Quest Outdoors

BrianD · Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:50 am Post subject: Fishpond Double Haul

I've used the double haul for about 2 years now and love it. You can use just the chest pack, only the back (which I do frequently), or both to suit conditions. The front sticks out a bit, but it's small so I don't find it gets in the way of centerpinning. It does get in the way when spey casting, but I've yet to find a chest pack that doesn't.

I've got back problems to, which is why I got away from a vest. The double haul doesn't put the weight on your hips (this would require a large pack), it does seem to take a lot of the strain off of my back over a long day on the river. Has held up to use very well so far, and I don't exactly baby my gear.

I've tried fanny packs, but no matter how hard I try I'll aways end up wading a little to deep and soaking the whole thing.

Just my .02

Best,

Brian

Hoot · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 1:11 pm Post subject:

Well I finaly made a move on a vest/pack and went with a Fishpond back pack/chest rig. I decided on their new High country set up. The chest part is the same Double Haul they use on the Shooting Star the pack is somewhere between the two older models. I have not used the chest and back pack at the same time yet, but the chest pack is wonderful. The pack comes with a few sets of straps so that you can use it in a few different configs. I like the longer shoulder strap for shallow water wading, or shore fishing where I might stalk around the edge but not go in the water. The bag simply hangs at your side. I run the chest strap around my waist and the bag does not flop around as I walk or cast. You could also just remove the chest strap and clip the two fastex buckles togther for a neat shoulder bag. I've used just the short neck strap without the chest strap for float tubing, really nice.
I had to really look over what I was carring in my vest and decide what would not be making the trip anymore. I really had added a lot of useless stuff to my vest over the years. Once I really looked at what was in there and how little, if at all I use some of it, it was easy to lighten my load. I don't miss the shoulder pain, and I haven't yet found my self walking back to my truck to get one of these items I used to carry on the river. I did get a ball busting from the guys, who asked if I plan to play them a tune with my "acordian" when I first started wearing the chest pack. That has gone away after seeing how much more fresh and comfortable I am at the end of a 12 hour day, and now they are asking where to get one.
I'm very pleased I took the advise of the members here! Thanks to all for the help!
Hoot

Treven · Lunker Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 375

I have the Double Haul and love it for CP'ing, but don't see how you could really fly fish out of it well if you carry many boxes. You can detach the back pack from the cest pack, but the chest pack weighs down on your neck quite a bit if you decide you want to do that. I prefer the chest pack of the Double Haul over the Shooting Star due to the Shooting Star's chestpack being the the new Windwalker design which is bigger and sticks out further and gets in my way. I really like the WJ Confluence chest pack also as you can easily turn the back pack to the front by just undoing two straps which the Double Haul can't do. Plus, it sits higher for deep wading jaunts Wink

The Double Haul holds more of my crap when I'm throwing seven different kinds of smoke, but the new WJ Confluence is a very close second IMO.

chromedome · Lunker Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 389

Treven · Lunker Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 375

Thanks, I agree Wink

Treven · Lunker Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 375

I just realized how old this thread is and I like how people still keep up with them, but I think my Darvaset (sp?) kicked in a while ago (I had my wisdom teeth out on Friday). I think my response was a little tardy and I blame the drugs Laughing

Hoot · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject:

Treven · Lunker Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 375

Heck yeah man, chestpacks make you carry only "the good stuff" for the certain time you are fishing and it reall does help the neck, back and stamina at the end of the day! Glad you're happy, as a lot of people don't realize that is what it comes down to at the end of the day!