You don’t have to be a gear minimalist to realize that the days of donning a 16 pound fly fishing vest should be behind you. There are much better options out there for carrying the gadgets and tools that we feel like we need on the stream. If it is some kind of minimalist tenkara pack you seek, think about this repurpose idea.
Point & Shoot
Do any of us still have an old quick-click camera tossed in a drawer now that we have moved to just using our smartarse devices as our camera? What I am actually asking is if you still have that small Cordura zipper pouch. Go dig through that cute banana leaf basket that has become the new catch-all bin instead of that lower drawer in your bedside table. It is a perfect size for a spool of tippet, a long and short line stored on your line spools, and fits a clamshell fly box. Bonus: It has clips on the back and a belt loop. Done.
What are the other options out there? Let me just point out some brands that are designing gear specifically for tenkara anglers, or adventure bags that are easily adapted for a small form factor carry bag.
If you have some more ideas, please add them into comments at the end of this post. Thanks for the support!
Gear Designed with Tenkara in Mind
Zimmerbuilt
Tenkara Strap Pack : $29.99; The Tenkara Strap Pack is designed to attach to the shoulder strap of the Tenkara Guide Sling or any other pack with shoulder strap webbing via two slick clips. The pack measures 6″ x 4″ x 1.5″ and weighs 1.5oz. The pack allows for easy access and is large enough to fit a small fly box, tenkara line, tippit and tools. Two upper loops allow for easy connection of the supplied cord so the Tenkara Strap Pack can also be carried around your neck.
Tenkara Micro Pack: $19.99; The Tenkara Micro Pack is designed to carry just the essentials for a day out on the water or is a nice accessory to the Tenkara Guide Sling. If all you need to carry is just a small fly box and some tippet then this is the pack for you. The pack measures 5″x3″x1.25″ and weighs in at .75oz. The Micro Pack can be attached to the webbing of a shoulder strap or can be carried by the supplied lanyard. The pack features a Dyneema X front pocket and a #3 water resistant zipper.
Kaizen Ultralight Pack : $39.99; The Kaizen Ultralight Pack is a small light weight pack designed to carry enough gear for a day out on the water. The pack weighs in at 2.3oz and is made of Xpac VX21 with a front pocket made of Dyneema X. The pack features two internal pockets, a clip hook, as well as two external side stretch mesh pockets. The Kaizen pack is designed to be carried over your shoulder, making it easy to access fly boxes/gear in the pack. While fishing the pack can be swung to your back and be completely out of your way. The pack measures 6″ wide by 4″ tall and is 2.5″ deep. Pack design input and testing by Adam Trahan of Tenkara-fisher.com
Yonah Packs
Tenkara Simple Pack: $49.00 The original tenkara pack that started it all! Carry only the essentials, comfortably and conveniently. This pack has multiple attachment points for various tools like floatant, nippers, forceps, fly patch, etc. and comes with a built in tippet holder. The sides of the pack have elastic nylon to hold a tenkara rod securely. There is a small 4”x 4” external pocket and another small pocket inside the main compartment. The shoulder/neck strap is also adjustable. Made with X-pac fabric (vx21). Highly durable and water proof. Made in Taiwan in a small family business – Cool backstory here.
The Simple Pack can be worn in 4 different ways:
1) On the belt.
2) Around the neck, like a lanyard.
3) Over the shoulder, like a sling
4) Attached to a backpack shoulder strap.
– Size : 5.5″ x 4″ x 1.5″
– Weight : 2 oz.
Tenkara Fanny Pack: $89.00; A very minimalist tenkara fanny pack that can double as a sling pack and carry everything you need for those hot summer fishing trips. The pack has a zippered compartment up front to carry a small fly box or any other smaller items. The nylon webbing in the front has various attachment points for all of your fly fishing tools and tippets. This allows for quick access to all your frequently used tools and gear. The main compartment has 2 line spool pockets and one large cell phone/wallet pocket.
To use it as a sling pack there is a place on the belt strap that can be securely attached to the top of the pack using a slik clip (please see photos). This allows the pack to be worn on the back more comfortably and allows the pack to sit horizontally when pulled to your front. It can be worn over the left or right shoulder. Made of water proof and durable x-pac (vx21) fabric and waterproof zippers.
