Shimano Vertical Stack Bag...good for multiple applications?
 

Total Score: 6.75

Introduction: Every angler needs a convenient way to carry tackle and other gear. There are different bags for different occasions, and Shimano takes a shot at making a bag that is customizable depending on the fishing that you will be doing that day.
 

Impressions: I’m usually one that looks for functionality over brand-name in a product, but like a hungry Bass, I couldn’t help but to be lured in by the bright, white "SHIMANO" logo embroidered on the front of this bag!  Another added bonus…you get six tackle boxes included in your bag that are also dressed with ‘SHIMANO’ decals. It also has five pockets (one on each side and one inside the front pocket). This bag will win Shimano fans over right away with logos placed on every element of the package, from the bag to the utility boxes.

Details: I’ve used this bag for both light and heavy loads and it has held up well.  No rips or punctures.  The most common places for a bag to break over time, is at the stitching connecting the shoulder strap to the bag; there are no visible signs of weakening of the Shimano in either of these trouble areas.

Shimano has designed the strap to extend around the entire bag making it much stronger and capable at holding heavy loads. While the grip and padding on the shoulder pad is excellent, the shoulder strap is not adjustable and is not quite long enough for me to slide over my head for a chest strap function.  An adjustable strap option would make the bag more comfortable to anglers of all sizes. 

Stacking the boxes vertically in the bag allows getting what you need a quick and easy task, as long as you mentally have a system of organizing the boxes.  A good suggestion from Zander was to label the sides of the boxes for easier visual identification of the contents.
 

The amount of tackle storage the Shimano SHM-460B can hold via top loaded utility boxes and the 5 pockets is more then enough for most anglers. The key advantage to this bag is the ability to mix and match utility boxes to customize the tackle you bring for a specific trip. Well suited for boat use, the Shimano also has rubber raised feet on the bottom so that it doesn't slide around on boats. The Shimano also features 420 denier nylon with a waterproof backing. Organizing tools for easy access is easy via either a mesh rear pocket or through the large front pocket complete with an elastic strap and pockets.

While the flexibility of the bag is good, many details could have been added to make the bag much more user friendly. All of the pockets are relatively flat and there is no room for spare reels. A wire or semi-rigid frame design would eliminate the boxes moving around, and prevent the utility boxes from falling over when not holding all 6. Finally the question of the real advantage of the vertical stack arises...what is it? Sure the boxes are quickly removed, but this is at the expense of small tackle that can sometimes move out of their individual spaces at a angle, but would not be able to do so in a horizontal bag due to gravity.

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