I picked up the Umpqua ZS2 Steamboat Sling Pack after hearing a buddy rave about the benefits of a sling pack. For years I used either a fanny pack or a standard backpack while fishing and never really had any issues with it, but after using a sling pack there’s really no going back. 

But does the Umpqua Steamboat Sling Pack stand up to the test? In this review, we’ll go over the pros and cons of this pack, along with its features, performance, and shortcomings to give you all you need to decide if this is the right pack for you.

What is a Sling Pack?

A sling pack is a bag that’s worn across your body, typically with a single strap that connects diagonally across your shoulder. 

For fishing purposes, this makes it much easier to access your pack for food, water, flies, or supplies during your time on the water. Sure, a traditional backpack does the same thing, but you normally have to take it off entirely in order to access your goodies. With a sling pack, you can just rotate it in front of you and you have instant access.

Sling packs save time on the water and add convenience to your day. They decrease the frustrations of hiking back to shore, putting your rod down, and taking your bag completely off just to get one simple thing. It may not sound like a lot and complaining about it sounds silly, but if you’re anything like me- this adds up to a significant amount of time over the course of a day.

Features of the Umpqua Steamboat Sling Pack

Now that we know what a sling pack is, let’s get into the specific features of the Umpqua Steamboat Sling Pack. 

Storage Space

What sticks out to me about this pack is the ample amount of storage space it provides. 

According to Umpqua’s website, the pack size is “1200”, though I’m not quite sure what unit of measurement they’re using (if that is what the number represents). What I do know is the main compartment allows you to store several fly boxes, a water bottle, and any extra gear you might need out on the water. That space is ultimately what matters!

The secondary compartment at the front of the bag also provides space for other items like tippet, floatant, scissors, or even a small fly box or two. I tend to use this space for smaller items I’m likely to need and want quicker access to. That way, I don’t have to rummage through larger fly boxes or bigger stuff in the main compartment when all I need is a strike indicator. 

I don’t think I’ve ever been short on stuff when I use this sling pack. Everything I could need for a day trip is easily packed in the bag and I haven’t had any issues with it at all. It even fits a rain jacket on days where you might need one.

Comfort and “Slingability”

Long story short, this thing is comfortable. I’ve had other backpacks that dig into your neck which over time gets very annoying. The padded, wide strap is easy on you and after a while you even forget that you’re wearing anything at all.

Features like this go a long day when you’re fishing consistently. There’s no need to re-adjust this bag when it starts bothering you because it simply never does. You can stay locked in to your fishing without any discomfort.

Slinging the bag in front of you (as it is designed) is also hassle free. I’ve always been impressed with how easy it is to swipe it across your chest and have instant access to your goodies. During a day of fishing and consistently digging to get whatever you may need, features like this improve your efficiency by a big margin. 

In a word I just made up, the “slingability” of this pack is the primary feature that makes this bag worthwhile.

Compartments and Attachments for Organization

Another feature that is great about the Umpqua Steamboat Sling Pack is the variety of compartments and attachments it has strewn about both the inside and outside of the pack.

In the larger, main compartment there’s a loose lining that separates about a third of the pack from the rest. It splits up the main pocket, which offers space to organize perhaps a favorite fly box or water bottle from the rest. It helps prevent things from getting too jumbled around too much, which will happen to some degree regardless as you hike through the water. 

There are also two additional mesh-lined zipper pockets that offer additional organization. They’re pretty thin, so I tend to use these for items like tippet spools, extra nippers, or maybe even a protein bar or snack. This keeps those items separate from the larger compartment, which can be very useful for accessing these items easily.

In the smaller, secondary pocket at the front, there are a variety of pouches and zippers to help you stay organized. I like to use these for smaller pieces of gear like split shot or strike indicators/bobbers. 

On the outside, there are a ton of attachment points to connect gear with rings or carabiners. You can attach whatever you need to these straps and can stay confident that they’re not gonna go anywhere. I like to snap on nippers and tippet spools to these, as I find myself needing them at a moment’s notice throughout the day. 

They’ve even added a fly patch to the side of the bag, which gives you access to your most used flies pretty much instantaneously.

Shortcomings of the Steamboat Sling Pack

With all the cool features of this pack that make it great, it does come with a few pitfalls.

Water-Resistant, Not Waterproof

One drawback of this pack is that it is not waterproof, nor does it have any dedicated pockets or sections that can protect your phone, keys, or camera from the elements. 

If you fish long enough, $h!t is gonna happen. You’re gonna fall into the water, drop your bag, take a step in unexpectedly deep water, or get caught in an unexpected storm that can damage your stuff. While the bag can help protect your stuff from very light exposure to water, it doesn’t protect it from submersion or heavy rain.

This is not really an issue- until it is. Then it becomes very costly. All it takes is one trip, one storm, or one mistake and you could pay a hefty price. This lack of protection most commonly becomes a nuisance when wading. Many times you may need to cross a river and might step into an unexpectedly deep hole that brings water into the bag. I typically take my pack off and hold it over my head to avoid this.

Some Impractical Features

Don’t get me wrong, most of the features on this pack are extremely helpful. However, there are some that aren’t. 

First, the slot for the net that lays on your back is very uncomfortable. Sure, the net slides in easily, but then you have the handle of the net digging into your back all day. I just don’t use this and attach my net to one of the straps provided on the exterior of the pack.

Secondly, they provide a dedicated sleeve for (from my estimation) easy access to nippers. They give you a rubber band to attach them to, which pretty much instantaneously breaks. Not a huge deal at all, but this part is pretty worthless in my opinion. 

There are also some small pouches on the outside that offer additional storage, but not sure what you would put in there. They’re too small and insecure to store anything, so I generally leave them empty.

There are so many features to this pack that make it great, though some of the extras just aren’t practical. 

However, I would say that the pros outweigh the cons. These impractical features are easily solvable and don’t detract from what the pack provides as a whole. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really like the Umpqua Steamboat Sling Pack and it’s been my go-to fishing bag for several years now. 

It’s comfortable, has plenty of room for storage, and is very “slingable” for easy access to your stuff. While it’s not fully waterproof, you can get around this by putting your phone in a plastic bag. I also have added a waterproof bag to one of the many attachment points on the exterior to keep my phone safe. For really rainy days or trips involving heavy wading, I’ll use a submersible hip pack like the Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Lumbar Pack (check out our review).

While there are a few that miss the mark, I think the pros far outweigh the cons with this bag. If you’re looking for a reliable, user-friendly pack that lets you focus on fishing, the Umpqua Steamboat Sling Pack may be right for you!

Check it out!