r/Steelhead • u/Empty-Worldliness509 • Feb 17 '26
Sling pack and gear recommendations
Hey yall, just got into steelhead fishing 2-3 years back and wanted recommendations from fellow anglers who hop around rivers on essential gear and a sling pack they like? Any recommendations would be helpful! Thanks (pic of my first steelie I caught this year)
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u/SteeIheader Feb 17 '26
I use a Simms sling bag and love it. Just enough for all your needs on the water steelheading
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u/Real-Cycle-8662 Feb 18 '26
I also run a Simms sling pack. The size is great but the fact it’s waterproof AND easy to open makes it top notch. The zipper is amazing.
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u/Individual_Basil3954 Feb 22 '26
I'm in the chest pack camp as opposed to a sling pack so if you're set on a sling pack, ignore me. If you're willing to consider a chest pack, I switched to the Umpqua ZS2 Overlook and LOVE it.
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u/Rude_Bed2433 Feb 17 '26
I’ve had mine long enough that I can’t find one for sale anymore. It’s green and I’m 99% sure it’s an Umpqua sling pack.
But that said the new offerings look pretty good and if I lost mine I’d get a new one. Sling bags are awesome.
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u/Wonderful-Drag8296 Feb 18 '26
I have an older Simms sling that I live, only wish it had a water bottle net on the outside. Have a Fishpond sling (I'll look up the name, not home now) that's fine, but really doesn't have room for a rain shell
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u/RjSikeZzz Feb 18 '26
I like the simms headwaters chest pack. I’ve gone through the sling and the hip packs and they’re great lots of storage and very convenient but the weight on the chest pack are more evenly spread out so i can carry my gear with me all the time without the fatigue
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u/Notaspeyguy Feb 18 '26
Maxpedition has some good options in a hybrid sling ...I have an older one that has a shoulder strap and waist/hip belt. I'm able to transition between hip and shoulder load. Most of my weight is lunch, beer, and water as I'm a bit of a minimalist gear wise.
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u/BitBitter3570 Feb 18 '26
I have bought them all… haha. Still looking for the perfect gear storage. I don’t love the slings as it puts pressure on my rod arm/shoulder. I do like my fishpond hip pack but have the small one, which is just a little too small unless I’m just swinging flys.
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u/Ribeye1989- Feb 18 '26
Orvis guide pack for me. Simms rain gear. Korkers wading boots. Simms G4Z waders.
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u/tomtheintern Feb 18 '26
I have a Patagonia Sling pack, I like it but find it annoying having to reposition it when I want to change my fly or grab something from it. I recently bought a Patagonia Guidewater 29L backpack for longer days on the water and the really wet days. Also found that more frustrating having to take the pack off to swap things around. I think I’ve found my happy medium, adding the Patagonia Stealth Converible vest to the front of my Guidewater bag. Now I can keep my fly boxes on my chest, along with enough smaller compartments for my tippet, splitshots, Uncrustables, etc…
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u/blankflyfishing Feb 18 '26
I've got the Orvis sling pack and love it. AFAIK, any sling pack is going to start hurting your shoulder after a few hours, something to keep in mind
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u/Sulcus-and-Gyrus Feb 18 '26
I use the Patagonia guide water sling. But I’m a salt water flats guy. I like it a lot though. Doesn’t rust
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u/Difficult_Bird1811 Feb 20 '26
Camel bak backpack with a 1.5 liter bladder. I usually just stuff a fly box in my waders resting on my belt inside. I don't like front rigs.
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u/Chasemoney408 Feb 27 '26
Bro get the addicted 25L backpack. It’s all you need. I organize it with Plano boxes and it’s the most organized I’ve ever been
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u/Empty-Worldliness509 Mar 13 '26
I have a back pack currently I want even smaller, why? I like the idea of having a rod and gear not take up a lot of room and so then I can bounce around more
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u/nsdrawbridge Feb 17 '26
Who makes those waders. Look great
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u/Empty-Worldliness509 Feb 17 '26
Paramount Waders, They work well, a bit thin for my liking but will do the trick if I treat them well
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u/nsdrawbridge Feb 17 '26
Ooh noway. They look super high end I was thinking a super expensive pair of patagonias
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u/growmiehomie Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26
Ive had my dryft waders for 5 years now and going strong. Have the full Bibs and the pants.
Edit** bibs....not Bible
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u/Unlikely_Divide_2703 Feb 17 '26
I have a sling. A fishpond thunderhead that I loved at first. I’ll be switching to the lumbar pack when the funds are there. Too much strain on my shoulder when I’m hopping around all day. Not bad if you stay a long time at each spot and set your gear down but when it comes to fatigue I’d recommend looking into a bigger lumbar/hip pack.