Simms Headwaters Day Pack Review

I purchased the Simms Headwaters Day Pack from The Fly Shack in preparation of a fishing and camping trip to North Georgia. If you look in many of the fly fishing magazines you can find a Fly Shack add with a 10% discount code, free shipping on orders over $35 and no sales tax. Throw in $4.00 gas and you save about 20% on the purchase, unless you live across the street from your local fly shop.

First impression out of the box, it was smaller then it looks in the pictures. There is a spine, not shown in this picture, which keeps the backpack from sitting flush to your back while carrying it. At first, I was disappointed with this feature, since it took space away, but after using it on a hot day, I enjoyed it.

There are a lot of different pockets and dividers that aren't mentioned on the Simms' website. The main compartment has two small pockets at the top of it, that worked well for holding my camera, wallet, phone, keys. It is divided in the middle and can hold food, extra reels, dry clothes, rain jacket, or hat and a CamelBak bladder in the other. There is a hole in the top of the backpack that is made to run a tube through in case the bites on, and you cant take time to grab a bottle from the side pocket.

In the back pocket of the day pack, it is divided into many different sections. I found these very helpful for carrying extra tippet spools, leaders, fly gink, split shot, thingamobobbers, and a very slim fly box of midges. All things necessary when taking a few novices along on the trip. Best way to get beginners into fly fishing, give them flies, leaders, tippet, and strike indicators until they are comfortable with the foreign language of fly fishing.

The only part that I don't like about the pack, is the straps that lock around your waist while hiking. I feel the pack is too small to ever carry anything heavy enough that you would need these straps. They just make it easier get part of the pack wet while wading, unless you lock them around you when you fish. That would be the third belt on counting the one around your shorts and a wading belt.

The pack has two clips on the back and shoulder straps that allow you to clip
in the Headwaters Chest Pack while hiking or fishing. I haven't bought the chest pack yet, but after enjoying the day pack so much, I see one in my near future.

Overall, I think the pack is well worth the purchase. It was effective and not uncomfortable to wear while fishing. It will help you hike into streams not over run with spinning gear, bring your lunch and snacks for the day, and keep all your gear organized. I leave mine "loaded", so when it is time to go fish, I can grab the pack and head to the water without having to search through my gear selecting the right things for that day.