Vass Dry Fishing Rucksack Edition 3- First Impressions. By Jansen teakle.

You know when you have a favourite item of tackle that you have dragged around with you for years and just the thought of replacing it with something new fills you with dread? That’s exactly how I felt about my beloved army issue Bergen. It was comfortable to carry, had ample pockets and basically functioned in a way that I would like a rucksack to function. That is, other than for one small detail. It leaked and basically became a sponge over a short period of time to the point where I swear it would double in weight if I fished for several hours following the onset of an unexpected monsoon. As the weeks rolled by, the recovery period of the poor thing became less and less and I can only liken the experience to carrying a wet dog on my back that wanted to be put out of its misery. Yes, she was slowly fading, falling apart and crying out for retirement after two decades of solid service. But what the hell would I replace her with?

The answer came over the Christmas period when whilst fishing with a friend, his choice of kit carrying system drew my attention. It was a rucksack that I had been aware of for some time, but had never really looked in to what it was all about. It was a slow night’s fishing and I took the opportunity for a closer inspection. This Vass rucksack looked incredibly simple, but it was certainly cavernous and seemingly more so than the claimed 40L capacity. Above all else, the material used throughout the construction of the bag, namely ‘Vass-Tex DC’ (whatever that might be exactly) was clearly waterproof and resembled something that would be used to form the balloon of a SIB. This thick, rubber-like material sees rainwater running clear and as it is also claimed to be wipe-clean, the user should be able to avoid the usually inevitable pong that comes with a traditional rucksack absorbing all of the nastiness that comes its way. That’s got to be huge bonus in anyones eyes. With nothing to lose (other than a twenty year old Bergen that had been to hell and back) I’d seen enough to relieve VMO of one Vass-Tex Dry Rucksack with a view to it becoming my new go-to when, for whatever reason, a seat box wasn’t an option. 

I’ve always believed that when it comes to rucksacks, they need to fulfil just a couple of basic tasks. One is that they hold all that is required for a session, however long it might be, and the second is that they are comfortable to carry. First thing I did after unpacking my new bag was to load it right up with whatever I had to hand, namely leads, reels, rig wallet- a typical selection of tackle that I would likely take on a trip to the rocks. With the bag sufficiently packed, I rolled the top down and put it on my back. My first observation was that it sat a lot higher than the old Bergen, this in itself felt a whole lot more comfortable. Generous padding on the part of the bag which makes contact with the back and throughout the ample straps made it feel extremely comfortable and chest and waist straps kept it in place. There was plenty in it, but it felt balanced and lighter than it actually was when held by one arm.

With that box ticked, it was time to look further in to my new acquisition and explore a more organised carrying system within. That last trip out on the rocks when I first got a good look at this Vass-Tex Dry Rucksack had really inspired me, and I’ll explain why. My friend, Dale, a builder by trade, had found himself a rectangular bucket that contained ‘Joint-It’, which I’m guessing is some kind of mortar, I’ve no idea, but it just so happened that it fit beautifully in the bottom of the bag. He had loaded this obviously cleaned out container with the essential leads, bits boxes, reels and such like meaning that they could all be easily accessed by simply removing the container from the bag. I know it’s not rocket science, but it certainly got me excited.

Wet weather gear and other spare clothing could be placed on top of the container in the bag and it made for a very efficient system. The added bonus was that the container was sturdy enough to sit on once removed. Perhaps when you reach a certain age, these simple things get you excited, or perhaps I’m just wired up wrong, who knows. Back to the bag itself and I began to familiarise myself with its other features.

A fold down flap at the front of the bag concealed a pocket of rig wallet shape and size (guess what went in there?) and was secured by means of two quick release buckles. The flap looked just right to prevent rain or spray getting in. Mesh style pockets on either side of the bag (referred to on the old army Bergen as rocket launchers) appeared to be designed for carrying water bottles or a flask, but a little further up the bag directly above these mesh pockets, quick release buckles suggested that a rod could be carried attached to the bag if you needed your hands free for climbing. An interior pocket at the rear of the bag also looked suitable for a rig wallet or anything of a similar shape and size, possibly a light weigh sling. The roll down top of the bag featured yet more quick release buckles meaning that it could be totally sealed, ensuring that it was 100% water tight. It occurred to me that if the top of the bag was rolled down, clipped and secured as described, it would make the bag buoyant, meaning that if you fell in to the water whilst wearing it, it would help to keep you afloat. This is just speculation though and I’ve no desire to test this theory any time soon! They say that the simple ideas are the best, and in the case of a sea fishing rucksack, I couldn’t agree more. One of the standout features of this Vass-Tex Dry Rucksack for me though is that Vass-Tex DC material. Traditional hiking rucksacks are constructed with a pretty flimsy fabric and over time will succumb to the extreme rigours your average sea angler will impart on them. Even the Army issue Bergen or Patrol Pack is thwarted in this respect. An overboard style ‘dry’ bag developed specifically for the sea angler gets a huge thumbs up from me and so far, I can’t fault it. The brilliant thing about company’s like Vass-Tex is that they get familiar with their market, take feedback on board and will evolve a product accordingly. This is edition 3 of this particular piece of kit and it’s refreshing to see a company so proactive when it comes to analysing and improving on existing products. Perhaps edition 4 will feature a removable plastic container? Who knows, but for me, this is £69.99 (RRP £79.98) very well spent indeed.