Every once in a while I simply type “fly fishing” into the news section of search bar of my web browser to see what pops up. More often than not it is a local story about an event or an article from one of the larger angling sites. It is interesting to get less-customized results than I would see through my own social media.
The #1 listing this week was a piece from Men’s Journal entitled “Fly Fishing Gear | Settling the Debate – Is a Waterproof Bag Worth the Extra Cost?” I am always interested in debates and their being settled, so I clicked. Ultimately, it is a review of a Simms pack (I’ll link to the article below). But it did get me thinking about this question, as I’ve had many discussions about this exact aspect of gear storage over the years.
Waterproof bags do work. But what provides you with all the requisite pros also brings along its fair share of cons. Here are three things I’ve noticed as I’ve fished with waterproof gear storage that, at least in my mind, leaves room for more debate:
Water usually doesn’t get in. But if it does, it isn’t getting out.
This is my biggest concern with waterproof bags. A tablespoon of water will stay in that bag forever, assuming it is sealed up. This means a) water in the bag, b) mold if you don’t get to it, and/or c) gear sitting in a little bit of water. I’ve waded too deep countless times soaking my fly boxes in the process. At the end of the day I’ll go to open them up to air dry and most of the moisture is already gone. That won’t happen if you put something wet back into a waterproof bag.
Materials and components are going to be a little less user friendly.
A truly waterproof zipper that is also truly functional is a rare gem. Virtually all of them are a two-handed operating affair. Many require some muscle. If that is what you need, then it it worth the hassle. But the materials of the bags have their shortcomings, too. Nylons used in these pack are often more rigid and less breathable against your body. And as the point of the whole thing is to keep your gear dry, there aren’t as many quick-access lash/secure points on the exterior for when waterproof isn’t as essential.
You’re going to pay. So consider your use.
Because of the materials, and because putting the bags together is a bit more labor intensive, waterproof packs will be more expensive. Sometimes, they’re double the cost of a comparable bag of the same size. And after that expense, one crease, tear, or hole renders the pack non-waterproof.
Again, I am not against waterproof gear bags. I own a few. However, waterproof does not equal better. If anything, this equipment is for niche users (those carrying bigger electronics) or specific and infrequent applications (exceptionally bad weather). To be fair to the article mentioned above, the author sees those situations frequently. You can read it here.
For most anglers most of the time, a standard water resistant vest, pack, or bag will do everything you need. And it will probably do it better.