sling pack users

[salvelinus]

I have a Patagonia stealth atom sling pack. I like the concept but I have a problem with it. When I am fishing small mountain streams which require a lot of leaning over and sidearm casting, I find the strap is constantly sliding off my shoulder. I fish right handed and the only way to wear this is with the strap over the right shoulder. I tried adjusting the straps to no avail. I am interested in what other sling pack users' experiences are.

 

[J55tyger88]

I use the orvis safe passage and it has the strap that goes under the arm to eliminate this problem.

 

[Six-Gun]

You may want to tie a piece rope or old nylon strapping around the sling ends so that you can tighten it down and put some tension in the strap ends when you aren't actually in the bag. I think it will make a world of difference in solving the problem you've described.

Both Orvis and Simms use a mid-body strap in their respective sling packs to prevent the slipping, and I can tell you first-hand that (at least for the Simms pack that I own), it works perfectly. I can hang sideways around the tree or over ledges with no spin or slip. For that matter, if I forget to clip it, the pack will spin when I lean hard to one side and remind me to lock it up.

 

[salvelinus]

With the pack on your back, it's got a strap that runs under the right arm and connects in the front to the strap that goes over the shoulder. You have to undo the strap to swing the pack around the front. So it does what you guys are saying. But I always find that the shoulder strap works its way down off the shoulder and I must constantly move the strap back up. Maybe my shoulders are too rounded, lol. I could always use a staple gun. :-D

 

[Bosshog]

I have the same pack. I had this problem at first, but it was just a matter of putting more tension on one of the straps versus the other.

 

[salvelinus]

BH,

Thanks for the insight I'll try it again.

 

[echuck66]

I use the orvis safe passage and it has the strap that goes under the arm to eliminate this problem.

ditto... except I have the Orvis Guide Pack and I love it!

 

[J55tyger88]

Like others have said, you put that arm pit strap on, and it stays put. Leave it off, and it goes where it wants. I notice too, that I tend to wear mine a little higher up than what I originally thought. Helped out to snug that strap up and have it ride a little higher on my back. It didn't feel like it was almost ready to slip off my shoulder.

 

[Cold]

I can't for the life of me figure out why they design these sling packs to hang on your casting arm.

I stayed away from them for a long time because I thought they'd go over your left shoulder to leave your right arm free for casting, and as a southpaw, I didn't want that.

When I realized they went over the right, I tried one out in the store and left with it. Still use it every time I go out, and hope to pick up one of the Orvis Guide Slings used or on sale soon. They work great for a lefty!

 

[J55tyger88]

They have a lefty version from Orvis?

 

[Cold]

No, that's not what I'm saying.

The way I see it, the whole point of a sling is to give you the storage, and out-of-the-way comfort of a backpack, but with easier access, and *without hanging a strap from your casting arm*.

Apparently I missed a memo somewhere, because in a world dominated by righties, all of these slings are designed to hang on the right shoulder, which makes no sense to me.

Conveniently for me, though, I'm a lefty, so these slings that are designed to hang from the right shoulder leave my left arm free for casting. Maybe I'm just backward, but I absolutely love using their sling as a left-handed caster, and eventually at some point, I plan to add the Guide version as my go-to pack. I got the regular version when it came out, and while it works, I'd like the option to be able to add a water bottle, spare spool, and stuff in a packable rain coat or shed a layer of hoodie if need be.

 

[gfen]

Hangs on right shoulder, comes around to the left. If it hung on the left shoulder, it'd swing under your right armpit making it awkward to access when you've got a rod jammed in your 'pit to hold it, as well as if it migrated downwards it would interrupt where your arm swings.

 

[Cold]

All of the same issues still apply in reverse, but are all equally mitigated by using it properly. Can't say I've ever run into any issues holding the rod under my left arm while using the sling pack, though. Pull the pack around, stow the rod, and do what you need to do...for me it stays put without issue.

The Orvis bag isn't designed to be worn any other way than over the right shoulder, but I've seen others (not fishing specific, though) that are designed to be ambidextrous. Always looked to me like the designers, in pursuit of making an ambidextrous pack, ended up making the thing perfectly useless from an ergonomic standpoint, no matter what way you wore it.

 

[gfen]

The brilliance of our modern global economy will allow you, too, to become a captain of industry with your very own McFishin branded gear manufactured and imported from our Eastern friends via alibaba.com.

If you're so truly confident a "left shoulder sling bag" is the wave of the future, go for it.

The simple search of "sling bag" has produced over 37,000 results. I'm sure one of them will be glad to make it in Sunset Orange and Burnt Sage and embroider a little fish on it for you.

 

[Cold]

Are you even reading my posts?!

I'm completely satisfied with my sling, and have no idea what you're going on about.

 

[gfen]

Cold wrote:
Are you even reading my posts?!

Generally, no. Mine are much better.

 

[Cold]

Then you should go back to that M.O.