Which Fly Fishing Pack Is Right for You?

I know there's still a few people out there clinging to their old fishing vest—the one that weighs 30 pounds and has seen more rivers than your truck.

There's nothing wrong with a good vest. They served anglers well for decades, and there are still plenty of them putting fish in the net today.

But for most anglers, pack systems have become the go-to choice, and picking the right one is almost as personal as picking a good fishing partner.

There isn't a "best" pack.

There's just the best pack for the way you fish.

Backpacks

If you're heading out for a full day—or even a few days—a backpack is tough to beat.

They're perfect when you want to carry:

• Extra fly boxes
• A rain jacket
• A lightweight insulated jacket for cool mornings or evenings
• Water
• Camera gear
• Lunch
• Maybe a couple of well-earned beers for the walk home.

The downside?

Access.

If you're waist-deep in a river and the fly you need is buried at the bottom of your pack, chances are you're making a trip back to shore.

That's why many anglers pair a backpack with an integrated chest pack.

It keeps your everyday essentials—leaders, tippet, nippers, forceps, floatant, and a small fly box—right where you need them without digging through your pack every time.

Many packs also include attachment points for tools and accessories on the straps. Personally, I like keeping most of those tucked away. Less clutter usually means fewer opportunities for your fly line to find something to wrap around.

(If you haven't already, check out our blog on fly line management. Your fly line has an incredible ability to find the one thing you wish it wouldn't.)

Chest Packs

Chest packs are all about simplicity.

If you're heading out for a quick evening hatch or just want the essentials within reach, they're hard to beat.

You can usually carry:

• Leaders
• Tippet
• Nippers
• Forceps
• Floatant
• One or two fly boxes

That's enough for a lot of fishing.

Where they fall short is capacity.

Long summer days can leave you wishing you had room for a water bottle, lunch, or an extra layer.

Of course, if you're fishing with that one buddy who's an absolute work horse and willing to carry everyone else's gear...

Well, maybe it's not a problem.

Sling Packs

If backpacks and chest packs had a middle child, it'd probably be the sling pack.

For me, this has become one of the most versatile options.

Need a fly?

Just swing the pack around to your front and you've got an instant workstation without ever leaving the water.

Most sling packs have enough room for:

• A couple of fly boxes
• Leaders and tippet
• Forceps and other tools
• Water bottle
• Phone
• Snack
• Maybe a beer

I've spent plenty of six-hour days with nothing more than a trusty sling pack.

The biggest downside?

Weight distribution.

By the end of a long day, the shoulder carrying the load can start reminding you it's been doing all the work.

If you've got a massage therapist back at camp, you're probably fine.

If not, really long days are often more comfortable with a backpack that spreads the load across both shoulders and uses a proper hip belt.

Hip & Lumbar Packs

I'll admit it...

This is probably the pack style I have the least experience with.

That said, I have customers who absolutely love them.

I'd put them somewhere between a chest pack and a sling pack.

Most offer enough room for the essentials, while keeping everything easy to access by simply rotating the pack around to the front.

Many also include an optional shoulder strap to help distribute the weight and keep the pack from bouncing around while walking.  As mentioned above, if you like having tools like clamps, nippers or tippet holder accesable, most have stations on said shoulder strap for those.

The biggest thing to consider is how deep you plan on wading.

If you're regularly standing in water above your waist, you may want to look at another option—or a submersible version. That said, the bottom of my backpack has seen water on many days, but the trick is making sure anything that needs to stay dry goes to the top of the bag, not the bottom.

What About Submersible Packs?

Almost every major manufacturer now offers submersible packs in one form or another.

Some use waterproof roll-top closures.

Others use waterproof zippers, which usually come with a higher price tag thanks to the specialized zipper technology.

They're excellent choices if you're:

• Fishing the West Coast for steelhead in relentless rain
• Carrying camera gear
• Fishing saltwater and trying to keep salt out of your equipment
• The kind of angler who occasionally discovers just how cold the river is by taking an unexpected swim

And if that happens, keeping your phone, truck keys, or the cigars for days end dry suddenly feels like a pretty good investment.

The trade-off?

Organization.

Most submersible packs are essentially one large waterproof compartment with only a few internal pockets, if any.

If you're anything like me and appreciate having a place for everything, they can take a little getting used to.

What Do I Use?

People ask me this all the time, and the answer is... it depends.

For shorter outings—say six hours or less—I'm usually carrying a sling pack. It's got enough room for a couple of fly boxes, water, leaders, tippet, tools, and a snack. If I'm fishing familiar water and don't feel the need to bring the entire fly shop with me, a sling is tough to beat.

For longer days, especially when I'm planning to put on some miles, I switch to a backpack with an integrated chest pack.

The backpack carries everything I might need: camera gear, extra fly boxes with the flies that might hatch, lunch, water, a rain jacket, and, if the day's gone well, a couple of beers.

The chest pack keeps the essentials—leaders, tippet, tools, floatant, and my go-to flies—right where I need them, so I spend less time digging through my pack and more time fishing.

At the end of the day, that's really what the right pack system should do. It shouldn't make you carry more gear. It should make it easier to carry the gear you actually use.

So... Which One Is Right for You?

Like most things in fly fishing, there isn't one right answer.

Think about how you fish.

Backpack — Best for long days, extra gear, and anglers who like being prepared for anything.

Chest Pack — Perfect for quick outings and anglers who prefer to travel light.

Sling Pack — A great all-around option with excellent on-the-water access.

Hip/Lumbar Pack — Easy access with good capacity, especially if you don't wade deep.

Submersible Packs — Worth considering when keeping your gear dry is just as important as carrying it.

Final Thoughts

The best pack isn't the one with the most pockets or the newest features.

It's the one that disappears while you're fishing.

The right pack won't catch more fish.

But it will keep your gear organized, easy to reach, and out of the way, so you spend less time digging through pockets and more time focused on what really matters.

Fishing.