Gear Talk with Kelly Galloup: Vests vs. Hip Packs 

Thanks for the good,honest advice for us novice fishermen. It helps so much. Thanks again.

I'm thoroughly enjoying all the videos you folks are posting. Very entertaining and knowledgeable.

Used a vest for over a decade, then switched to a hip pack a few years ago. I think I’m going back to the vest. I just found it more convenient and I wear a backpack anyway.

Love the casual style. Informative and fun. No pretension.

Beginner fly fishermen usually buy and carry gear that is rarely used. All you need is pliers or hemostats, nippers, leader/tippet material, a few strike indicators, flotant if using dry flies and at the most a couple small boxes of a variety of flies. All can be carried in an inexpensive day pack. Make sure you actually like fly fishing before sinking alot of money into it.

Outstanding. Love that it was now a sales pitch.

I'm watching this to get ideas for a gift for my husband for Christmas 🙂 but I could seriously get obsessed with backing these things 🙉 I love organising things 😋 brilliant video, thank you 👌

Enjoying your videos Kelly.Thanks for taking the time to share your vast knowledge.

Love your videos. this was a great help. I have a fishpond vest but looking to buy a hip pack. for like you said those short days. well explained. thanks!

Where was this video when I needed it!? After trying out vests, packs and hip packs (and spending a ton of $$$) I finally gravitated toward a Fishpond hip pack like the one in this video for short excursions and a Fishpond pack for longer all-day excursions. For multi-day backpacking trips, I rely strictly on a small Fishpond San Juan chest pack that works well for my lightweight backpacking style.

Very legitimate Chanel! Much appreciated

Thank you for comparing the vest and pack I been trying to wrap my brain around what exactly would be suitable for me. Great video thanks.

Great videos man I learn a lot

Great video, very informative

Hey kelly the shoulder strap is actually worn across the body from one shoulder across to the other side of the body. They are great for heavier packs and take the weight off your hips and bring the pack higher on your torso(for wading in deep pools,etc) i use it all the time. Cheers, good videos

Thank you for this information and the tips to make fishing easier.

I have used Fishpond products for many years. Never let me down. I have the larger waist pack, and a small chest/shoulder slung pack. Depends on how much stuff I need and for how long. I also have a technical vest that I used for 2 years but tended to carry more than I needed. It was kind of hot at times. Thanks for your video it was very well done!

Well done and informative. Good perspective on the many choices. Thanks!

Excellent video. I have been using my chest pouch lately but appreciating my vest more and more. I wear the chest pouch under my left elbow, sometimes combined with a day pack. My chest pouch (JR Outfitters) will still see some use, but I am going to inventory and reorganze my vest. Personal preference I suppose combined with a fair amount of trial and error.

I have been a sling pack guy, I just got a vest as a Christmas gift, and I'm really excited for it. I like fly fishing for the minimalist aspect, I am very much a vest guy. I carry all my stuff I think is Essential for me. Probably more gear than most but nothing in every pocket. It's a personal preference. But the vest so far, does seem to be more functional.

What do you recommend for a hip bag that's small (like the first one you showed) and waterproof/submersible ?

Straight to the point! Thanks.

Good practical advice from someone who obviously know fly fishing. good job.

Great stuff Kelly

Awesome man. To the point. Helped me save a lot of time and 💰

Loved this video, I'm a vest guy personally.

I fish out of a day pack... a vest is probably better but being primarily a bass angler vest are for "tourist, geriatrics and boy scouts". Cool video to break it down, I honestly never thought about packing so much into the vest.

Kelly, i also have the patagonia classic hip/ chest pack. But i haven't figured out a clever way to attach my landing net, since mine don't have a D ring.. Do you have any tip? Could a folding net be a good idea? I'm mostly fishing stillwater, so the current is not a problem due to the frame..

any recommendations on a vest which is also a life jacket?

you don't want to build a lot of bulk in your thorax, just like a fly, with your back pack. lol love your vids man,. learned so much, thank you, hope to meet you someday. thanks. Sam

Kelly is the man!! Truth be told, he only needs one fly and no B.S.

I like the vests(packs) more because as I wade into the deeper water which is quite often the water gets into all my gear including fly boxes.

Kelly, take a look at Umpqua's line of surveyor packs and integrated vests / chest packs. They look to be better designed than the offerings from sims and pata.

Like this guy and his "keep it simple" way

I’ve tried all of the options and stick w a vest if I’m walking. I know where everything is. I might change a few boxes based on hatches.

I bought the simms guide vest, and i find i need 2 hands to open the zips on the fly box pockets.

Also take into account the hip pack is always in the water if you wade close to your waist. You shouldn't wade up to the waist for safety but it happens in slower waters.

Iam with you first thing I do is take those fly pads out of that front pocket

What was the brand of that ultra thin fly box. ( I know I can find something similar elsewhere, I want to know what he’s using)

Kelly- I lost the vest almost 10 years ago as I was tired of all the crap hanging out front. I went to the hip pack which has mostly been fine. As my wife is fishing with me now I need to carry more gear (mule) and have been flirting with the idea of the patagucci sweet pack or something like that. What are your thoughts and would you consider doing a review of those?

I've seen a couple of his videos and I am sure he knows his stuff but man, he rambles on & on. Talks almost as much as my sweet wife 😂.

The vest backpack is where it’s at if you’re like me and like to bring a lot of water and maybe a few cans of beer 😊

Hi Kelly, You can never have too much Junk is my moto, I think this is the time to ask...Do Trout Fisherman Ever Keep the Trout they Catch? Have yet to see that, but if they do where do they put the fish? Thanks For All the Great Videos.

Vest if wading on a boat with life jacket use the bag you don't have to wear it but it's your tackle box.

I haven't used a vest in 15 years. I guess I'm a minimalist.

I like to pack my spinning gear in my back pack

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2 types of vest. Short for waders. Long for hip boots. Personal preference mesh net short wader vest. Early June wear it inside your snowmobile jacket. Then over your waders until water warms. Lastly over your t shirt, and wear shorts that dry quick. Don't overthink fishing, just go enjoy yourself. Every year wife and kids will fill your pack sack and upgrade your gear. 60 years experience salmon is fishing in newfoundland. Carry a net, look like a beginner.

Wait- who the heck is Johnny?

We all know that pocket is for beer not water bottles.

Simple. A vest is higher above the water, stays dry. Hip pack rides lower, hence gets wet sooner. 😎

the key question I have about hip packs - is that they don't accommodate nets very well. You never see an explanation for that. If you're going to use a hip pack, leave the net at home.

The net! The net! You forgot the net.

Good info but who else was thinking "woody Harrelson? "