Editor’s note: As we ask today’s gear to do more, last longer, and come in at a price that makes sense for a quality gear investment, it can be difficult for consumers in search of specialty items in the fly-fishing space to find the right piece of equipment for the right set of circumstances. Such is the case for waterproof backpacks. We’re launching a multi-part series on these items that are asked to do much more than just “keep stuff dry.” Following is part 3 in the series.
Finding the ideal waterproof backpack may seem like a “first-world” challenge to some, and I get that it might come across as a bit pretentious to tackle a series on protecting a host of largely recreation-based gear from the perils of water. Keep in mind, though, that specialty items have been ever-present in the fly fishing industry — smart gear manufacturers make everything from stripping gloves to special leaders and tippets made solely for anglers who swing soft-hackle flies. The reason? There’s a market for them.
Finding a good waterproof backpack that can meet the multi-functional needs of anglers on the water, on the trail, and on the road, I would argue, is as worthwhile as any deliberative gear search out there. We’ll toil over decisions to spend $1,000 on a fly rod that’s designed a built for a very niche purpose. Why wouldn’t we spend as much time debating the merits of the waterproof backpacks on the market that are designed to keep important gear dry on the water? And, I would argue, adding in some everyday functionality is an important consideration. With that, here’s the next installment in this series:
Toadfish Waterproof Backpack and Sling
I loaded the Toadfish Waterproof Backpack and Sling with me to Labrador for a cold and rainy week chasing plus-sized brook trout. It has 24 liters of interior space, and its shape is rectangular, which makes it easy to make the most of the storage space. It’s got a nice snug laptop sleeve, plus a smaller pouch for anything from a small tablet to wallets, keys, sunglasses, etc. It also boasts a zippered mesh pouch on the interior, which is perfect for easy access to passports and such in the airport, or small fishing accessories in the boat or on the water.
Like the other packs, it has a deep well, and, on the trail, it’ll easily hold a pair of breathable waders, a light jacket, and all the fly boxes, camera gear, accessories or snacks an angler might need. The pack’s exterior is unique, in that it includes Toadfish’s MagLatch system that allows anglers to attach a magnetic sling pack to the backpack’s exterior. It’s probably not terribly practical in transit to a fly-fishing destination, but on the water, it’s a nice feature. The exterior also sports a zippered waterproof pocket on the back of the pack. In the airport, I used it to keep track of my passport, wallet and a pair of sunglasses (it’s pretty roomy). I felt good about that, because the zipper requires a certain amount of force to open and close — I wasn’t concerned that a pick-pocket attempt would go unnoticed (not that I was terribly worried about such an event in the Halifax airport).
Toadfish’s DrySeal zipper is something of a hybrid between Simms’ TRU-zip and Patagonia’s toothy YYK zipper offering. It does require some effort to pull up and down, but, on two rainy days on the trail in Labrador, I can happily attest that it works well — the pack is water tight.
Interior storage
Excellent. I love the laptop sleeve, which, when I was fishing, easily held a notebook-style fly box. The second pouch works well for additional fly boxes and tools. The bag’s shape made it easy to slide a full-size camera in and out of the pack, and there was room in the pack for a second, longer lens, in addition to a rain jacket, an extra reel and and an extra reel spool, as well as the usual tippets, leaders, and such.
Waterproof material
The Toadfish Waterproof Backpack and Sling uses a “Salt Tough” shell of coated fabric. Reinforced on the bottom, the pack is sturdy and sits upright when it’s placed on the ground or on the bottom of the boat. Believe it or not, when you’re toting fragile gear into the backcountry, that matters.
Exterior storage and features
Here’s where the Toadfish pack shines. It offers a zippered, waterproof external storage pocket that’s ideal for phones, wallets, passports, etc., while traveling, and equally handy for small fly boxes, leader packs, and small tools while fishing. It also features one water-bottle holder. Finally, while the traps are padded and solid, they don’t feature a “stop” at the end of the adjustable strap. At first, I thought the lack of the folded and stitched fabric at the end of the stops must have been a mistake, but then I realized this was intentional. This way, the straps can detach from one another and fold into a handy compartment behind the padded back of the pack. Then, using a solid fabric handle on the side of the pack, the whole thing becomes a small duffle. That said, when adjusting the straps, be especially careful, and don’t let the straps slide all the way through the adjuster and crash to the ground. The exterior also features several chorded connections for attaching things like a rain jacket on the outside of the pack. It boasts a number of loops for tool attachment, and, of course, the MagLatch system on the back, where the little sling attachment goes. I didn’t use this, because I was weight- and space-limited, but I do like the feature for on-the-water use.
Zipper
The DrySeal zipper works great, but it does require some effort to open and close. As with any waterproof pack, the zipper will get the most use, and I suspect it will be the first thing to fail over time. Take care in making sure the zipper is lined up before zipping or unzipping, and I’ve found that using the top strap and the side handle to grip the pack while using the zipper is the best way to alleviate pressure on the zipper itself. In other words, don’t grip one side of the zipper and then zip or unzip.
Durability
I had no issues with durability. Not only did it ride out rough boat rides in Labrador, but it carried a full load of camera gear down a boggy trail to a backcountry lake. I would have liked waist straps to help balance the load, but otherwise, it performed well.
Comfort
Under a normal load, the pack is quite comfortable. But, with a full pack of carry-on gear, the lack of a hip strap puts the load on the shoulder straps, which is noticeable. That said, the pack itself handled the load just fine.
Final word
The tech involved in today’s waterproof backpacks is impressive, and manufacturers are intentionally making these packs multi-functional. The Toadfish Waterproof Backpack and Sling might be the best example of a designer trying like hell to think of how consumers might use a waterproof backpack beyond its stated waterproof purpose. As someone who uses a backpack from the start of a fishing journey to the end, this is something I really appreciate.
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