Simms Headwaters Waist Pack Review

By James Robles

The Simms Headwaters Waist Pack is the gonzo fly fishing dream gear for teched-out indestructible robo fisherman. That being said, I had to have it. The Headwaters pack delivers everything you’d expect from Simms: a ridiculous amount of pockets, compartments and fandangle docking stations – all of which beg one question: where’s the instruction manual? 

To say this hip pack outperforms its angler is not an exaggeration, nor an affront on said angler’s trout prowess – this thing delivers! Velcro tabs, zipper-zappers and magnetic mechanisms hold all gear and water bottles/beer cans in their full upright and locked position. A molded foam front pocket stows a large fly box, while the nylon, water repellent exterior resists everything short of bullets.

At 810 cubic inches, the Headwaters pack isn’t large enough to hold multiple layers during winter months, nor is it meant to. This pack is a fall, summer and spring all-dayer, capable of lugging enough shwag for one outing. At full capacity the Headwaters pack does have enough room for say . . . three fly boxes, a rain layer, flask, plus all other angling accoutrement.

As with most high-end technical gear, the Headwaters pack runs the risk of looking too official. If sporting this tote means being tagged as a trust fund fisherman, and a walking Simms ad, it may be worth the scrutiny. The efficiency and organization this pack offers at $99 may not make it the most original bag on the water, but possibly the most valuable.