A Low-Profile Surplus Chest Pack

The Rip Cord is a simple solution that makes fishing with a pack a breeze.

Most of my fishing is done from the trunk of a car between the end of the work day and when it’s too dark to see. And for these fair-weather outings, I reach for my ever-dependable Filson vest.

But a few times a year I go on longer trips with long days spent far from camp. On these occasions I bring a pack with water, food, a change of clothes and a simple first aid kit.

But wearing a back over a fishing vest is cumbersome and the two pieces of equipment feel in conflict with each other.

I dreamed of something streamlined and simple with a single pouch that could fit a box or two. It needed to be separate from the pack so I could ditch it if I needed, and wearable while wet wading.

The design I came up with is dubbed the Rip Cord, a nod to the use of Army-issued materials.

Generally, I am happy with the design, though if I were to make it again I wouldn’t use elastic suspenders — they stretch too much over the course of a day and need readjusting.

The pouch itself is ample with a rough dimension of 4 x 8 inches. It’s perfect for two slim boxes or one multi-leaf box. And since its almost always paired with a pack, I carry back up boxes there.

The profile is small and never gets in the way, though from time to time a loop of sloppy line will find a clip or piece of webbing; another area of streamlining I would do on version two.

I designed it to be removable from the suspender rig via the quick clips and some velcro. Largely an unnecessary feature, but it feels kind of tactical, which I like.

I’d definitely add drain holes to the bottom next time, and maybe even some stiff material inside the pouch to help it hold the shape better.

That said, I am so happy with the Rip Cord’s overall design - not bad for a prototype!