Fishpond Arroyo Chestpack (a Different Approach To A Gear Review)

[OKFlyFisher44]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed but in the past few years...your conventional "fishing vest" has taken a backseat to all these new chestpacks, waistpacks, and such that are on the market. Maybe its just me thats noticing this...I dont know. It's almost a shame because the fishing vest, in all its glory, is a staple in fly fishing but it seems to be going on the wayside. I'm on my 3rd vest right now, the 270 vest from Bass Pro, and absolutely love it. It holds all my gear, fits great, and just simply works as a piece of fly fishing equipment.

To my current issue...

I was at Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma this past friday. I was picking up a choke tube wrench for my Benelli shotgun and needed a new ammo box for the abnormal amount of shotgun shells I've acquired over duck season...still not sure how it happened. Well, after finding the items I "needed"...I walked around looking at other stuff that struck my interest. Of course I made it down to the fly fishing section. I gotta say, for some reason, the B.A. Bass Pro doesnt have a sectioned off area that is the "White River Fly Shop". Doesn't make sense to me because the OKC Bass Pro has it...oh well, whatever!

As I was looking through all the stuff...I went over to the vests/pack section because the White River brand wading jackets were on sale and I was wanting to check them out. Right next to the jackets....was the FishPond line of vests and packs along with the other brands of vests and packs. I've always liked how the FishPond stuff looked...seems to be good quality stuff. I just think its over-priced and somewhat, lack of a better word, "poserish". Like the kinda gear that the guy who just gets into fly fishing and has way too much money for his own good. Buys all the expensive top of the line gear from what I like to call the Big 3 in fly fishing gear: Simms, Orvis, and FishPond. I've also been against the chestpacks/waistpacks for sometime because I've always enjoy my vests...maybe I'm old school and just hate change.

The problem was this FishPond waistpack caught my eye due to its orange color scheme (Oklahoma State University grad). I pulled it off the display peg and checked it out. It was a nice pack with adequate pockets for all your basic gear and 1 or 2 small fly boxes. I tried it out though...and it suprisingly fit well and was comfortable. I looked at the price tag and cringed as I always do ($59). I put it back on the peg immediately and went on about my business browsing.

Over the course of the next 20 minutes, I kept coming back to that pack and looking at it. Then I'd look at the price tag and put it back. I did this 3 different times....and finally on the 4th time I had what I like to call a impulse buy. I talked myself into it somehow. Somewhere in my head I told myself it'd be nice to have a small pack like this to fish the smaller streams and the trout parks as I could downsize my fly selection and gear down to a few select items. I could also use this pack when I bass fish the local ponds with my 7wt and keep my bass bugs box in it.

Now I don't like to buy fly fishing gear from Bass Pro one bit. It has only happened a few times due to impulse purchases (like this pack) and just because of pure convienence. I like to spend my money with local fly shops instead of with big box places like Bass Pro. Anyways, I bought the freaking pack along with a few odds and ends to go with it.

And I freaking love the stupid thing! It holds 1 fly box that I just put a few select patterns in that seem to be a staple with missouri trout waters along with the odds and ends you need (forcepts, clippers, floatant, weights, leatherman, etc). I used it this weekend at Roaring River and it was nice to have everything right there at your waist, completely out of the way. I didn't feel like I was dragging around everything I own like I do when I have my vest.

Anyways...I'm a firm believer in this whole chestpack/waistpack revolution now. Guess being old school (I'm only 24) and a hold-out on change is somewhat useless.

OK, I've rambled on enough....

[Indiana Trout]

I hear you brother! I just picked up a (barely) used W&J chestpack and I can't wait to give it a test run. It feels great and somehow lighter despite being crammed with almost all the stuff I had in my vest.

[jjtroutbum]

Nice write up.

"If" I could ever find the perfect fly boxes for me I think I would like to get rid of the vest or pack all together and get a shirt with a big pocket.

[bcfish]

I am doing some research to see what options there are out there. I am getting close to narrowing it down to a chest pack that attaches to a backpack system. There are several out there. I am also leaning towards the tech packs that look like my old vest but way cooler. Curious about what people are using and why. I have looked in the archives and have not found much of an answer about what people are using and why you might also include what type of fishing you are doing. In a park or wilderness and hiking.

[catman]

I picked up a William Joseph waistpack last year at Cabelas on a clearance sale, works very well, lots of storage..

[OKFlyFisher44]

The chestpacks that attach to a backpack are very nice, I was looking into getting one of those for my trip to Colorado this summer. But I've got a dang nice Oakley backpack that has all kinds of bells and whistles on it for packing gear. The water-bottle holder even works great for holding a rod-tube so I decided against the chestpack w/ backpack because of that.

Another thing is that my waistpack can very easily be strapped to my backpack if need be. No need to sacrifice space with having to pack a vest into your pack. So I'm pretty much set on my waistpack. If you ever buy one, you'll understand why everyone is using them soon as you fish with it once. At least I did...

I would say if you're going to do a lot of hiking on streams like the 11 pt or Current....to do some camping or whatever, then the chestpack/backpack setup would be great. Or if you're going to be fishing the backcountry or something in the Rockies. Otherwise...a simple vest or chestpack/waistpack I think will do everything you need in Missouri...

[Mike Davis]

I have a "back of my truck version" of a Fishpond display. There's the Dragonfly lumbar pack, the Waterdance Guide pack and I just recently .. as a Christmas present to myself .. purchased a Wasatch Tech pack. They will all have their uses and will be used this coming summer. The Dragonfly is my low water set up and the Waterdance will be for shorter days on the water where less gear is needed and the Wasatch will be for all day adventures. I picked up the Wasatch because I like all my Fishpond gear .. including a back belt .. and the choice of water bladder.

Mike

[ness]

LL Bean has a lot of fly fishing stuff that folks don't seem to know about. They've got a modular chest pack, waist pack thing that looks promising, and is prices pretty good. There stuff is always good quality, and everything they sell has a lifetime, unlimited, no questions asked, warranty.