– Size : 9″ x 6″ x 2″
– Weight : 8 oz
Tiny Tenkara
TT Chest Pack: $64.99; The Chest Pack is the only fishing pack specifically tailored to the entire line of Tiny Tenkara Co. fishing rods. Its size and specifications are carefully designed to comfortably store everything you need for a day of small-stream fishing. Constructed out of water-resistant ripstop nylon fabric, The Chest Pack is ready for any and all fishing conditions. It is built with a zippered front pocket, a zippered main compartment, and two back-wall pouches designed for maximal accessibility and organization.
The elastic chest harness can be adjusted at four points to fit a wide range of adult body types, and the cushioning on the chest-facing wall of the pack allows for all-day comfort and wearability. Adjustable straps on the bottom of the bag can be cinched down to secure both the Tiny Ten and the Tiny Ten 2. Includes a detachable rod clip holder for easy one handed rod storage. The nylon cord and stay on the front of the bag can be used to hold a variety of accessories, including our line holders and tippet.
– Proudly Made In The USA!
– Bag Specifications: Length x Width x Height: 9″ x 3″ x 5.5″ and Weight: 9 oz
DRAGONtail Tenkara
Simple Chest Pack: $24.99; Simple Fly Fishing Chest pack with multiple pockets on the Polyester Fly Fishing Chest Pack to store stuff and a Fly Patch in the front pocket. If you want to keep it simple and light then this is a good option. It also has a belt loop on the back so you can wear it on your wading belt.
– Main pocket size: 7.87″ x 5.12″ x 1.97″
– Front pocket size: 5.51″ x 3.94″ x 1.57″
– Outer Size: 8.5″ x 6″
Leland Hip Pack: $35.00; Carry all your stream side tools close to you with the Leland Fly Fishing Hip Pack. This pack is perfectly designed to have access to items when you need them and easily adjusts to behind you when you don’t. The cushioned shoulder strap along with the secure waist belt makes this pack comfortable and won’t wear you down after a full days fishing. We’ve included the features we like and left out the others that just seem to get in the way. A great system to keep all your gear stored and ready to use on a moments notice.
Other Small Outdoors Packs
Hill People Gear
Belt Pack: $122; Sometimes attire and situations don’t lend to on-body pistol carry very well and our chest mounted kit bags might be out of place in those circumstances. This is a great solution to keep all your EDC items organized when you go to the gym, travel to a new city, or on a front country hike. This is a larger version of the popular Belt Pack with our new Medium Footprint.
– Quick access concealed pistol compartment.
– 500d construction
– 1.5″ webbing belt with ITW Nexus buckle
– Elastic keepers for the webbing strap
– Velcro loop and dummy cord loop in pistol compartment allow for various retention options
– Tabs on the bottom to hang items.
– Front zippered access flat pocket with two interior slot pockets with dummy cord loops above them
– Large 1″ deep main compartment with dual interior slot pockets with dummy cord loops above them.
– Main Compartment lined with 6/12 velcro loop that is laser cut to accept PALS style pouches.
Yakoda Supply
The Sidekick: $53; The Sidekick is a versatile storage pouch that easily adapts to how you’re fishing. It can be connected to the straps on your waders and worn on the chest using the included Yakoda carabiners, attached to a belt through the webbing loops on the back for use as a minimalist wet wading setup, and fastened to the outside of your pack during the hike in.
Inside, a large main compartment is designed to accommodate a Slim Tin and Utility Wallet, with room for a few extra small items, and two stitched pockets are perfect for stashing extra leaders and your fishing license.
Features:
– Several webbing tabs and loops for connecting forceps, nippers, and other accessories
– Patch of Texas shearling wool for drying and storing flies
– Webbed zipper pocket for indicators or floatant
– Tippet Holder with tippet adapter
– Designed, tested, and made in Colorado
– Weight: 3.3 oz
– Dimensions: 8.5″ x 5.75″ x 1.25″
– Materials: X-Pac, Texas Shearling
While this list of minimalist tenkara packs is fairly comprehensive, we know it only scratches the surface when it comes to the multitude of options available on the marketplace that are deigned for fishing or other outdoor pursuits. We’d love to know what you’re using out on the water. Let us know in the comments below!
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I adapted a passport pouch you wear under your clothing into a lightweight tenkara pack I can take backpacking. I used this guys strap system: https://youtu.be/OgdaVBpxmVs?si=6FaD0poYoz7PEDGD Works great!