I ordered this pack for an ice fishing trip knowing I could use it for the intended purpose this spring, fly fishing. The pack has great space, tons of pockets, heavy duty zippers, and appears as though it will hold up well long term. I read another review that made issue of the handle at the top and I can see their point, it does appear that it is not heavy duty enough for a fully weighted pack (waders, boots, lunch, etc.) over the long haul. The pack was comfortable and I like the idea of the rain fly to keep gear dry in bad weather. I also like the ability to expand the pack. The rod tube holder is velcro instead of elastic which should perform better. If it holds up well long term I would increase my rating to 5 stars. It is a bit pricey but with the ability to use LL Bean points and a promotional card it we be well worth the $50 out of pocket.
I live in Colorado and spend a lot of time fly fishing in isolated high mountain streams and lake settings all around our beautiful state. I Require reliable and dependable gear. I purchased this pack over two years ago after a fair amount of research. The pack's capacity, features (although no hydration feature), and the L.L. Bean name together were key in my final decision to purchase the pack. I immediately put the pack to use in a variety of venues - easy to difficult and have no regrets in my purchase decision. I have also occassionally used the pack for domestic and foreign air travel and found that it fits in smaller overhead compartments. The pack works very well for what it was designed for (plus travel). The only failure to date is the grab handle, which unexpectedly ripped from the pack within the first year. I probably should have sought a replacement but by that time it was part of my "go-to-gear" and weekly use. Four recommendations for future design improvements are (1) most importantly - integrate a hydration feature into the pack, many similar packs already have them, (2) stengthen/reinforce the grab handle to accommodate its intended use, (3) add another set of rod holders - important to have a second fly rod available when in hard-to-reach places, and (4) add a feature to securely carry a net.
I have yet to actually use the pack on a trip. I am going to Colorado to Rocky Mt. National Pask next week to actually fish on 5-8 mile day hikes for 3 days. However, I have packed the pack with my gear and so far it is perfect for what I like to do; long day hikes fishing streams and lakes in the mountains. Everything has a spot and there are just enough spots for all of my extra gear.
I recently took this on a fishing trip to Colorado. I was able to carry the bag on instead of checking it, which is a great relief when traveling with fishing gear and the worries of bags getting lost. It held two reels, one four piece rod on the side, waders, wading boots, a net, and chest pack, among other small items. There was extra room for other small gear one may find necessary. It would be feasible for day hikes, but would be hard to make this work for an overnight hike. Once the boots and waders are in their storage compartment, it reduces the amount of storage inside greatly. However, the boots could be secured to the outside to make something like this work. Also, the pack doesn't have a hydration port, which was frustrating but there was plenty of room for two large water bottles. All that being said, I would still purchase this again and would reccommend it, the price is excellent compared to other items in the same category.
