Backpacks ... yup another Backpack topic

[TcRoc]

Been going nuts looking at everything. I thought at 1st one of these backpacks with usual 4 3600's with extra storage would work but I really think 3700 storage would be better. I will not buy junk but am not spending 200 plus for a backpack,, thats just robbery. There is quality without going over board. Don’t want anything flimsy / collapsing.That said $150 max and grab something Black Friday ..Cyber Monday or whenever some sales start. While I have interest in a few I think the Shimano Blackmoon Top Load is it. Anyone comment on this ? This front load would be nice but thats 3600's while the top load is 3700's.

[Mat_ski]

The kind of backpack to buy would probably depend on the intended purpose . 

Travelling to spot and staying there for long time vs. moving conatantly; minimalist vs. bring along everything. 

Im a minimalist, so 1 plano box + few bags of soft plastics and terminal tackle is all I ever bring in a bag if I am on foot. For that purpose 511 tactical med size bag has been perfect for me. If you need more room they have bigger sizes. 

I found fishing specific bags to be cumbersome and uncomfortable in comparison. 

[TcRoc]

1 minute ago, Mat_ski said:

The kind of backpack to buy would probably depend on the intended purpose . 

Travelling to spot and staying there for long time vs. moving conatantly; minimalist vs. bring along everything. 

Im a minimalist, so 1 plano box + few bags of soft plastics and terminal tackle is all I ever bring in a bag if I am on foot. For that purpose 511 tactical med size bag has been perfect for me. If you need more room they have bigger sizes. 

I found fishing specific bags to be cumbersome and uncomfortable in comparison. 

 
I’ve had many over the years starting with the smallest sling bag I could get away and have sized up since.. when I bank fish I am not walking all day .. spot to spot and it goes on the ground  and typically have 3 to 4 rods with me as I use a rod carrier as well. I like having room for what I want and it all separated. In my Yak I have a different setup.. on a boat the backpack comes with me as well 

[Finessegenics]

I have the shimano blackmoon bag with the front load. I can't really comment on the top load one but I can tell you that the quality is there with my bag. I doubt it's any different with the top load. After a whole season of extensive use, all the zippers and mesh pouches are in top shape. So is the "shell" of the bag. No deformities or cracks anywhere and I beat this thing up. I use it as my tackle storage while on boat as well as taking it with me on the bank. Though I have to say, if you wanna keep it on your back and walk around with it while hitting some spots on the shore, it's too heavy and cumbersome. I think the top load is actually smaller so it could work as a regular old backpack for covering lots of water fast on the bank. But you mentioned in your post that you wouldn't be using it for that and my shore fishing style is much like yours. Plop myself somewhere, fish thoroughly for 20 or so minutes then move on further down the bank. I'm rarely constantly moving and if I'm wading, I'll bring a sling pack with me and leave the bag at home. 

 

I think the front-load is especially useful if you like to keep your soft plastics in their original packaging. You can easily fit 15 bags of soft plastics in that upper compartment. If you like to store your plastics in trays then I can see why the top load with the 3700s is more attractive. The price shocks most people but I seriously feel like it's one of the best investments I made. You won't regret buying it on sale. It allows you to organize your gear so much better than a regular old backpack, or the larger sling tackle bags. There are so many well-placed and practical compartments that I bring more tackle with me than I really ever need. If you're a co-angler I could not recommend one piece of equipment more than this bag. There's lots of reviews of either model on youtube, I suggest you check them out.

 

My 4 trays go like this. 1 dedicated to terminal tackle*, the next to jigs (mostly finesse and swim jigs), 1 to hard baits, and 1 to spinnerbaits and miscellaneous stuff. Some of my terminal tackle is spread around the bag. For example, in the mesh pouches you see near the soft swimbaits, I put my weighted EWGs, plastic baggies of worm weights etc.. 

 

 

[TcRoc]

5 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

I have the shimano blackmoon bag with the front load. I can't really comment on the top load one but I can tell you that the quality is there with my bag. I doubt it's any different with the top load. After a whole season of extensive use, all the zippers and mesh pouches are in top shape. So is the "shell" of the bag. No deformities or cracks anywhere and I beat this thing up. I use it as my tackle storage while on boat as well as taking it with me on the bank. Though I have to say, if you wanna keep it on your back and walk around with it while hitting some spots on the shore, it's too heavy and cumbersome. I think the top load is actually smaller so it could work as a regular old backpack for covering lots of water fast on the bank. But you mentioned in your post that you wouldn't be using it for that and my shore fishing style is much like yours. Plop myself somewhere, fish thoroughly for 20 or so minutes then move on further down the bank. I'm rarely constantly moving and if I'm wading, I'll bring a sling pack with me and leave the bag at home. 

 

I think the front-load is especially useful if you like to keep your soft plastics in their original packaging. You can easily fit 15 bags of soft plastics in that upper compartment. If you like to store your plastics in trays then I can see why the top load with the 3700s is more attractive. The price shocks most people but I seriously feel like it's one of the best investments I made. You won't regret buying it on sale. It allows you to organize your gear so much better than a regular old backpack, or the larger sling tackle bags. There are so many well-placed and practical compartments that I bring more tackle with me than I really ever need. If you're a co-angler I could not recommend one piece of equipment more than this bag. There's lots of reviews of either model on youtube, I suggest you check them out.

 

My 4 trays go like this. 1 dedicated to terminal tackle*, the next to jigs (mostly finesse and swim jigs), 1 to hard baits, and 1 to spinnerbaits and miscellaneous stuff. Some of my terminal tackle is spread around the bag. For example, in the mesh pouches you see near the soft swimbaits, I put my weighted EWGs, plastic baggies of worm weights etc.. 

