Cabela's Chest Vest
by Brian King

When I first began fishing streams and rivers for smallies, I used a fanny pack to haul my tackle. I started out with a rather small one and moved up to a larger fanny pack, but eventually realized it wasn't exactly what I wanted. For the past few years I have been wearing a standard fishing vest while wading. I found a vest to be more useful for me than a fanny pack.

Earlier this year I was browsing the Cabela's catalog and noticed something new -- the Cabela's Chest Vest. Actually, they call it the Fly Fishing Chest Vest, but make no mistake, this vest works just as well for those who utilize spinning gear. I was intrigued by the fact that the front pouch folds down into a mini workstation and by the openness of the vest. What the heck, it only costs $29.95 so I bought one.

The Chest Vest is made of 600-denier woven polyester and is rugged, yet breathable. On the front of the vest you will find two zippered compartments. The larger main compartment folds down into a flat workstation. This allows you to place tackle and other items on the tray and free up your hands. Inside the main compartment are 3 mesh pockets for hooks, sinkers, or other small items. The main compartment will hold bags of soft plastics or a small Plano type box. There is a second smaller compartment on the front of the main compartment that will also hold a small box or bags of your favorite plastics. On the outside of the second compartment are additional mesh pockets for small items. On the backside of the main compartment is yet another pocket which is secured by velcro and can be used for storing folded maps, your license, keys, or other flat items.

The back half of the vest has 2 large storage compartments -- one is zippered and the other is secured by velcro. These are large enough to store your lunch or additional clothing items. There are 2 water bottle holders, one on each side of the rear half of the vest. You will also find adjustable cargo straps on the back of the vest for carrying an extra jacket, rain gear, etc. A D-ring is located on the back for those of you who like to carry a net.

The Chest Vest is secured at the sides by adjustable quick-snap buckles. To reach items located in the back of most regular fishing vests, you have to actually take the vest off. With the Chest Vest, you simply unsnap the side buckles and swivel the vest around so the back is in the front. I found this to be much easier than struggling to reach items in the back of my other fishing vest.

All zippers have attached pull cords and there is a velcro/elastic rod holder located on the front of the vest. The shoulder straps are adjustable, making this a "one size fits most" vest. The vest comes in a color called Loden. At the time of this review, the vest retails for $39.95 (Item: IC-941498).

I've worn the Chest Vest over the summer and have been very pleased. It is comfortable and cooler than a regular vest. A word of caution -- if you normally carry 30lbs. of tackle or plastics when wading, you'll definitely have to downsize when using the Chest Vest. I was forced to be more choosy about which lures to take with me because this vest does not have the storage capacity of most fishing vests. For me it turned out to be a good thing. Most of the time I only end up using maybe 3 or 4 different lures during the course of a wading trip and everything else is simply extra weight. Now I only take the lures that I know are effective on my streams and the extra stuff I used to carry "just in case" stays at the house. It certainly makes for a lighter load and more comfortable wading.

There are similar vests on the market and this style may not be for everyone. If you are looking for an alternative to fanny packs and traditional fishing vests, the Chest Vest is worth a look, especially at this price! Plus, it's backed by Cabela's famous customer service.