At the end of September, Zimmerbuilt released the Darter Pack, an excellent new addition to their line of highly popular tenkara bags and accessories. Being a little tied up by some other projects at the time, we weren’t able to give this entry the attention it deserved, so we’re going to highlight it here today.
Why the Darter Pack?
If you’re looking for a minimalist way to carry around your tenkara essentials, the Zimmerbuilt Darter Pack covers all the bases in a very compact, ultralight footprint. If your typical haul consists of a few fly boxes, some tools, and your phone, this sling pack / hip pack hybrid has more than enough capacity. There are attachment points on the outside for tools and tippet, as well a fly patch on the top for on the go fly storage. The Darter also conveniently has some bungee cords that allow you to stow and carry a rod lengthwise across the pack. As with most Zimmerbuilt packs, it’s also available in a rainbow of colors.
The thing I appreciate about the Zimmerbuilt Darter Pack is that it is belt-based. For someone that also uses accessories (such as a Daiwa folding net) that attach to my belt, this makes it very convenient to have everything where it needs to be when the Darter is worn in a waist pack configuration. I also like the flexibility of being able to remove the belt from the pack completely, to then use the pack in tandem with the waist belt strapping that comes with some other Zimmerbuilt packs, such as the Tailwater.
Behind the Scenes
I reached out to Chris Zimmer, the man behind the Zimmerbuilt line and asked him about the Darter Pack. He shared a little insight as well as a few behind the scenes photos of one of these packs being made in the U.S.A., in his Ohio-based workshop.
“I came up with the Darter Pack because I wanted a simple pack that I could leave loaded up, ready to grab and go. Just load it up and leave it in your car or by your desk and when you get a chance to hit the stream you can just reach for your Darter and know your all set to go. I wanted to keep the pack simple so it would be light and easy to use. The main pocket was sized to fit a cell phone and a couple of medium sized fly boxes inside. I wanted a daisy chain on the front to clip my tippet and accessory tools to for easy access. Whether worn as a cross body or fanny pack you will know you have all your tools securely held right within reach. So if your looking to make a grab and go kit, give the Darter Pack a look.”
A Zimmerbulit Addict
Full disclaimer… I’ll readily admit that I’m a Zimmerbuilt addict! I’ve owned or used almost every pack that Chris has offered at one time or another. That’s because each build is of superior quality, with sport-specific details only a tenkara angler will appreciate. Chris is one of us, he knows what fixed line fishers look for in their gear, and caters his offerings to those needs. And if there’s something special you require, he’s very open to working on custom requests. I’m very happy to see the release of the Darter Pack and know if you’re looking for a minimalist (yet adaptable) pack solution, it’s going to become a favorite of yours too.
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