 

 

Thanks for the info and nice set up...actually the top load has a large compartment in front for plastics as well since the 3700s r vertical the front storage appears substantial.

Both the Blackmoons seem very well thought out as u can store a lot and they r not that big. 

[Finessegenics]

12 minutes ago, TcRoc said:

Thanks for the info and nice set up...actually the top load has a large compartment in front for plastics as well since the 3700s r vertical the front storage appears substantial.

Both the Blackmoons seem very well thought out as u can store a lot and they r not that big. 

I see that now, the top load is actually pretty big. On the older models the top load was named “compact” while the front load was named “medium”. My bag is the older model which by the looks of things is exactly the same besides the Shimano stitching being in white rather than blue. The compact/top load did seem smaller when I checked it out in store compared to the medium bag I ended up buying. Maybe they ditched those old names because the front load and top load are actually the same size now. I wouldn’t know though. 

[joshuaray83]

I have a Spiderwire backpack that I got for $35 using a Groupon of all things.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Spiderwire-Fishing-Tackle-Backpack-Utility/dp/B00VKO0JRO

 

I'll send pics of my setup when I get home later, but it's been really great so far. Comes with what look to be 3 3600 equivalent boxes, but I think I could fit 3650s. I could also probably fit a fourth 3600 box. Good quality. After about a year's use, nothing's wearing out on it yet. The only thing I don't like is that the main storage compartment is one big compartment separated by a plastic barrier that is velcro'd in place. If you have something heavy in the top, like drinks, the separator can sag into the compartment that contains your boxes.

[TcRoc]

2 hours ago, joshuaray83 said:

I have a Spiderwire backpack that I got for $35 using a Groupon of all things.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Spiderwire-Fishing-Tackle-Backpack-Utility/dp/B00VKO0JRO

 

I'll send pics of my setup when I get home later, but it's been really great so far. Comes with what look to be 3 3600 equivalent boxes, but I think I could fit 3650s. I could also probably fit a fourth 3600 box. Good quality. After about a year's use, nothing's wearing out on it yet. The only thing I don't like is that the main storage compartment is one big compartment separated by a plastic barrier that is velcro'd in place. If you have something heavy in the top, like drinks, the separator can sag into the compartment that contains your boxes.

 I’ve seen those. Thanks for sharing though. I’m set on 3700 boxes. Just works better for me the way I organize. 

[FishinBuck07]

I have the Flambeau Ritual backpack myself.  Have had it for probably 5 years now and it is holding up well!  I am hard on my gear so it is well built and fits 3700 boxes in it!

[Big Hands]

I have the Ike Special from Flambeau. It holds four 3700's and that is the main reason I went with that backpack. I can cram a 3500 in with the four 3700's if I want to. It's surprisingly comfortable, but I don't use it that often as I have a boat to fish from most of the time and use my Daiwa bag for that as it holds five 3700's. I didn't want to switch back and forth between 3600 and 3700 and didn't want to use 3600's for everything, so this works for me (in spite of not being especially heavy duty) for hiking and biking excursions.

 

I don't know that a perfect 3700 capable backpack exists, at least not one I would spring for.

[Big Swimbait]

I have had this one from Amazon for almost 3 years with zero issues - $33.00

 

https://www.amazon.com/CVLIFE-Military-Tactical-Backpacks-Rucksacks/dp/B07KY7B9W9/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=camo+backpack&qid=1604547158&sr=8-11

[TcRoc]

7 hours ago, Big Swimbait said:

I have had this one from Amazon for almost 3 years with zero issues - $33.00

 

https://www.amazon.com/CVLIFE-Military-Tactical-Backpacks-Rucksacks/dp/B07KY7B9W9/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=camo+backpack&qid=1604547158&sr=8-11

I’ve had the smaller version for years. Goes in my truck everyday. Just not for tackle.

[dgkasper58]

I have the blachmon frontload as well... LOVE IT.  I have had it 3/4 years I think  NOTHING is wrong with it. Not even sagging out of the tops/bottom.  The built in rain protector has saved it I think.

 

The top I have 5 smaller cases in there to help somewhat organize it.

 

 

[soflabasser]

Plenty of backpacks for under $50 that are good for fishing. Choose the one you like best.

[cheezyridr]

i have a back pack that came with 4 3600 boxes, but i only carry 3 of them.  1 is spinnerbaits and bladed jigs and a few jigs. the other is crank baits, the 3rd is all terminal tackle.  one of the side pockets has my plastics.  the blade box only has a a handful of different baits in it, but in 3 different colors. i carry 3 of everything in that box.  i don't feel like i need to carry alot of different offerings.  i know what catches fish where i live, and i carry that stuff and nothing else.

i dont see the point in owning (let alone carrying) stuff i'm never gonna throw. 

[TcRoc]

I actually went with the Flambeau Ritual Backpack.. looking more at the top load Shimano Blackmoon I didn’t really like how you unzip the whole backpack and splits in half to get to the 3700’s. The Flambeau just unzip at the top and there is your Access.  Only thing I don’t like is the bottom of the bag isn’t Reinforced so it’s a little saggy  but I can fix that with a insert to stiffen it up. Jury still out on it, had it out this morning but so far I like it. 
 

To add.. saw a guy high stick it and snap his rod.. felt bad but had to laugh pretty hard from his reaction.. having that on video u all would have had a good chuckle.