Vest vs. Tech Pac

[vanven]

I am in love with the WilliamJoseph Gear Bag, Chest. For hike-in fishing, the WJ CS II is even slicker! But I don't do much hike-in fishing. I've also tried all sorts of vests and packs. I am interested in trying out WJ's new vest just out of curiosity. But I am pretty sold on a GOOD chest pack.

I think you are referring to the Fusion Vest from William Joseph. It has been the perfect blend between traditional vest and tech pack. I tried out about every tech and chest pack I could get my hands on and always felt like that blueberry girl from Willy Wonka. I love my fusion vest and wrote a review a few months ago:

http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3707

I fall into the "technical" classification of fly fisherman. For me it is all about the gear and toys. Well, I love the fishing part too.

-Jerod

[brittsnbirds]

Vanven,

Does it have any storage in the back? Does it have a D ring back there also? I am 6 foot 2 and weigh 200. What size do think I need?

[SilverMallard]

Here's everything you need to know: http://www.williamjoseph.net/vest.htm

[vanven]

Vanven,

Does it have any storage in the back? Does it have a D ring back there also? I am 6 foot 2 and weigh 200. What size do think I need?

There is a "net" D ring on the back between the shoulder blades. There are zippered pockets for extra spools on the back of each shoulder and the bottom is a large zippered pocket as well.

I am 6'4" and about 250lbs. I will have to check the size when I get home. It was hard to find and I had to order mine through Cabela's simply guessing at a size.

I will be down at Taney on thursday if you want to see it in action

-Jerod

[vanven]

Looks like I am an XL.

-Jerod

[Guest flyfishBDS]

This is one area that had really come on and the products are seriously cool. Lots of variety. Ill try and give the pluses and minuses as I see it, of the styles. Obviously Im putting in images of products from our store but the principles apply to other brands too.

I am also very picky on this sort of stuff, I hate pocket zippers which you can't open with one hand, Too many tiny pockets are useless to me, I want to be able to carry the essentials where they are easy to access, otherwise fly fishing becomes a pain in the butt

So here is my good, and ugly look at this stuff

Traditional Vest

Grew up with this style of vest, Ive had 2 good ones a Columbia Henrys Fork was nice and a Patagonia Reinvest (great) but the Simms Ive yet to own and is almost good enough to tempt me back to these. All the features I love. Mesh styles like this Fishpond are very popular with our customers for summer

THE GOOD:

Vests can carry a lot of stuff _ Lots of Stuff. Well-laid out vest will let you have stuff where you need it. New manufacturing materials shed water, floatant stains , and can feature some very neat touches to keep pace with the tech packs. Try them on, look for pockets that open single handed. I want at leats one built in zinger - 2 is better; I want pockets big enough to take my large streamer boxes. I want a glasses pocket. I want a back pocket that can carry a wading jacket without making me look and feel like the hunchback of notre dame

THE UGLY

Vests can carry a lot of stuff _ Lots of Stuff so lots of weight. You have bought a $80 breathable "tech shirt" so why cover it with $50 in nonbreathable loaded vest. If you have upper back neck problems these aren't for you (like Me). Hot!

Tech Pack

These have become very popular as a crossover between a hiking backpack and a traditional vest, meaning there is a good hiking harness buried under the fly fishing addons. Some very good and very bad. I personally didn't like the Loon one mentioned above, I tested it for a magazine. There were a bunch of bad design elelements. Pockets you needed 3 arms to open, the chest trays folded down too far, spilling out flies etc. It could have been a whole lot better with some good design. The concepts of better load carrying is very sound. Look for systems which allow air movement between the body and the packs.

THE GOOD: Allows you to carry a lot of stuff (weight) with a more ergonomic design, gets around the neck pulls. Hydration systems common, Backpack should handle rainjacket without Hunchback issues, the front should function as a vest. Still has to carry my big boxes, and I want my regular glasses carried protected. I want zingers or places to put them

THE UGLY: More weight is still more weight. 1 Gallon of water adds 8.5 pound to your load. Full backpack can be sweaty without good design. Front can be sweaty.

Chest Pack

These were going to be the revolution, but tech packs may have taken ground. Again look for smart design. The Fishpond clip in and out system, so you can wear the chest pack along, together with the back packs etc is very good. Look for systems which allow air movement between the body and the packs.

