strap and support system, with plenty of adjustment. Ample room for everything you should need for a hike-in day trip. I’ve used mine for almost two full seasons now, and it has proved to be the perfect solution for me. Easily fits a raincoat, random hiking / safety gear, a pile of flyboxes, lunch, waterbottle(s), and my dslr. I put my camera in a dry bag, although I’ve dunked the pack numerous times and very little moisture gets into it. The construction and durability is consistent with the quality that Simms is known for. I have done a fair amount of ‘bush bashing’ through some pretty nasty country, and the pack shows very little signs of wear. Two thumbs up from me.
I don’t have any personal experience with the Dry Creek pack, but it is considerably smaller and lacks many of the features of the Headwaters.
Tim
For what its worth, Joel Thompson (Moosedog) was nice enough to bring me down a brand new Dry Creek Day Pack when he came back in March. The whole shoulder strap lower attachment ripped out of it the first day I used it, rendering it not only no longer waterproof, but unable to be carried on my back. Joel was also nice enough though to take it back with him to hand off to his rep up there, and left me with his own personal non-waterproof Simms day pack, a model I don’t think they actually make anymore, which has been serving me well daily ever since. I also have one of the Headwaters Tackle Bags, made of the same materials as the backpack Joel left me, and it seems indestructible; still going strong now after several seasons of hard use. Both of these come with rain covers, which work pretty well.
Aaron
I’ve got the drycreek rolltop and its been excellent.
I had a friend however, with the Patagonia Stormfront. Apparently sometimes the zipper is the weak link but the impressive thing for me was the harness. It took a water bladder on the outside of the pack.
That to me would be an excellent feature of any future waterproof pack I purchased. the ability to drink from a bladder without having to open the pack or perform a yoga move to get to a bottle.If as Zach has said the other manufacturers have found the “pack” factory – I maybe in the market again.
Waiting is probably the best advice. Here’s a bit more…I’ve lived in Alaska for the past 4 years. It rains here. Often. When it’s not raining its snowing. I picked up an Aqua Knot before relocating. Two words – Price Point. The single best purchase I’ve made in years. I beat the hell out of the thing and its never failed. Throwing it from the float plane to the dock, ooops, its in the ocean. Not a problem.
Perhaps a slight draw back is when you have 3 whole 8 pound Sockeye stuffed in it face first for the mile and half hike out of the Russian River, the weight distribution it not stellar. Tightening the belt helps but it could be better. Bottom line, consider the Aqua Knot from Seattle Sports.
http://www.thewaterproofstore.com/aquaknot1800.htmlAaron
I’ve got the drycreek rolltop and its been excellent.Not sure about the current crop of bags, but past experience with ‘waterproof’ zippers would make me nervous with camera gear inside.
Rolltops seem a better idea and would make the Drycreek top of my list.www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
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