Fly fishing gear breaks down. Waders leak, boots fall apart and pack zippers fail. The stitching at the seams of all this stuff takes a lot of abuse, so how long can it hold up? How well is it built?
The 100 Day Gear Review Series on Troutbitten takes a look at how gear is performing after the century benchmark. Should our fly fishing gear last longer than 100 days? You bet. But after many months of heavy use, we have an excellent understanding for what we bought. And two things reveal themselves:
First, material failures or flaws become apparent.
Second, the design and function of a piece of gear is fully understood — be it positive or negative.
To most anglers, durability and longevity are at the heart of quality. But many gear reviews tout the advantages of gear that’s fresh off the shelf. And items are reviewed with only a handful of days as a reference point. Candidly, I find those kinds of reviews almost useless.
After 100 days on the rivers that I fish, real perspective is gained. These are days averaging eight hours, sometimes covering miles of water, in all four seasons, through icy winters and sweltering summers. Most days are full of hard wading, with routine hikes that often include bushwhacking to remote areas. In short, these are the kind of days that challenge fishing gear.
READ: Troutbitten | Category | Gear Reviews
** Note ** Links for buying the Simms G3 Guide Vest are at the end of this article.
(Your support is appreciated.)
Why a Vest?
A few months ago, I wrote an article laying out all my reasons for choosing a fishing vest over other carrying options like sling packs, chest packs or hip packs.
READ: Troutbitten | Pack or Vest? Why I’m a Vest Guy
Of course, I acknowledge that everyone has their own favorite system. And this is mine.
In short, a vest is the most efficient option. And if you’re a versatile angler, then you owe it to yourself to consider a vest as your primary carry-and-access system. Because all other solutions have major drawbacks.
(If you’re skeptical, read that vest article first.)
After 100+ days there are a few stains and wrinkles, but otherwise, it’s like new.
The Simms G3 Guide Vest
I’ve now logged well over 100 days in the Simms G3 Guide Vest. It was a gift from my friend, Jonas Price, owner of the Feathered Hook in Coburn, PA, this past summer. (Thanks, man.)
At that time, my reliable Patagonia vest had reached the end of its life, and the redesigned offerings from Patagonia offered less storage and a different layout that simply didn’t fit my needs. While on the lookout for a new vest over many months, I’d tried vests from every major manufacturer, along with a few other options. Nothing was right, until I saw the G3.
I was immediately impressed with the features and layout. And now, after 100+ days on the water, the vest has zero issues — no loose stitches, no tearing material or failing zippers. The G3 is as solid as the day I first slung it over my shoulders.
I’ve been a vest guy all my life. Sure, I’ve worn dozens of other packs and gear carrying options. But I’ve always come back to the vest. And after four decades of fishing hard, and seven different vest models. The Simms G3 Guide Vest is far and away the best I’ve owned . . . and it’s not even close.
When I find something that I truly connect with, I often tell my friends, “I want to have one of these for the rest of my life,” and they roll their eyes a bit. I’ve said this about my 4Runner, my Martin guitar, my favorite fly rods and reels, my Danner hiking boots, and recently, our new Australian Shepard. 🙂
I said it about the Simms G3 Guide Vest about a month in. It’s impressive. And I’ll tell you exactly why . . .
River, our Aussie pup. Five months now.
Built by Anglers for Anglers
In the first few weeks of wearing the G3, I continued to find features that just made sense. It’s things like the placement of zippers and the angle of the openings. Clearly, people who fish a lot designed this vest.
Take the positioning of pockets, for example. All the front lower pockets can be accessed while the fly rod is tucked under your arm for rigging. Every other vest I’ve owned required switching arms to reach these pockets. Does that matter? Yup. If you fish a lot, it surely does.
The G3 is a shorty vest, meaning it’s designed to ride high, so the bottom pockets don’t dip in the water while wading deep. Old-school vests sit around belt level, but shorty vests ride higher.
Time and again, I’ve been impressed with the features of the Simms G3 Guide Vest. And after more than one-hundred days on the water, I never want to be without it. Here are some of my favorite features . . .
Stacked Layout
All good fishing vests try to stack pockets to some extent. But most fail. The Simms G3 Guide Vest stacks three pockets in all front locations.
One, two, three pockets.
On the bottom row, there are the two exterior pockets. Behind that, there’s a large molded pocket for a fly box. And behind that is a flat, zippered pocket (for my cell phone).
The chest pocket area is also stacked. It starts with a thin, zippered pocket on the front, then the flap pocket behind, with the molded, zippered pocket behind that.
Those are just the exterior pockets. The interior pockets add even more dimension to the lower area (two more layers inside) and the chest (one more layer inside).
Here’s a look at the inside. This orange material is a soft poly blend.
