This Gear Review of the Vedavoo TL Beast Sling Pack is done by Chris Bard; Assisting Editor, Contributor to Maine Fly Castings.
Every year, Cameron Mortenson of TheFiberglassManifesto.com holds a “12 days of Christmas” giveaway. This year’s giveaways had the theme of “Made in America” and every prize included in each giveaway was made right here in the USA. There were many great prizes including fiberglass fly rods and amazing hand tools, most of which were crafted by smaller companies who were staking their claim as to why their gear was worth the extra dollars for the added quality. It was during this time that I stumbled upon Vedavoo, a gear company that is taking the fly fishing world by storm. I didn’t fully realize why until I held one of their sling packs in my hand, now it all makes sense.
Better American Gear. This three word statement is the flagship to what Vedavoo stands for. As it states on their site:
“Our work is hand-cut, prepped, built, and finished to order in our workshop. We use American fabrics, hardware, and webbing – even the thread we use is USA made! Why – because it lasts, and because it matters. We’re looking forward to building for you!”
Every part of that statement rings true, but the last part is really what really sold me on their product. How could a company whose scale is growing at such a rapid rate really look forward to building for ME? It really sounded superficial until I began talking to Scott Hunter, the founder and chief designer for Vedavoo. I’m a rather indecisive person, especially when it comes to my gear. I always take the time and effort to make sure I’m getting the right piece of gear for the job that I need it to do. I reached out to Vedavoo and within the hour I had a response from Scott. At the time I didn’t realize that he was the founder of the company, I was just happy to hear back so quickly. We had a short discussion via Facebook and after a few questions he guided me in the right direction of which pack would be best suited for the type of fishing I was doing. Their packs are fully customizable and come in a multitude of different sizes, styles and colors. Also, several of their packs accept what they call ARC accessories, allowing you to further customize your pack and different purpose attachments such as tippet holders or a plier sheath depending on what you require of it. I settled on the TL Beast Sling.
Let me start by saying I don’t pack light when it comes to fishing. Up until this year I was a vest guy. I liked having a million pockets and every one of them had something in it. After long days on the water I found my back sore and my shoulders achy, I needed a change. The TL Beast Sling offers great storage, for the things I need. Apparently, carrying just the things I need is WAY lighter than what I’m use to lugging around in my fishing vest. I was suddenly liberated nearly empty tubes of floatant, pre-spooled nymph rigs I had completely forgot about, three pairs of gloves and many other miscellaneous things that really didn’t need to be on me at all times. Everything on the TL Beast is strategic and efficient; it is spacious without the bulk. Most importantly, it’s comfortable to wear. Vedavoo’s unique design allows the pack to rest on your back, not on your hip. It stays where you put it but moves easy when you need to swing it around to change your fly or grab a drink of water. Fully loaded, it feels nearly weightless. It almost has a minimalist feel, but it is far from minimal. It was designed to hold a Cliff Beast Jr, or as I like to call it, the meat locker. I’m a streamer guy; this pack is made for streamer guys. I can carry nearly my full arsenal of streamers as well as a decent box of dries and a small box of nymphs. (see below photo) On top of that it will hold a water bottle, rain gear, leader/tippets, gloves, floatant and any other small gear you could possibly need. The only conflict I had was this pack design was how to carry my long handled net. To solve this I contacted the craftiest seamstress I know (thanks Mom!) and together we designed and attached a sheath into the pad of the pack. With this addition, I can carry all of my essential gear that I need on the water.
The durability of these packs is unmatched. The material is 1000D American woven Cordura, which is incredibly resistant to abuse. It is perfect to withstand the hike through heavily wooded areas to get to your favorite fishing. It is also utilized by many military and law enforcement companies who require a durable yet light material to comprise their gear. The stitching is also immaculate; every detail is paid attention to. Though I have only had it for a short time and haven’t put it through the ringer yet I can confidently say that I will have this pack for years to come.
“We’re looking forward to building for you!” It wasn’t just empty words, they really are. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Somerset Fly Fishing Show and meet Scott in person to pick up my TL Beast Sling. He shook my hand and told me about all of the great things Vedavoo was doing. He also looked me in the eye and said, “We really appreciate your support.” It wasn’t an invoice or a generic e-mail, it was very sincere. I’m not a guide, nor am I prostaff for a laundry list of fly fishing companies; I’m just a guy who has a passion for fly fishing, living in rural Northern Maine. It really meant a lot to me. Vedavoo takes pride in their 100% American made product and I am proud to wear their brand on the water.
If you are looking for a great pack that is not only well built, but also stands out as an efficient and innovative piece of gear that’s making waves in the fly fishing industry, they are well worth checking out. I promise you will not be disappointed.
The TL Beast Sling as well as Vedavoo’s other American Made products can be found here: Vedavoo; Better American Gear
