This spring I bought a new pair of running shoes. Unbeknownst to me, they’re considered “maximalist.” Instead of the stripped-down and barely there shoes we’ve grown accustomed to see on the feet of marathoners, this trend overbuilds a number of shoe components. While still lightweight, these shoes provide a ridiculous amount of support and cushion. But they look, feel, and perform very different from a minimalist running shoe. For some people, this alternative footwear choice might be the perfect way to go.

The same is true when it comes to fly fishing gear.

By and large, fly fishing, running, and all outdoor equipment has gravitated to smaller and lighter over the past few decades. Participants push themselves further and further. Technology, usually borrowed from sectors that depend on innovation, continues to open  doors and create options. As a result, we’re able to pack more or move with less encumbrances. No one argues that those are both good things.

However, sometimes less isn’t more. Sometimes you need a little more bulk, a little more capacity a little more substance. Thankfully, there are some options that fit those criteria out there. Here’s three big items that I think are worth considering:

Vedavoo Beast Sling

Minimalist packs are great for only carrying the bare essentials. You’re able to fish without the clutter and the stuff. But what if you want to only carry the bare essentials… and a lunch? or a rain jacket? or an extra camera lens? You’re still able to practice the ethos of minimalism while fulfilling a perfectly reasonable desire.

The Beast from Vedavoo has an incredibly high capacity. You could stack nearly a dozen fly boxes in one of these slings. But if you only put two in there, it would still sit comfortably snug against the small of your back. When you bring it around in front of you, everything is easily accessible in the large main compartment. The Beast is virtually weightless, which makes adding one more thing (if you want to) less of a burden. It is a big pack; it is a pack that does a lot of big jobs.

Loon Nip N Sip XL

There are some really, really fancy nippers out there. Space age materials coupled with some impressive bells and whistles combine for price tags pushing $100. Aside from the bill, the only real drawback for most of these nippers is their size. Truthfully, cheap nippers have the same diminutive problem.

Loon’s latest Nip N Sip model is perhaps the largest pair of nippers I’ve ever held. My hands aren’t  particularly large, but they are much more comfortable than some other tippet-cutters I own. They feature sharp blades that line up perfectly, within a frame that anyone can grab and squeeze. Even if you don’t have big hands, the Nip N Sip XL will work well. You’ll be able to handle it easily, and easily be able to snip down on even the heaviest material. And, of course, its an incredibly sturdy bottle opener too.

Redington Behemoth

The Behemoth receives it’s “big” name from the huge drag mechanism within the frame. For an affordable cast reel, it sports an uncanny drag. Redington really caught something big with this design, which ranges from a 4/5 up to an 11/12.

How the Behemoth fits into this conversation isn’t the drag or the frame: it is the drag knob. Now, a tension-modifying knob probably isn’t the reason you are or are not buying a reel. But the giant, textured dial on the side of the Behemoth is one of the most user friendly options out there. Honestly, with some reels I get nervous when fiddling with the drag while I have a fish on. This reel doesn’t present that problem. It solved it.