Packs & Bags
The Equipment We Trust
Recommended Packs & Bags
Umpqua Northfork Chest Pack
Umpqua makes great products with bombproof quality, and I used the their old Overlook chest pack for nearly a decade and loved it. The only reason I stopped using it is that I’ve significantly cut down on what I carry, and I just didn’t need all the storage it had. The Northfork is one of their newest packs and seems close to the old overlook. I’ve not used it myself, but for anglers that need more storage, I 100% recommend Umpqua products.
Muserise Ultralite Chest Pack
The Muserise chest pack is what I went to after downsizing from the Umpqua Overlook. It’s a cheap, $20 Amazon buy that worked perfectly for my needs. It holds on 4 page fly box and one slim single page box, as well as a few accessories. I used the straps to make my current DIY chest box because they’re super comfortable. It’s cheap enough that it’s worth a shot if you want to try going minimalist.
Zavothy Hydration Pack
The Zavothy Hydration pack is another cheap Amazon buy that punches above its price point. It’s a solid hydration pack and gives you some additional storage if you’re using a chest box or minimalist pack. The straps are pretty comfortable and it distributes the weight of a full hydration bladder well. Adding this to my setup was a game changer for staying hydrated and feeling good after a day of fishing or guiding.
Orvis Carry-It-All Bag
I use the Orvis Carry-It-All to keep my gear organized while traveling or on the water. It’s come with me to all my World Championships and most other competitions I’ve fished over the years, as it’s a great way to get all my equipment to where I’am fishing and laid out in front of me. I like it more than a backpack or other type of bag because it lets you put eyes on all your gear to make sure it’s there and find what you need. I’ve flown with this as checked luggage and my rods in the rod compartment with no issue- it’s pretty sturdy.
Orvis Bug-Out Backpack
I’ve used this backpack in all sorts of different fishing scenarios, from wading the flats to musky fishing in my raft, as well as just an everyday bag. After being drug all over the world, it still looks and functions like new. I’ve been extremely impressed with the quality, storage capacity, and comfort (I’ve carried it through the airport with ~40lbs of gear in it with no issues).
Stansport Duffle Bag
I use these duffle bags for all my air travel. They are super spacious and long enough to fit a rod tube and my Orvis Carry All bag, but still check as regular sized luggage. I often use one to hold all my smaller bags (waders, rods, rod tubes, etc) so I can check them all as one item. They’re a great, cheap option for checked luggage, but don’t offer much protection because of the soft sides.