The best fly fishing vests are essential in any fishing escapades. Vests aren't only fashionably beautiful but they are also practical. As an angler, buying a quality vest is, therefore, important.
While there’s a huge variety of products to choose from, only a handful of brands can offer you the top quality that you should be looking for.
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Fly Fishing Vest Reviews
As noted above, there are many brands as far as fishing vests go. For the average angler, it can be hard and time-consuming to research them and find what you want.
This is why we decided to do extensive research on your behalf and come up with a list of some of the best fly fishing vests on the market. Keep reading to learn more!
1. BASSDASH Strap Fishing Vest
In case you’re on a tight budget, the BASSDASH lightweight fly fishing vest will be a perfect choice for you. It’s designed to give you value for money. In addition to this, this model comes with 18 pockets, enough to store all your small items.
The vest is also fitted with strong loops that you can use to attach important gear such as nippers, leader bridges, zingers, etc. It also features a meshed back for proper ventilation and added comfort.
You’ll get a fully adjustable waist and shoulder to ensure you fit it just perfectly to your body. The BASSDASH vest is designed for practicality.
It’s not only affordable but also comes with added bonus features that will make your time out there on the water extremely enjoyable.
2. Autumn Ridge Traders Lightweight Pocket Vest
The Autumn Ridge Traders trout fishing vest comes with a classic all-purpose design with immense practicality as well. The vest offers superb fashion and aesthetics. You also get to pick across a wide range of color options.
There’s plenty of storage too with this vest. However, the pockets are spread out evenly across the vest to ensure things don’t get too cluttered.
Besides, you’ll enjoy a large interior mesh pocket where you can store relatively large items. The Autumn Ridge vest also comes with a properly ventilated design thanks to its mesh back. This will keep you comfortable even during hot and dry fishing days.
Also, the vest is available in many different sizes. It should, therefore, be easy to find something that fits you just perfectly. So, if you’re looking for one of the best fly fishing vests, you can be sure Autumn Ridge Traders will be among the top options for anglers.
3. FishPond Upstream Tech Vest
The FishPond vest is a highly versatile fishing vest that should deliver immense value for money. To start with, the vest comes with 14 pockets spread all over the exterior and interior. Front pockets are, however, extra-large, giving you enough room to store bigger gear all day long.
The back of the vest also features a practical attachment that can be used to hook in fishing nets. The vest comes in a wide range of colors too.
You get adjustable shoulder straps and waistline to ensure the vest fits perfectly regardless of your body physique. Proper ventilation and comfort are also guaranteed with an open mesh back design.
The Fishpond vest is a lightweight vest and according to many fly fishing vest reviews, it feels ergonomically easy to wear. Besides, even with these amazing features, the vest is relatively affordable compared to so many other products under this category. It’s worth your consideration.
4. M MaximumCatch Fly Fishing Vest Pack
The Maxcatch brand is a very popular option for anglers around the world. The company has been selling fishing gear, including vests, for a long time. As you can imagine, this vest is in line with its high standards of quality.
The vest, for example, offers a series of storage pockets on either side of the zipper to ensure you have all the room you need for your gear. It also comes with a full open mesh design on the back to ensure you stay cool and comfortable even during hot days.
The Maxcatch vest is also fully adjustable and is designed for moderate fly fishing conditions. If you’re looking for a premium-grade fly fishing vest that doesn’t dent your pocket, then this would be a good option to go for.
5. Aventik Fly Fishing Vest Backpack
The Aventik Fly Fishing Vest is designed to deliver as much storage as you’ll ever need.
In essence, the product combines all the storage capabilities of an average fishing vest and adds an extra backpack in the mix as well. It’s one of the best fly fishing vests for people who are looking for as much storage as possible.
In addition to this, the Aventik vest also features a D-ring on the back to hook your net and other stuff. You’ll get a fully adjustable design to ensure it fits perfectly.
The Aventik vest is also water-resistant so you can easily fish in deep waters without having to worry about your gear getting wet. This is the best fly fishing vest or pack and based on reviews online, there’s just so much value to unlock from this product.
6. Kylebooker Store Vest Pack
The Kylebooker Store fishing vest is another highly versatile product designed for all types of anglers. For starters, the vest comes with a unisex design, making it perfectly ideal for both men and women.
Also, you’ll get fully adjustable waist and shoulder straps. This allows the vest to fit perfectly with all anglers.
You’ll also have 17 different pockets spread all over the vest for storage. A strong zipper is also included as part of the design. The Kylebooker Store is a one size fits all vest. In essence, it can be adjusted to cater to people with different body physiques.
The vest offers a lightweight design. In fact, it weighs only 23 ounces. This makes it one of the lightest options in the market. Also, the weight, including loaded pockets, is evenly distributed across your body. As such, you should feel very comfortable wearing this vest even when it’s fully loaded.
7. Redington Blackfoot Vest
If you’re searching for an entry-level fishing vest that offers you insane practicality, then you won’t go wrong with the Redington Blackfoot Vest.
It’s made from water-resistant materials and comes fitted with multiple pockets for all your storage needs.
