What do you use for a pack?
- This topic has 22 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated Jan 16, 2009 at 12:51 am by
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I like patagonia pocketwire pack. its small and carries the stuff whether I’m on a bike or trout stream.
Within the last year I’ve gone in the opposite direction and downsized to a lanyard and a couple of fly boxes.
for long days where i might encounter alot of differnet situations (most days for me) i rock out with the willy J exodus pack… I love it, truely the best pack i’ve had… and the pack on the back is big enough to pack waders and a pair of shoes in if you are doing a big hike in, i went into the cheeseman with it, and that combined with the korkers chang-a-soles was awesome…
i have a patagonia vest , or a smaller willy j pack that i’ll bring when im fishing a pond or something more certain, like salt or for salmon
Tim,
Why the B-, that would be useful info for me in making a decision.
I am leaning towards the bag as it is, seems simple enough for my tastes.
Anybody go old school and use a down’s fly box? I think there’s another company that makes them as well.
Found that other company… Richardson
Interesting choices in web addresses!
Also found this guy, which looks handy:
Either this Fishpond pack or a larger Granite Gear snowboarder/winter rescue pack, if I have to haul a tripod.
I was in the process of writing a longer post here when my computer crashed. Now:
I would disagree with Tim that the Fishpond Double Haul is a B- product, at least so far. I’ve only got about twenty hours on mine but I’d rate it a medium A for the time being.
Here’s what I like about the bag:
(1) it is expandable for whenever I need to haul something larger, but it stays slender for ducking under tree branches whenever I am not loaded up;
(2) the hydration bladder sleeve is external, which makes it easy to drop in the bladder, and also it is separated from the interior compartment for better protection from the inevitable didn’t-get-the-cap-screwed-on-right leaks;
(3) the pack isn’t overly adjustable but that just means it doesn’t have so many straps. I use both the waist and chest straps to help hold all my winter insulation in place;
(4) there are two exterior pockets, one of which is perfect for my Garmin GPS (good for use when hiking in North Georgia). The other is a little redundant but I wind up storing candy bars and such in there so I don’t have to dig out the camera, etc.;
(5) unlike probably the majority of Fishpond’s products, the pack isn’t too big.
Now, that said, here’s some reservations I would add:
(1) Construction is just fine so far, but I have had the seams pull apart on one Fishpond product previously;
(2) the chestpack is just not something I would ever use. I don’t like feeling like a pregnant woman when fishing, and it interferes with the cast. Same reason I don’t use a vest. The chestpack, however, is an excellent little shoulder bag for walking a beach (I have used it for this purpose, and the present of the bottom strap connectors means you can cinch it in place at your hip so it won’t swing around;
(3) the hanging loop is way, way under-engineered for hanging up anything but an empty pack. The D-ring meant for a net is an adequate substitute but it won’t hang on many hooks;
(4) the connectors for the chestpack stick up when the chest pack is not present, as they are full-sized backpack connectors rather than something lighter;
(5) There are, as with almost every fly fishing product, too many pockets, especially inside the exterior pockets. There’s even a little divider like for a pen or a thermometer or something. Overkill, in my opinion;
On the balance it’s still a great product. I use Fishpond’s retractable zinger tube (which is excellent, btw), and punch a zinger through the front strap cinches to hang a set of snips on my left chest. Then I just clip on my hemos and hang a bunch of tippet spools on a metal spindle (probably also Fishpond now that I think about it) and I have all the convenience of a vest with none of the restrictions in casting. The bag is plenty big enough to carry a large DSLR and a flash and lunch, with room to expand to gobble up a layer if it warms up outside. I would recommend this thing easily to a friend.
Zach
Regan and Eric,
I have wanted a down’s chest box every since the first Joe Humphrey’s video I watched. Especially, “Fly Fishing Success” with Joe Humphrey’s. It is old school footage and to this day I often re-rent it from my local library. He uses one of the den’s packs and it is so geeky yet functional that it draws your attention. Until now I didn’t know they were still manufactured.
Neal,
Sorry, but you gotta be from PA to wear a Down’s chest fly box.
One visit to Spring Creek, Penns or Fishing creek during the sulpher hatch in Centre County, you’ll see why.
They are great little boxes.
Hey Dave –
I updated my original post with answers to your questions.
Zach
PS Thanks to Andrew Wright for the photos.
Zach, thanks for that, the double haul is one that interests me.
Just one more question – how waterproof is the back ?
In the rain does your stuff get soaked ?
Thanks..
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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