Chest Vest I
By Scott Clayton

When I go fly fishing I like to keep things as simple as possible. I also like to carry as much gear as I can get away with. These two goals may seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum but the BW Sports "Chest Vest I" brings them closer together.

The Chest Vest is built from rugged 420 denier fabric. It consists of one large main compartment with two fly box pockets on the front, each one capable of holding a 6" x 4" fly box. The top fly box pocket, when unzipped, folds down to create a handy knot tying space; when folded down the fly box in the pocket is held in place by velcro. There is a small leader/tippet pocket on the outside of the lower fly box pocket, complete with grommets for easy access to tippet. Inside the double zippered main compartment there are two flat interior pockets, that help keep things organized, plus a strip of elastic retainers good for storing floatant bottles etc. Two internally mounted retractors are exposed on the front through grommets, one on each side of the top fly box pocket.

The straps cross in the back helping to hold the Chest Vest in place. I experienced very little side to side movement while wading or hiking. The straps include a velcro loop, used in conjunction with a strap loop (located at the base of the main compartment), as a rod holder. There are several "D" clips for attaching things, one on the back strap is perfect for a net.

I used the Chest Vest in a variety of conditions from hiking through the Uintas to float tubing and found it to be simple, convenient, and comfortable to use. I've had trouble contorting my body and twisting around to put on other chest packs, especially in the cold; not this one. To put it on all you need to do is buckle up one strap, slide one arm through and over your head (like putting on a quiver). The other strap wraps around your body and over your shoulder, easily buckling into place. The straps are adjustable to handle deeper wading, as well as accommodating for a jacket with layering underneath.

The main compartment is deep. If you're not careful you may lose something in there. Using the elastic retainers at the bottom of the main compartment for floatant was not very convenient; I had to dig pretty deep each time I wanted to use it. The fly box pockets would be easier to use if they had double zippers like the main compartment.

The Chest Vest retails for $39.99 and comes in forest green.

Summary:
The Chest Vest is simple, convenient, and comfortable. With plenty of storage space for several fly boxes, leaders, and tippets, plus a couple of extra spools, it can handle all the gear essential for a day on the water. And at $39.99 it is a bargain as well. If you're looking for an alternative to expensive vests you've got to check out the Chest Vest I.

Scott Clayton is the Fly Fishing Editor at GearReview.com.

For more information, contact:
BW Sports
3810 Saddleback Road
Park City, UT 84098
888-647-9120
bwsports@bwsports.com