How to Wear a Sling Pack

The short routine

Wearing a sling pack comes down to four settings: shoulder, tension, extra strap, and where the pack rests. Get those right once and the pack mostly looks after itself. The steps below combine what a retailer's product page, a fishing blog and a forum thread of sling users say. Your pack's own instructions come first, because hardware differs.

Step 1: pick the shoulder

Most sling packs have one wide strap that crosses your body. The forum thread I read says most slings are built for the right shoulder, with the pack rotating to the left hip, and that left-handed users preferred it because the strap stays off the casting arm. One user found the right-shoulder design awkward when holding a rod under the opposite arm.

Some packs may be built to switch sides; none of the pages I opened confirmed that for a specific model, so check the product page for yours. If you cast right-handed and the strap crosses your casting shoulder, try the other side before blaming the pack.

Step 2: rest it on your back

Per Vail Valley Anglers, the sling pack rides on the back, and a waist belt keeps it secure while hiking and fishing. The Perfect Fly Clearwater page says the same default: the pack rides on the back, out of the way, with a wide padded strap as the main support. Wear it high enough that it does not bump your waders' belt or sit in the water.

Step 3: set the tension

Snug, not strangling. A forum user fixed slipping by putting more tension on one strap than the other, and another by wearing the pack higher on the back with the strap snugged. Tighten the strap with the pack loaded, not empty, since a full pack hangs differently. A pack that is half loaded at the shop and full at the river will feel like two different packs.

Step 4: clip the extra strap

Many slings have an underarm, waist or crossover strap. In the forum thread, that was the most common fix for slipping during sidearm casting and leaning. One user said the pack stayed put with it fastened and was unstable with it loose. Vail Valley Anglers says a waist belt holds the pack in place and gives a spot to slide in a net. Clip it while you fish.

Step 5: swing it forward for gear

To get something out, unlatch the extra strap, rotate or slide the pack around to your front, then re-clip. Vail Valley Anglers says the pack slides forward on the sling strap for easy access. The Perfect Fly Clearwater page describes unlatching the crossover strap attachment and rotating forward. The forum thread adds a reminder worth following: if the strap is left unclipped, the pack can spin when you lean hard to one side.

If you wade, lock the strap before you step in, not after the pack has swung into the current.

Wading with a sling pack

Vail Valley Anglers says a sling rides high enough that gear stays dry when wading deep, and that welded construction and waterproof zippers keep moisture out. That is one writer's view of particular models. Water protection is a claim you read on the listing, and our sling packs table has a Water protection column with the same "maker", "claimed", "listing" and "—" marks you see everywhere on this site. Whatever the pack, wear a wading belt on your waders and keep the sling strap above it.

Sizing and loading

Vail Valley Anglers warns that a pack that is too small limits water bottles and rain gear. A forum user wanted more room than a standard sling gave for a bottle, a spare spool and an extra layer. On the other side, Deneki Outdoors says slings tend to get overfilled, and that the single strap can feel unbalanced. My rule of thumb: put the heavy items against your back, light items outside, and stop packing when the zip stops closing easily.

The Hook Drawer has opinions about what happens to a pack that is never emptied. It keeps the old spools.

When a sling is the wrong choice

If you carry only a few boxes and a tool or two, a chest pack may be simpler, and our pack vs vest guide compares them. If you want everything pocketed and visible, a vest does that. The full range is on fly-fishing packs.