If you’re a fool, you’ll fill all these pockets to capacity. Zippers will be stressed, and the flaps will barely cover. You’ll look like the Michelin man has just stepped out of a fly shop. Then you’ll probably complain that fishing vests hold too much stuff, and you’ll say they aren’t good for fishing simply. But again, that’s just foolishness. Have some discipline. Just because there are twenty-four pockets built into this thing, doesn’t mean you should fill all of them.
The advantage of a vest is having everything you need, up front, ready and organized. But don’t bring everything you own. With the stacked pockets and so many options for storage, the Simms vest gives you plenty of ways to tailor your system. Choose wisely.
Molded Pockets
This is what impressed me first about the Simms G3 Guide Vest. Molded pockets have now made their way over from fishing packs to vests. Some companies overdo it, placing molded, shaped, rigid compartments all over a vest form. But Simms got this just right.
After placing a fly box in my old vest pocket, it often took two hands, or one hand with extra effort and contortions, to close the zipper. (It’s a rough life.) But the molded pocket idea makes this process slick — open, close, easy, no effort without even looking.
This is probably something you won’t appreciate until you experience it. But I want to have molded pockets for the rest of my life.
There are four of these molded, semi-rigid pockets on the vest. Just right.
The Dual Front Closure
The Simms G3 Guide Vest closes with a solid ten-inch zipper up front. But it also closes with a magnetic clasp and elastic, if you like that instead. This is a useful feature when adding bulky layers in the winter.
With the dual front closure, you can buy the vest in the size that fits you well, because you’ll still have room to expand around the chest when needed.
I also use the magnetic closure for quickness, when I’m in and out of the interior pockets for some reason. The clasp is easy to use with one hand. It’s a great design.
The magnetic quick closure or the zipper. Your choice.
Zingers and the Magnets
Most good packs and vests have integrated retractors these days. And these ones are just right. I prefer coiled retractors over zingers because they last longer, they’re more reliable, and they’re lighter. The retractor attachment to the G3 vest is covered with a sleeve, which is a good example of the overall clean form and design of this vest — so your fly line doesn’t get hung up as you’re fighting the next Whiskey.
Completing the tool area, two small magnets are sewn inside the vest seams for what Simms calls docking stations. Now your nippers and forceps stick to the magnet instead of swinging around on your hike through the hemlocks. Nice.
The Docking Station magnet is under the nippers.
Materials
Cordura Ripstop nylon is some of the toughest fabric I’ve ever seen, and I have coats and hiking pants made of this stuff that just doesn’t quit. After over a hundred days and a lot of crawling through briers, the vest has no tears, rips or flaws.
It’s also soft and comfortable, almost like cotton. Yet, treated with DuPont Teflon water-resistant finish, the vest sheds water like a champ. (But take note: It is not waterproof. It will wet out in heavy rain.)
The shoulders are made from a stretchy material, which is a nice touch, as it makes for a very mobile, custom-feeling fit that’s great while casting.
The Collar
The Simms G3 Guide Vest has a unique collar design.
Most vest collars are hot in the summer because they’re too thick. The G3 collar gives that same impression from a distance, but the opposite is true. Instead, it’s a padded collar that encourages ventilation. Inside the micro-mesh outer is a foam that is sturdy enough to lend support to the collar while being light enough for air to flow through.
What I thought would be a flaw turns out to be a favorite feature.
Not what it looks like. This collar is the light, breathable and supportive.
The Rear Storage Pockets
I love hitting the river with the mindset to see what the trout want. I’m not the type to leave the truck with the intention to throw nymphs all day. Anything at any time — that’s my approach. So a vest has always been the right match for me, because I need all the important gear at my fingertips. That means it’s up front, not in a sling pack behind me, and not in the rear compartment of a chest pack.
Efficiency is the key to versatility. Make transitions easy, or you won’t do them.
However, I still need room for the extra stuff that I probably won’t need but want to have with me. I can go a week or more without touching some of the gear I carry in the back pockets of my vest. Some of it is permanent, like extra leader and tippet material or hand warmers in the winter. And some of it is temporary, like the thick balaclava that I stash in the bellowed cargo pocket in case I’ve underestimated the early-morning cold.
The rear design of the Simms G3 Guide Vest is a common, two pocket design, with a twist.
You can stuff a lot of gear in here before running out of room.
The lower pocket is very large, with side pleats designed to expand, and the interior mesh of this large compartment permits air flow on your back. I use this large compartment to store warm layers, lunch, or other things that I don’t need to access while fishing.
What looks like one long pocket up top is actually two compartments and two zippers. These pockets are made from a water-shedding material and are placed high enough that I can reach behind my neck to access them. I like to store a small, light box of dry flies that I probably won’t need. And then, standing in waist-deep water, fishing to risers, I still have access to these flies without removing my vest.
