I started fly fishing in August of 2022, so I am a complete newbie compared to those who grew up on the water. I dove deep, put in the work, made lots of mistakes, learned a great deal, and went through a lot of gear. Generally, I like to explore off the beaten path, and I’ve already gone through two pairs of Simms boots and Guide waders. To me, it seems that fly fishing products are just not made for the type of fly fishing I enjoy. It’s understandable to an extent; nothing is going to prevent rips from barbed wire and thorns. It’s the price you have to pay to venture off the beaten path.

So, with all that aside, the last piece of gear I held onto was a proper fly fishing pack. I’ve been using a Hyperlite Day Pack as it’s ultralight, fits my net perfectly, and carries all my things without making me look like a complete fly fishing nerd. Honestly, it’s been a great pack, and I’ll continue to use it on longer excursions where a proper backpack is warranted. The one thing that started to really bother me was accessing my gear while on the water. I generally had to stuff my fly box in my waders, along with a couple of spools of tippet. Not a bad solution, really, but not optimal, as you can imagine.

So, in the new year, I was pretty set on picking up a Waterproof Sling or a Waterproof Hip Pack. I use hip packs a lot for mountain biking, but when fly fishing, I tend to bring a camera and like having space in general for a jacket or lunch. So I went back and forth several times. Ultimately, I think the solution is to have both, but the question was, which one do I pick up first?

Considering that it’s winter in the Pacific Northwest, I decided to go with a sling for its larger storage capacity. If you’re going to be hiking all day in the middle of winter, it’s probably a good idea to bring an extra jacket, headlamp, and food. Right?

So, with that out of the way, there were only two real options, in my opinion: the Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Sling or the Orvis PRO Waterproof Sling 14L. While the Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Sling had amazing reviews and has definitely been put through the wringer, it is also super old. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it’s been around for eight or so years. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but I am a new school fly fisherman, and I have my own thoughts on how things should be done. I found very little reviews of the Orvis PRO Waterproof Sling 14L but what I liked about it was that it was a brand new product for 2023, Orvis has the resources and desire to make the best products possible. I also know that Orvis stands behind their products, and if I ever had a problem, I could go into the store in Lake Oswego and get taken care of.

After deciding to visit Lake Oswego, a suburb just outside Portland, I finally got my hands on the bag. The quality was immediately apparent; it was lightweight and featured essentials like a built-in tippet holder and an external water bottle pocket. This leads me to discuss the hefty price tag of $299, which is $50 more than the already expensive Fishpond Submersible. As a collector of mountain biking and travel bags, I expect unparalleled quality at this price. However, the Orvis PRO Waterproof Sling 14L falls short. The stabilizer strap, intended to prevent the bag from shifting, feels cheap. Similarly, the foam on the back of the sling and the internal pocket, though practical, seem to be of low quality in comparison to the outer. In my opinion, this bag should be priced similarly to the Fishpond at $250, but with that Orvis endorsement, you know you’re purchasing a product that they will stand behind. Is that worth the additional $50? I kinda think so.