Since February of 2017, the Vedavoo Beast Sling has been my go-to pack for fly fishing. Other gear storage options enter into the picture when I’m wading deep in the salt or moving quickly in the mountains, but the Beast functions as a flexible and all-purpose pack that fits into nearly every other fishing scenario. It meets my needs for long days on the river or big fly assortments in the canoe. Ultimately, the durability and versatility of this design and build have left me completely content for over six years.
What makes this sling pack special? With all the new, the latest, and the flashy out there, why return to a (seemingly) simple Cordura bag time and time again?
Here are four reasons why I am still fishing with this bulletproof pack six years later:
Comfort
First and foremost, all Vedavoo packs are built for your “off” shoulder. If you cast right-handed, the Beast is built to go on your left shoulder (or vice-versa). It only makes sense, but few manufacturers do it. The main storage is also positioned such that the weight of the load sits squarely in the center of your back, evenly distributing weight across the ergonomic strap. Adding a water bottle to the included holster further anchors the pack right where it should be.
Weight
The pack is virtually weightless. That means you determine how heavy – or how light it will be based upon what you want to carry. It will fit more fly boxes, spare spools, and snacks than you’d need for a day on the water. But even such a large back won’t be a burden or be overkill if you only need the bare essentials for your fishing.
Access
The pack sits vertically on your back. When you rotate it under your arm and onto your chest, it sits perfectly horizontally. You look down and you see everything in and on your pack. When you don’t need to fish through your stuff, you rotate the pack back behind you and your front is completely free to wade, to cast, and to fish.
Options
When it comes down to it, the Beast is my go-to because of versatility. I can put one fly box, a lunch, and a rain jacket in it. Or, I can put eight fly boxes in it. Or, I can put an extra spool, a giant streamer box, and a jet boil in it. On trips when I don’t know where or how I will be fishing, I can put a variety of gear inside and be ready for most anything. The various lash points and pockets allow me to customize how and where my tools and accessories sit based upon what I want that day.
The Beast has received some significant upgrades since I had a pack built for me in 2017. The main compartment features a roll-top design, which adds greater protection from the elements. A net holster has been integrated into the back. Some of the extra loops and straps have been eliminated to streamline the design. All of these adjustments are, in my opinion, improvements.
However, what remains the same is the high quality materials and expert craftmanship. If I gave my pack a quick rinse, I wager you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between it and a brand new one… unless you got close enough to see some of the scuffs that have resulted from the occasional hard fall.
Head over to Vedavoo’s website to check out the Beast and their other packs. Pack builds are custom jobs, built by hand outside of Boston. You have your choice of three materials and over two dozen colors.
And if you have any questions about fishing out of the pack, don’t hesitate to reach out. There’s a good chance I’ve put it through similar paces to what you’re looking to do.