You also get a super large pocket at the back to store bigger items including water bottles. The pocket layout is practically done to ensure that everything is easily accessible anywhere you are.
Selling for a good price, the Redington Blackfoot is one of the most affordable wadding fishing vest brands you can find out there.
8. Simms Headwaters Pro Mesh Fishing Vest
The Simms Headwaters Pro has a classic and old-school feel to it. It’s fashionable and aesthetically pleasing too, making it a great option for anglers who are looking for superb design and added practicality.
The vest features an open and breathable mesh all around for added comfort. It’s also a super-lightweight design that allows you to carry many items without feeling bulky.
As for storage, the Simms Headwaters Pro features 20 pockets, all spread out across the vest. This should be enough for you to carry all the stuff you need. If you’re looking for a minimalist fly fishing vest that still has a lot to offer, this would be it.
Also, the product is fitted with a nicely knit collar with extra padding for comfort. Its water-resistant design ensures you can keep all your gear dry all day long. The Simms Headwaters Pro is also highly durable and should be able to last for a long time.
How to Get the Best Fly Fishing Vests
There are many fly fishing vests but most people will need a fly fishing vest buyer’s guide to know which one to buy. After all, fishing vests aren’t the same. They all have many different features, each designed to give you a lot of value.
But there are certain features you must always consider when you are buying these vests. We have listed all of them here below:
Storage Pockets
There’s a lot of gear that anglers bring when they go out fishing. This gear is essential for fishing and as such, you’ll need to have it with you all along.
This is where the idea of getting a fishing vest with enough storage comes in. As long as there are enough pockets within the vest, you can carry all the items you need with you as you fish.
Typically, fishing vests will have 15 to 20 pockets available. The pockets are spread all over the vest including in the interior and the back. It’s, therefore, important to carefully assess what your storage needs are and pick a vest that can deal with that.
However, you don’t want to pick a vest that has too many pockets as it can feel a bit bulky when you’re loading it up with fishing gear such as fly fishing rods.
Size of the Vest
The last thing you want is to wear a fishing vest that doesn’t fit over your fly fishing waders. Whether it’s too big or too small for your body, it will feel uncomfortable for you to wear. There are several easy ways to deal with this.
First, you can consider going for a one-size-fits-all design. Secondly, try to pick fishing vests that have adjustable straps around the shoulder and waist. That way, you can fine-tune the vest to suit your physique.
Also, most fishing vests come in many sizes. You’ll just need to take your time and buy something that works best for you.
Versatility
Size contributes a lot to the comfort of your vest. But it’s not the only thing. You also need to buy vests that are innovatively designed to ensure you feel comfortable when you wear them.
Fishing escapades can be long. Anglers have to deal with hot summer days while out there in the lake with very little shade around.
It would be hard to concentrate on your fishing if the vest is just too hot. Well, modern-day fish vest designs tend to have an open mesh interior to allow for air to move freely. This will have a cooling effect that makes the vest extremely comfortable.
Weight
As a golden rule, you must always pick a vest that’s super lightweight. Keep in mind that most of these vests are designed to help you with storage.
In that case, since there will be so much stuff going into the pockets, the vest will be heavy enough already.
So, if you can get a product that’s light before it’s loaded, the easier it will be for you to carry all your fishing gear. You’ll notice that most fishing vests tend to have weight specifications on them. Always choose vests that weigh 30 ounces or less.
Budget
Price isn’t always the first thing an angler will look at when shopping for fishing vests. People often want to ensure they get top quality even if it means paying a bit extra for it.
Besides, the best fly fishing vests out there aren’t always cheap. But despite this, you cannot buy something you cannot afford.
So, even as you search for your ideal fishing vest, make sure it’s well within your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are fly fishing vests?
A fly fishing vest is a type of fishing gear designed using lightweight and water-resistant material. It’s worn over normal clothing and comes with several pockets for fishing gear and other fishing items.
What can I put inside a fly fishing vest?
The pockets on a fly fishing vest are designed to hold a number of things. This may include small items like nippers or even bigger ones like water bottles. It’s all up to you.
Should I get a fishing vest?
Yes, they are. Keep in mind that these vests are designed to ensure you have every gear you want with you during angling. Without such a vest, it would be much harder to access and use this gear. Besides, most fishing vests cost less than $50. It’s a small price to pay given the benefits that you’re likely to enjoy from this.
Will my fishing vest be short?
A typical fishing vest will normally be shorter than your average jacket. This is because the vest is worn over regular clothing. For this reason, the vests need to be comfortable and this can only be achieved if they are shorter than your average cloth or jacket. Besides, the short nature of the vest also ensures it doesn’t get wet.
Conclusion
Finding a top-quality fishing vest that meets all your standards can be a tough job. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to get confused not knowing what you want.
However, there are some vests that tend to truly stand out. The BASSDASH Fly Fishing Vest is one such example.
The product is designed to deliver superb value for money while giving you impeccable practicality during your fishing trips. It features 18 pockets including a D-ring for your net. You also get a highly breathable design to improve the overall comfort.
If you’re looking for the best fly fishing vests out there, the BASSDASH vest won’t let you down.
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