The Orvis Safe Passage Guide Sling Pack: A Fully Loaded Fly Fishing Kit

Ask any angler: success ebbs and flows from the details. Approach a stream too carelessly and spook fish before you even cast. Tie a subpar knot and don’t even bother. Orvis fishing guru Tom Rosenbauer redesigned the Safe Passage Sling Guide Pack with all of these details in mind. 

Adapting to these nuances requires anglers to have a wide variety of accessories and tools, all accessible at the rise of a rainbow. That’s where this pack excels—quick, flexible and reactive fly fishing. While intermediate and advanced anglers appreciate the design, the fully loaded version is perfect for novice anglers, as it’s an easy way to stock up on all the accessories needed for successful missions to streams and rivers, ponds and lakes. 

Design in Action: The sling design encourages the constant tinkering required by successful fly fishing. When casting, the pack is out of the way (strap over the shoulder, the bulk secured to the back by an additional buckle across the sternum). 

Lose your fly? Time to switch patterns? Just unclip the buckle and swing the pack around the hip, where all your gear is readily accessible. Active Junky testers loved the secure water bottle pocket, magnetic pocket (perfect for forceps), retractable nipper nook, easy access to tippet and the convenient front pocket for fly boxes, leader and other necessities. 

Sizing Up: The Safe Passage Sling pack comes in two sizes, and we opted for the larger Guide version for more storage. The Guide version can handle a rain jacket, warm layer, first-aid kit, lunch and a few beers: a true organizational champion on all-day trout missions.

If you’re just getting into fly fishing, Active Junky highly recommends the Fully Loaded option offered by Orvis. Here are some of the included essentials:

Orvis’ curated Best-Sellers fly selection and a fly box

Orvis put together this fly selection with the help of its professional guide staff and it shows; from the emblematic Parachute Adams to Wooly Buggers, there’s a fly for any situation. A great starter kit for beginners.

Combo Floatant Pack

You’ll need a gel floatant to prime dry flies before use, and a powder floatant shaker to desiccate and revive flies that have been soaked.

Orvis Safe Passage Guide Sling Pack Starting at: $82.77

3x,4x,5x leaders and wallet

When you need more strength for bigger fish, reach for the 3x. Want your leader to be thinner and more difficult for fish to see? Tie on a 5x leader. Orvis’ durable leader wallet keeps everything organized.

3x,4x,5x tippet spools

Just like the leaders, you’ll want a range of tippet sizes (Check out the Orvis Learning Center’s Tippet Selection Guide (http://howtoflyfish.orvis.com/choosing-equipment/equipment-articles/474-how-to-choose-the-right-tippet-size)

Retracting Nippers

Probably the most frequently used tool in an angler’s arsenal, these handy clippers include a needle for clearing out gunked-up hook eyelets.

Tungsten Weight Putty

Weights are useful for getting small nymphs down below the surface, but standard lead split shot can permanently damage leaders. Our tester loved Orvis’ heavy metal putty, which softens when heated and cures when cooled, eliminating leader damage.

Forceps

These are essential for unhooking fish, the leader-to-tippet knot, debarbing hooks and countless other uses. Orvis’ deluxe version sports rubber-coated handles and keeps flies from falling in half-serrated jaws. A patented thicker section is incredibly useful for crimping split shot around your line when nymphing.

Bottom Line: The incredibly well designed Orvis Safe Passage Guide Sling Pack, loaded with all the necessary tools, is your new best friend on the water. Active Junky testers have applauded its design and features, while durability suggests we’ll be relying on this complete Orvis package for years to come.