The upper section is divided in two.
These days, many packs and hybrid vests feature a small backpack in the rear. I find that the back design of the Simms G3 Guide Vest gives me just as much storage without the added weight or bulk of a backpack when I don’t need it.
The Best
When a big part of your life is fishing, how you carry fishing gear is a big deal. The Simms G3 Guide Vest starts with a classic design and modernizes it in all the best ways.
There are other features that might become your favorite, like weep holes underneath the pockets or an elastic cord with a toggle cinch at the bottom hem of the vest.
I think a good gear review should point out flaws or features that need improvement. But I have just one: color. My vest is from 2019, when Simms still offered a deeper grey. Currently, the darkest of the two choices is “Steel,” but some anglers may wish for a darker vest.
Beyond that, there truly is nothing about the Simms G3 Guide Vest that I would change. That’s why I chose to review it. The G3 is the versatile angler’s perfect, efficient carry-and-access system.
** Note ** The partnerships and the support of this industry are part of what keeps Troutbitten going. And I’m proud that Troutbitten is a Simms affiliate. You can read my policy on gear reviews HERE. And if you decide to buy the Simms vest (or if you buy any other Simms product), Troutbitten receives a commission of the sale, at no additional cost to you, when you click through any of these links. So thank you for your support.
** Buy Simms G3 Guide Vest HERE to Support Troutbitten **
Fish hard, friends.
Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com
How’s your experience with the D ring at the back of the vest? In your opinion/experience is it strong enough to hold a gear retractor and fishpond emerger net? Thanks for the excellent review.
Hi there. I feel confident in saying that it would be strong enough, yes.
But I would never hang my net on my neck and shoulders like that. I think it’s the worst place for a net.
I like this so much more:
https://troutbitten.com/2016/04/27/of-nets-and-holsters/
Make sense?
Dom
Thanks Dom for the response. I can see why that D ring won’t be ideal. That said, as someone who lost a net before, I am inclined to tether the net (magnet, or gear retractor) to something. How might that work with the holster? I would still need another tether point. Any suggestion?
Hello,
Yes. I’ve seen some of guests who simply attach a bungee or retractor to the net and then to the belt. Then they put the net in the holster. It works well.
I should mention, that I use my wading belt like a utility belt, really. More on that, here:
https://troutbitten.com/2019/05/01/lets-rethink-the-wading-belt/
Cheers.
Dom
I bought this vest to go on a Yellowstone trip. I had my net attached to the D ring on the back with an orvis magnet. The first time I went to use the net the stiching came undone and with it went a net and magnet. The material the d ring is attached to is poor as well as the stiching.
I will say Simms made good on the vest and lost materials. Very good customer service
Thanks William,
They may have improved the design. I just checked my own again. The material and stitching are solid.
Cheers.
Dom
I personally use the D ring at the back of the vest. I am 6’4″ and use a 28″ long large McClean weigh net from New Zealand, which I believe is comparable to the Nomad Emerger in weight. The D ring is strong enough without a doubt. That said, if you are climbing through underbrush a lot or walking on your net, you can damage it. The rubberized fabric they used to attach the D ring to the vest will tear. Perhaps they should have used a stiff Nylon there. I use a magnetic release with a coiled lanyard and carabiner, which works great once you get used to it. I suppose I will have to re-visit this subject in another 85 uses! I am now in the middle of dealing with a failed Zinger/retractor.
Thanks, Kyle.
Dom
Ditto, and if you have to hike any brush, the net on the D ring, on your back doesn’t get hung up or snagged on brush. Go with the D ring and properly measure and size the drop. Also when using a magnet it is essential that you attach to the magnet from the hoop, not the handle. I can grab the net handle in my sleep unconsciously. Perfect every time after setting it up correctly. SF magnets are the strongest out there and they do not come loose from hiking jumping running (occasional bull haha). Also, my last G3 vest died at 7 years old, the zippers probably at 5 years old. The D ring was never affected. Many mends and repairs in the last year. My boys bought me a new G3 for my birthday this year (11/2022) and I love the new design with one exception, I prefer the single, full width, shallow top back pocket to the two compartments. The change in D ring placement will require that I measure it out again to be sure the net handle is exactly where I want to be. I fish 150-200 days a years and I have never had any product last 7 years! Way to go Simms.
Great review. Wholeheartedly agree that a review means nothing until there is substantial in-service time on the item in question. Now, if only Simms recognized that larger men and women fish!!!
Right on.
Dom
I have been a long time non-vest guy but am too the point where is the drawbacks of those is making me look at a vest. The one question for you is how you personally “do” a working box or patch with the vest? Is it just a box in a pocket?