THE GOOD: Easy access to gear. Decent load carrying capacities, free arms to cast. Modern materials, better for breathability and inherent weight. Add on backpacks give better load carrying capacity and comfort

THE UGLY: Carry what you need principle applies, which means you leave something u need at home. Bigger capacities can give you the "Anna Nicole" feeling. Weight carried on your neck unless you add backpack. Hot and sweaty can apply.

Lumbar pack

My favorite for warm weather (I use a Waterdance). Capacities styles vary. Look for wide padded belts if you're going to be carrying a lot of gear. I also use this with a lanyard to carry most used necessities like nippers, haemos indicators and tippet. Again look for one handed opening of zippers like thje waterdance

THE GOOD Load is carried on your hips like big capacity backpacks. Upper body kept uncovered for breathability & comfort. Casting is a breeze. No back/neck shoulder issues. Shoulder strap makes it easy to carry net and lift it for deep wading or go for water resistant like the simms

THE UGLY: Spinning pack to access can take getting used to. Capacity less than a vest. Access to pockets can be fiddly in some. low carrying position can mean flooding pack. Hard to wear with most wading jackets, which can push pack down.

Minimalist

I still don't understand this??? LOl No there are days I just want to stick a box or two in a pocket and go fishing. Makes you limit your load to exactly what you need. Trouble with fly fishing is you always need what you don't have.

Hope there is some food for thought here

Cheers

Steve

[Danoinark]

Steve

In your biz as a writer, guide, shop operator and all around good guy I am sure you have reviewed, worn and fished with more of these than I have even seen. But my take is that there are still comfort issues with the lumbar, chest, backpacking, over the shoulder, waist (fanny) packs, as the vest. The lumbar and waist packs seem to as the day progresses slip further down and as said above they have to be removed in deeper water.

Chest packs to me are just as cumbersome in that I tend to catch line, rod, and other non-connectables on the gadgets that hang from them. Most of all like some of us I can’t see my feet. I thought that my answer was a manbag (over the shoulder Vietnam era gas mask bag) but after a few trips I found that the dang thing braised my neck and would fall into the net when I was trying to net or unhook a fine fish. I also can’t see how one of the tech packs/vests can be anymore cooler and comfortable than a traditional vest, one that is made from modern materials that dry quickly and have built in shoulder support. They don’t slip down, pockets are easy to access, come in short styles for wading deep, have the capacity to carry more if needed and even act as a warming layer during cooler or cold days on the stream. Also I have several of the tech shirts, but for the life of me, I can’t get enough stuff in them without feeling bulky. And for those that know me you know I don’t need anymore bulk. Again we are talking about personal preference and a vest made from a new micro fiber material, mesh lined, quick drying, with just the amount of pockets is what I feel most comfortable. And that is my humble opinion and not worth the typical 2 cents of paper it was written…

Dano

[Guest flyfishBDS]

Dano Yep!

Good points from experience. These things are like boats or cars _ everything is a compromise, comes down to personal choice.

Like the summer days I leave home with nothing but a rod, sandals ONE FLY AND A ROD/LEADER LINE. If I lose it I go home Then Im comfy till I need to wade

I had hoped I balanced everything up so there were pros and cons for each item to help people with their choices, I didn't want to bias it towards any style

But for vests Simply my neck won't let me use traditional vest anymore when Im guiding, too much gear. At the end ofthe day I can't lift my left arm, just when I need a drinking appendage the most.

I don't have the problem of the Waterdance sliding down _ I'd like to think its great hipbelt design but maybe its just my fat butt LMAO Though I also extend the shoulder strap run under arms in front of shoulder and and behind neck to carry net. This doesn't actually carry the load of the pack but it might add some stability, stop slippage (not sure Ive seen anyone else use it this way)

BTW careful with the good guy tag you'll ruin my carefully crafted reputation

OH and I forgot tech shirts

Spend a motza on a tech shirt, breathable caped to keep you cool then fill the pockets with NON BREATHABLE fly boxes! LOL

Cheers mate

[Danoinark]

Steve

There is also the issue of the chest and waist bags that say..."fits most", for some of us that doesn't apply...

I also wanted to add that the best way would be to win the lottery and just hire yourself a full time ghille....

[SilverMallard]

Dano, didn't your folks teach you to walk without having to look at your feet?