Vests and Chest Packs

[gonefishin]

That thing looks downright complicated....

[Danoinark]

Jerod

How do you think that vest will perform in the hot weather? I try to minimize a bit during the summer time. What about you guys?

Dano

[Don]

Good looking vest Jerod.

I prefer the chest pack. I was told that I would eventually outgrow it and I did. I now use the Fishpond Open Range Vest Pack for all the same reasons John mentioned. It has more storage that it looks like it would have. Several of my friends also bought Fishpond vest packs within the last year and relly like them as well.

Fishing in 95-100 degree weather last summer had me leave my vest pack on the bank at times. I would have also left my shirt if I wouldn't look so barbaric. A friend of mine made me a really neat lanyard. I plan to use it in extreme hot weather even though I might feel a little insecure if I couldnt't carry all my gear around.

Don

[vanven]

Jerod

How do you think that vest will perform in the hot weather? I try to minimize a bit during the summer time. What about you guys?

Dano

The inside of the vest is mesh and the entire vest is a light nylon material. With the dark colors it will be warm, although even on a 90' day a quick dunk of my head in Taney tends to solve any heat issues. I am hoping that the hydration pack will allow me to freeze it and carry cold water against my back all day.

-J

[Danoinark]

That hydration bladder thing just might work. Good idea...Dano

[Greg]

Thanks a lot guys. I've got a lower level Simms vest I've had for several years and I've not really longed for anything better. But now I think I have "vest envy" LOL.

Greg

[gonefishin]

I started with a fannypac then as I continued to grow as a fly fisherperson I went to a super extra large triple fanny pack. Eventually I outgrew this so I added a chestpack and eventually outgrew the largest chest pack and fanny pack so I started adding vests. As I gained proficency as a fly fisher person I outgrew all the storage capacity my body could carry. Now days I use a personal pontoon boat. I find that if I am careful in what I pack I can pull it along behind me just fine and have it loaded down with just about everything I need for a days fishing. I have only loaded it to the sinking point a couple of times. Just have to be careful.

[SilverMallard]

As some of you know, I am a HUGE fan of WJ products. This vest won best new product of 2006 at a couple of the big fishing retailer shows. But I also wonder about warm weather. I wear a WJ Gear Bag Chest. I love it. I also had a Coastal II. The backpack in it was just too big for my use. But I loved the chest pack portion.

I have a pair of their waders, boots, and their wading jacket on the way now. I've been waiting on the waders for 2-3 years. And they finally have them now. They went through some serious revisions getting them the way they wanted them.

[Robert]

Nice looking vest. I have tried many of them. They all just get down right heavy. When a person thinks about it we rarely use all we carry. All we really need is a fly box, spare leader, tippet, lead, nippers, floatant, and such. I refuese to carry a net. I do not keep fish anyway. The $19.USD gadget that slides down the leader and releases the fish works fine. Opps, I do cary a couple of pair of forceps. My vest wears me out as have all the other ones I tried. As older age approches eight pounds or more of vest is not too exciting.