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Gear up
for a Full Day of Fishing with the Simms Headwaters Backpack
(continued)
 Price
and Applications:
The Simms Headwaters FDP retails for $169.95 which is more than your average
backpack but certainly within the realm of what we would expect from a very
technical pack that is designed with high quality materials specifically for
anglers. The capacity of this pack is intended for full day scenarios but
anglers going out on multi-day excursions will likely require more volume.
Throughout all my adventures with this pack I found the organization to be
excellent. The FDP has the right amount of pockets and pouches making it easy to
organize all your tackle and essentials.
The surfaces that come in contact
with you back and shoulders all have a mesh design over reinforced padding
There are
plenty of ways to attach additional items to the outside of the pack and
everything from an extra jacket to sandals can be easily secured to the back via
the adjustable straps. I also really liked the way this pack is laid out
ergonomically, as it is easy to grab a bottle of water from the sidepockets
without removing the pack, and all of the zippers have a large easy to access
“pull” which makes it stress-free to zip and unzip the pack, even in low light
conditions.
It is easy to carry large Plano
boxes in this pack
The ability to hike into rough
terrain gets anglers to where the fish are
Besides being
well built, one of the great things about the Headwaters FDP is the flexibility
this pack offers. Though it only has one large primary storage compartment this
is main area is divided up in a manner that you can store a large variety of
items ranging from tackle boxes and soft goods, to a laptop and iPad, and while
the FDP is a very effective fishing pack it also doesn’t look out of place when
worn on the street and pulling double duty as a common schoolbook hauler.
I found the Headwaters FDP so
comfortable it became my go to day hiking pack even when I wasn't fishing
Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide)
|
Simms Headwaters Full
Day Pack
Ratings
(?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
Excellent overall construction. this pack can take a beating and has
traveled around the world with me and continues to hold up well |
9 |
| Performance |
Just enough capacity for a full day on or around the water. Anglers that are
looking to carry larger gear like waders and boots will need more capacity.
Anglers that hike to fish will love the flexibility the Headwaters Full Day
Pack offers |
9 |
| Price |
Certainly not "cheap" for a backpack but certainly worth the money when it
comes to features and performance |
7.5 |
| Features |
Excellent storage organization, the ability to carry water bottles or an
extra rod, Catch and Release modular system is genius. Would love to see
just a little more storage accessible outside the main compartment and the
ability to hold one rod tube on either side |
8.5 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
Simple and easy to use. not too many pockets to get lost in and very
comfortable even when fully loaded. I had no trouble hiking for miles with
this pack |
9 |
| Application |
Great for anglers on the go and single day use situations. Best in the
backcountry or when hiking from one fishing destination to the next but just
as good when used as a normal backpack on the street |
9 |
|
Total Score |
8.66 |
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
| +
Excellent design that not only looks great but is very well laid out and
functional |
-
Could use one more mid-sized extra compartment outside so you don't always
have to dig into the main compartment for tackle |
| +
Main compartment is very organized |
-
Only holds one rod tube on one side |
| +
Can hold a rod tube and water bottles |
|
| +
Catch and Release system adds flexibility |
|
| +
Durable and water resistant |
|
| +
Comfortable to hike in from one fishing destination to the next |
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If your looking for a day pack
that offers enough capacity for gear and essentials it just doesn't get much
better than the Simms Headwaters FDP
Conclusion:
In the
span of just a few seasons Simms has gone from being a boutique vendor of
premium fly fishing goods to a major player in soft goods for anglers of all
types. Storage is an area that the company has been putting a lot of their
resources into, and it shows. The Headwaters Full Day Pack is a well laid out
backpack that offers anglers plenty of capacity and simple yet effective
organization to maximize a day out on or around the water.
Over the course of an entire year
the Simms Headwaters Full Day Pack has been there with me and it continues to
perform beautifully. This is yet another quality product from Simms
While this pack
is great for carrying your gear from the truck to the boat where it really
shines is when it is put to the test carrying all your tackle and essentials
while hiking from one destination to the next. With well thought out features
the Headwaters Full Day Pack is just about as good as it gets for the angler on
the go, and add in an accessory “Catch and Release” enabled Simms pack and it
can effectively replace a fishing vest completely. While the Headwaters FDP
offers plenty of flexibility it also never sacrifices ergonomic comfort,
enabling you to focus on fishing, not what is strapped on your back.
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