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Simms Sling Pack
I just recently picked up Simms’
new Headwaters Sling Pack. To be honest,
this is really my first foray into the
world of packs. I’ve used chest
packs on the flats, but found them more
of a hindrance than help. I always seemed
to be snagging my line on things hanging
off my chest pack. For the past year or
so, I’ve always just fished out
of the chest pocket of my waders. When
you fish small streams, that’s often
all that you’ll need.
That being said, I like
my Headwaters. I actually find myself
buying more fly boxes so it feels slightly
more filled than it currently is. Before
getting into anything tech-related, I’ll
just say that the pack disappears while
you fish. It’s like having a good
money clip; you put it in your pocket
and forget that its there. The padded
neck sling eliminates the sagging feeling
of having a lumbar pack. Simms also reinforced
the padding across the back of this pack.
All of this results in having a pack that
you forget about until you need it. Isn’t
that what a good pack is supposed to do?
Speaking from a capacity
standpoint, this thing is huge. In reality,
I bought it thinking that it was smaller
and flatter than it was. When I first
pulled it out of the box, it looked exactly
the way it did in Simms’ pictures.
And then I opened it up and saw the Velcro
patches that you can use to expand the
pack itself. I put those into the bottom
and was left with a cavern. For all of
the guys who bring their entire fly collection
with them, this is the pack for you. I
honestly don’t have enough stuff
to put in there. I’ve had to step
up my tying game in an attempt to have
a better-filled pack. It’s actually
kind of embarrassing.
The Headwaters is bulletproof.
I say that about product a lot, but it’s
because it’s true. The pack is constructed
out of airbag material. I’ve never
even heard of a pack using a material
like that before. When you get this pack
in your hands, you’ll see exactly
what I’m talking about. The material
is smooth and supple, but it’s very
clear that you’re not going to damage
this thing at all.
There is one caveat to
using this sling pack, or any sling pack
for that matter. I naturally put the pack
on my left side, away from my casting
arm. Every time I would swing it to the
front, the slack line hanging from my
rod would be bundled up on it. The last
time that I got out, I switched it and
didn’t have any problems to speak
of. Just some food for thought.
So take it from me. The
guy who had never previously fished with
a pack. The Headwaters Sling Pack is a
great product and it will last you a long
time to come.
Click
here to view the Simms Sling Pack
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