January 23, 2020
By Fly Fisherman
“This pack review first appeared in the 2020 Gear Guide, now on sale at bookstores and fly shop nationwide, and also at osgnewsstand.com ”
If you are going to haul a lot of stuff, you need your carry system to be comfortable, and well-organized so everything is at your fingertips when you need it. The Overlook ZS2 500 (500 cubic inches, 8 liters) succeeds on both accounts with padded, load-bearing shoulder straps and a full back panel to evenly distribute weight front and back. In the front you’ve got two easy-access mesh pockets and a MOLLE modular attachment strap. It has two zippered main compartments, the bigger one with a capacity for about four large fly boxes, the other one with room for two large boxes. Each compartment has mesh interior organizers, and the outer one has reach-through slots so you can dock clamps, zingers, and nippers onto an internal docking system. It’s a slick system that keeps all the tools right where you need them, but tucked away where they won’t snag your fly line or branches. The kit version has two different back attachments—one is a simple large zippered mesh back pocket with a D-ring net attachment; the other is a much larger hydration-compatible mini backpack with 550 cubic inches (9 liters) of capacity, an exterior drop-through net saddle, and an easy-access pouch for a water bottle. $130 | umpqua.com
