The vest is probably the most recognized piece of fly fishing gear. From the beginning, anglers needed a way to carry their gear to and from the river. The vest connects the modern fly angler to the traditions of fly fishing. Even though vests are thought of as old school, they are actually one of the most efficient ways to carry gear. Current designs on the market today ensure getting to and from the river with everything needed for the day.

Design
The first question is, how does the vest fit? If the vest is not comfortable unloaded, imagine what it will feel like loaded. The next question is, does it have enough storage for your needs and is the storage laid out in a manner that is functional? A great vest has storage space for every item you might want to carry to the water. The layout of the pockets themselves should be in the right place for you and should be easily accessible. The vest should have plenty of smaller pockets for terminal tackle items like tippet, floatant, weights and strike indicators and also be easily accessible. And make sure the vest has a large enough pocket on the back to accommodate a rain jacket, lunch or even a hydration bladder for water.

Material
Fly fishing vest are constructed using a wide variety of materials like cotton, Teflon treated polyester nylon, ballistic style nylon and simple mesh nylon.

Extras
Having the little extras on a vest can make a day fishing much more enjoyable. Rod holders, built in retractors, floatant holders and even a built in whistle in case of an emergency are all extras that will increase the functionality of the vest ensuring ease of use on the water. Make sure the vest has a water resistant collar that has some sort of system for dispersing the weight across your shoulders and an adjustable drawstring around the bottom so you can adjust the fit with varying layers of clothing.