Patagonia Stormfront Waterproof Sling Review
The Patagonia Stormfront Sling (20L) is a great all around piece of gear for carrying your fishing/adventuring essentials on the river or over the trail. The bag remains sleek enough to be worn as an urban commute bag, with all weather protection built right into the design.
Anyone that knows me has seen me carry about 20,000 different bags over my lifetime, trying to get it just right. My conclusion is that there is no perfect bag that accommodates every situation…perfectly.
My Boundary Designs Prima System Backpack has been a great find for my larger carries, like my laptop, full camera setups and longer trips. I did however need a smaller bag for running around town, and one that could double its usage and prove useful on the river as well.
Because I carry cameras, microphones, an iPad and other expensive electronics, I wanted something that was completely waterproof without the need for a rain cover. It seems like every time Sara and I travel to Colorado together, we get caught outside in torrential downpours will little reprieve from the weather.
The Patagonia Stormfront is made of 11.7oz 800 denier 100% nylon with a single sided TPU coating and a DWR Finish. The material feels incredibly tough and I have zero hesitation putting this bag down in even the gnarliest of mud puddles. My local fly fishing retailer actually steered me away from an alternative brand I was considering and into the Patagonia product. “These guys have been making waterproof stuff for like 30 years, it’s hard not to trust a company that has that much experience” I’m glad he made the recommendation.
The bag itself weighs 1 lb 8 oz or 658 g. The shoulder strap is adequate for the capacity but a removable pad would be a nice option in case you have a heavier load.
The current retail cost is $229.00
I am able to fit a rain jacket, my Sony A6500 mirrorless camera with 18-105 lens, my iPad, a 12 oz Yeti water bottle and a smaller organizer bag I use to keep my goPro, batteries, two microphones, cables, a small tripod and more.
The outside pocket is great for small items I need to reach quickly but it should be noted that this pocked it only water resistant, and not water proof like the main pocket.
The waterproof zipper is very rugged and should stand the test of time. I would highly recommend keeping it well lubricated with the provided silicon to keep the pull operating with ease.
This is a fantastic option for fly fishing as it keeps everything readily available on the water, and completely submersible if you take a fall.
Check out the Patagonia Stormfront 20L Sling here:
https://www.patagonia.com/product/stormfront-waterproof-sling-bag-20-liters/49241.html
