The
hybrid Plano FlipSider effectively blends both soft and hard tackle storage
systems together (continued)
Ergonomics
cont'd:
I found the
padding in the shoulder strap to be better than 90% of the shoulder bags out
there due to an excellent combination of padding and a tacky rubber surface that
won’t slip off your shoulder. While the shoulder strap was excellent the same
can’t be said about the hand strap. It is awkwardly placed in the rear of the
bag so that when it is grasped the bag angles to one side and this puts a great
deal of pressure on a strap that isn’t padded. Carrying the loaded FlipSider
with just the hand strap feels unnatural and in most cases I just used this when
loading the bag back into the car or truck.
|
The pockets feature webbing on
the side so items will not come rolling out when you reach for tools and
tackle |
Durability:
It’s always fun to beat on something until it breaks. In the case of the
FlipSider this was taken to the extreme. We had fun bashing the bag with a
hammer, throwing it aggressively into the back of the truck, and off roading
with the FlipSider in the bed.
|
Even with
the boxes there was still room for a hat |
On a scale of one to ten the FlipSider gets an eleven in the durability department. This bag is built tough!
In fact because it makes use of a soft body and is reinforced with non-rigid TPR
Hardbottom technology it can actually take a greater beating than most hard
boxes and soft systems. When it comes to durability it truly is the best of both
worlds.
|
The bag can be carried two
ways, by hand or over the shoulder |
When
off roading we were surprised just how well the bag stayed rooted. While other
bags and boxes in the truck were threatening to bounce out of the bed the
FlipSider pulled a “Spider Man” and stuck on with confidence. The Hardbottom of
this bag is actually a flexible rubber that is molded with oversized edges so
that the bag can hold onto a truck bed or boat deck like no other.
|
Quality metal hardware
highlighted in the shoulder strap |
The main
bag is built out of a sturdy EVA foam structure, and the unit is bonded to the
integrated FlipSider compartment with a combination of glue, and heavy nylon
stitching. The bag makes use of premium zippers, and all straps make use of
reinforced metal hardware.
|
The shoulder
strap cushion is excellent |
The only
area that we thought might be a durability concern was the Duraview window. But
after months of abuse we have come to the conclusion that the hinges are
reinforced enough to stand the test of time, and a series of test strikes with a
hammer put our concerns of the window cracking to death real quick.
|
Hmmm...when just using the
hand strap the bag leans to one side rather awkwardly |
Price &
Applications: The FlipSider retails for 64.99 and is one of the more expensive
Plano tackle boxes on the market. However, it isn’t considered overly
high-priced when compared to other premium tackle solutions. So who should look
into the FlipSider? We think the bag is very well suited for freshwater anglers,
but not as well suited for saltwater anglers due to the usefulness of the
FlipSider compartment when it comes to trying to house oversized saltwater
lures.
|
A close-up of the hand strap |
The bag is good for anglers
that enjoy fishing from shore, but not those that hike long distances to their
honey holes. Because the FlipSider makes use of traditional 3700 size boxes it
is also a great bag for anglers with boats.
|
The FlipSider proved to be
extremely durable, and survived being tossed bashed, and trampled on for
months |
Many
bass boats like Ranger and Triton come complete with tackle drawers outfitted
just for 3700 size boxes. When it comes to riding shotgun in a tournament the
FlipSider is a good bag to use when grabbing some of your existing organized
tackle and jumping into your buddy’s boat.
Ratings:
Plano FlipSider
Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
Plano has always made bags that can stand up
to abuse, and the FlipSider is among the best we have seen yet. The bag is
built with top notch construction and materials |
9 |
Performance |
Performance was very good in all our tests.
There are some concerns about total tackle storage volume, but most
freshwater anglers will do just fine. The FlipSider makes it easier than
ever to find the right lure quickly |
9 |
Price |
A reasonable price for a tackle solution that
is able to offer so much in terms of features |
8 |
Features |
Plenty of features, we love the integrated
flipsider system and the fact that you can use existing 3700 size utility
boxes |
9 |
Design (Ergonomics) |
The Flipsider is a good bag for short
distances, but you wont want to hike anywhere with it. The shoulder strap is
excellent but the single hand strap is not nearly as ergonomic |
7 |
Application |
This tackle system is really geared more
towards freshwater anglers than saltwater anglers. While we are confident
that the bag's construction will hold up in offshore conditions the
flipsider compartment simply is not as useful with most oversized salt lures |
8 |
Total Score |
8.33 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus Minus |
J
Innovative design |
L Not
designed for long treks |
J Bold
looks and performance |
L
Offshore anglers need not apply |
J
Flexible utility box system |
|
J
FlipSider system is fast |
|
J Built
like a tank! |
|
J
Reasonable price |
|
Conclusion: The
FlipSider is undoubtedly the most exciting bag we have seen from Plano yet. This
bag (or box) is bold in every way. From the Burnt Orange exterior to the
successful integration of the FlipSider tackle system this bag oozes confidence,
and self-assurance is exactly what you will have when you stow your tackle into
this bag. Not only does the FlipSider do a first rate job protecting your prized
lures it makes it faster than ever before to identify and select your lure of
choice. When it comes to durability the FlipSider is built like a M1 tank. We
gave our test unit the thrashing of a lifetime and the bag simply shrugged it
off. If you are a freshwater angler and looking for an easy new way to bear your
tackle then you should definitely consider the FlipSider. With ICAST just weeks
away I hope Plano isn’t done innovating, but topping the FlipSider is not going
to be an easy task.