Last updated on June 27th, 2024.
- Hands on with the Breakwater Supply Fogland Backpack - June 25, 2024
- Foldable Freedom: Oru Beach LT Sport Kayak Review - January 18, 2024
- On the Water: Cheeky Sighter Fly Reel Review - January 12, 2024
Are you often fishing in rainy and wet conditions? Then a waterproof backpack might be for you.
Waterproof and even fully submersible backpacks have become a companion for many fly fishermen in recent years. Not only do they make sense if you often fish in wet climate such as the Pacific Northwest where you might be targeting steelhead but also in remote saltwater locations where uncompromising reliability of your gear is imperative.
Now when it comes to waterproof backpacks for fly fishing it is crucial to understand the differences between the different levels of protection. When you are a backpacker or hiker you know that there are so-called waterproof backpacks that are only water resistant in real life. In my eyes for tough fly fishing environments only fully waterproof backpacks with fully waterproof zippers make sense. Ideally, you get one that’s even fully submersible (meaning you can submerse it under water as well) since these are the toughest ones out there. The big players produce these fully submersible one such as the YETI Panga, the Filson Dry or the Patagonia Guidewater to name only a few.
The technology to produce these bags is not as simple and straightforward as it might look at first glance. Seams and zippers have to be able to take a lot of beating to perform under pressure (literally). Now I had the chance to test a newcomer in the market that looks great at first glance: the Breakwater Supply Fogland Backpack. Here’s how it held up in real life.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you click on one of them and end up purchasing a product we earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. We only recommend products we believe in ourselves. Learn more here.
Specs
Material: High-density TPU lamination
Waterproofing: Fully waterproof zippers on main compartment and front pocket
Straps: Padded shoulder straps and top handle. Additional removable chest strap
Capacity: 25 liters. 20L and 15L avaible as well
Colors: 5
Inner Sleeve: Accommodates a laptop of 16″.+
Dimensions: 13″W x 7″D x 20.0″H
Weight: 2.4 lbs
Price: $219.95 (for the 25L version)
Tough as Nails
At first glance the Fogland 25 reminded me quite a bit of the YETI Panga since it features a similarly bulky shape which is a good choice if you want to bring a lot of gear that needs protection from the elements. The photos of this review show the Fogland in the 25L version. If you don’t need a big backpack you can consider sizing down to 20L capacity or even 15L (which is a great choice for women and kids).
Lets start with the main features of the Fogland: as mentioned before this backpack is fully waterproof and submersible. It also features a handle on top to lift it out of a boat for example. The shoulder straps are nicely padded (which is crucial from my experience when fully loaded and being out all day long) and fully adjustable. Along the chest the backpack features a removable strap that helps spread the load of the weight when you bring a lot of gear. The shoulder straps also come with D-rings to attach additional gear.
The entire backpack is made of a very sturdy TPU fabric that you can abuse and it won’t have any problems withstanding the wear and tear. On the frontside one of my favorite features is the rod tube holder that runs vertically across the front which means the extra rod you carry won’t get tangled in the bushes when you head to the water.
We also have to talk about the neat little front pocket on the outside which, thanks to its airtight drysuit grad zipper is also fully waterproof. That’s a feature I haven’t found on any other comparable bag (the Filson Dry Rolltop Backpack has a very similar outside pocket but it’s not waterproof). Last but not least, the Fogland features waterbottle holders on each side.
Inner Values
Like most waterproof and fully submersible backpacks, the Fogland also consists of one big main compartment into which you load all your gear. A neat little feature on the inside of the Fogland is the laptop (fits a 16″) sleeve. It comes as a helpful add-on if you’re into photography and want to bring a camera and laptop for a field work and need to make sure these precious electronics stay dry no matter what.
Worth a Look
Like I mentioned in the beginning of this review, I think the combination of waterproofness and submersibility is the ultimate way to go. If however, you can do without a fully submersible backpack, Fogland has another nice waterproof backpack in their lineup that could be worth a look for you: the Meanhigh Rolltop Backpack. At only $64.95 it is of course not quite as tough and feature-rich as its bigger brother the Fogland but still performed impressively during our test. It also comes with a capacity of 25L.
Pros and Cons of the Fogland Backpack
Strengths:
- Extremely tough and durable
- Feature-rich
- Excellent value for money
- Waterproof outside pocket
Weaknesses:
- The only downside I can think of is its slightly bulky design (just like the YETI Panga) which makes the Fogland not ideal to fold down and pack into a duffle for example
