Death of Tech Packs / Rise of Dry Packs

[Swattie87]

Anyone else put off by this? 10 years ago pretty much all the major FF gear companies had at least one, if not more, offerings with a backpack style back and a vest style front. With a legitimate hiking backpack suspension and waist belt on many of them.

Yeah, Fishpond has a couple still that are kinda like this, but they’re really just fancy vests with lots of bells and whistles and lack a proper backpack suspension and waist belt. I’m usually fishing all day away from my vehicle, and I like the space the backpack gives me for non-fishing items. Lunch, jacket, etc.

Everything (or almost everything) out there right now backpack style wise is that “dry” or “waterproof” style of pack, and IMO you sacrifice a lot of features and functionality to be “dry/waterproof”. Having a pack that’s waterproof isn’t all that important to me, and it’s a problem I’ve solved on my other packs with a $20 hiking pack cover, for when needed when I’m actually fishing in the rain. Which, as hardcore as I like to think I am, realistically, is a handful of times a year, at most.

Is everyone else actually into those waterproof packs? Am I the weirdo? Anyone have an old William Joseph Exodus they want to part with?

 

[albatross]

The real value of the waterproof packs come in when you need to wade deep, like water between your navel and armpits deep. Nice when my waterproof sling pack can just float behind me in this situation.

 

[Swattie87]

The real value of the waterproof packs come in when you need to wade deep, like water between your navel and armpits deep. Nice when my waterproof sling pack can just float behind me in this situation.

Haha, yeah, small stream guy mostly. I don’t ever wade that deep, intentionally. And if I do, I probably have bigger problems than my pack being wet.

 

[Duriensbane]

friend called me out before about taking a backpack with me and i told him that i do admit i carry to much stuff with me, but im very forget full, and id rather just carry alot of stuff that i MIGHT need then forget something that i do need. Plus im very use to carrying alot of stuff from my time in the military that walking a few miles with a backpack is no sweat. Shoulders get a little sore but ill manage.

 

[gunpowderglass]

I’m also annoyed by this trend. When I went through the gear I was carrying, very little of it actually needed protection from immersion. I think it’s more practical to protect the items that need it rather than compromising accessibility to protect everything.

 

[Broodstock]

I went from an old canvas vest which I fished for 20 plus years, to a bunch of different options in the last couple years. I liked the Patagonia stealth vest, but then I ditched vests totally. I tried a hip pack but they slide down. A hip pack with a shoulder strap was annoying. Then I went to the C&F chest pack which saved a tremendous amount of weight. It’s the best IMO for flexibility and functionality. I pair this with either nothing if I’m close to my vehicle. If I’m walking around and it’s not deep wading or rain I’ll bring a small day pack. If it’s cold or raining or I walk long distances from the car (or bike fish) I’ll bring the orvis waterproof pack. It’s got critical things like water, first aid, phone/keys, food. Sometimes a change of clothes or a layer.

I like a pack for stowing a shell or thermal layer. On long days when it’s cool in the morning and evening and I need to take layers off - this is the way.

I never bought any WJ products but wish they were still making them since they seem to be the best of both worlds.

The Umpqua overlook system seems to be the closest match for a product that is currently available.