Hi Derek,
That’s important to me too. In the pictures above, see the C&F Chest Patch. It’s a small fly box with open ends, slotted foam and magnets. It’s super light, durable, air flows through, and it holds all the flies I’m currently using/considering/not catching fish with. 🙂
It’s a great solution. Here’s the article.
https://troutbitten.com/2018/12/16/a-fly-fishers-gift-guide-the-cf-chest-patch/
Make sense?
Dom
Ah now I see it thanks for pointing that out.
Hope to see you on a river one day, likely with me wearing a vest 🙂
Hey Dom,
I’ve recently found your articles about the wading belt and a like, what a game changer! I’d be curious to know how you store your lunch in the back of the vest, might be a silly thing to ask but genuinely curious as to how or what you’re being out in there!!
Thanks,
Taylor
Totally unrelated to the vest, but you have a photo at the top with a big map. i’ve been looking for something similar for my hobby room. can you point me in the direction of the map you have? is it just for art, or do you use it for scouting too?
Hi there.
It’s a Higbee map of PA, mounted and framed as a gift from my friend, Jeff. It’s cool.
https://streamsmaps.com/
But no, I don’t use it for exploration. That’s what a Delorm state atlas is for. I’m on my second one. Cheech them out too.
Cheers.
Dom
Just love seeing pic of your dog!
i have had my G3 for easily 12 years – still in good shape, i would love a new one but
the price on the G3 is high (real high) I cant find one on sale so i will just keep the
old reliable going
Helpful as always Domenick. You cut to the chase in these reviews and they are super informative. An even more confusing gear purchase is hiking boots. As the Danner’s came up on your list of favorite things, if you care to share a paragraph or two about them I’m all ears as I am in the market for a pair.
Hi John,
So, when I referred to the hiking boots, I did mean hiking and not wading. I have a pair of Danner Pronghorns. They are 800g insulated. I like them so much that I may buy an uninsulated pair. My favorite wading boots are Simms G3’s..
Cheers.
Dom
Dom,
Thanks. That’s helpful.
John
I logged 15 days on the river this year with my brand new XL G3 vest. Yesterday while fishing in 28F with 34F waist-deep water I heard a sickening “bloop” sound and noticed my Simms Pro Nippers were gone. The Zinger/retractor had failed at the factory seam which released the Nippers into the near-freezing water. Goodbye, new $80 Nippers. This is likely a partial function of low air temperature, but there seems to be a material and design defect there. Under the close inspection of the other retractor, I can see the other seam is about to fail as well under absolutely normal use.
The other thing I will add is the upper pockets stick out rather far. This is good for holding stuff, but almost completely obscures the sightline to the lower row of pockets. This means you are searching around your lower pockets often by feel. I am not a fan of that but appreciate the pocket design and capacity at a tradeoff of visibility.
I almost never keep fish. If you do fish with a stringer, the vest doesn’t have an attachment point such as a low D ring for a stringer so make sure you have an alternative plan. Personally, I almost never keep fish so not much of an issue for me.
Beyond those points above, the vest is terrific if you are a vest guy. Thank you for the review.
Cheers.
Dom
Hi Dom
Great review and I’m seriously considering making the purchase after reading this and your other vest article.
I only have one concern though and it’s the same for me with every vest/pack/bag I’ve tried.
Can you wear the vest and carry a backpack comfortably (assuming the back pockets would be empty then)? The reason this is a major concern for me is that I do lots of full-day or multi-day fish/hikes in summer and carrying water and other gear has always been an issue.
I’ve been using a hip pack for that reason the last 2 seasons as it allows you to wear a backpack easily but I really detest having to spin things around to the front and undo the waterproof zippers every time I want to change things up. A sling pack is definitely a no-go for me as its not compatible with a backpack.
I’ve tried Patagonia’s hybrid vest pack but that also prevents you from putting on a backpack with more gear when you need to and a chest pack is also a no-go for me as I do a lot of wading in very dodgy places, requiring a full view of my feet all the time.
What’s your hydration solution? Do you carry a water bottle on your “utility belt”? I have my reservations about stuff on my wading belt having had my line tangle around my wading staff and losing a good fish that way more than once!
Regards
Dirk, New Zealand
Hi Dirk,
Yeah, you could put a backpack on, I suppose. But I wouldn’t recommend it, because you’d just be adding more bulk and blocking access to some front vest pockets with the backpack straps.
A good vest is great because it has a LOT of cargo room in the back. I can fit a full jacket back there, and more. I carry a my lunch in the back, extra leader spools, and a variety of items, always. Then I often stow clothes there. No need for the backpack.
But, no, I would not put water back there. I think the hydration bladders are a horrible idea for carrying water, honestly. And I do think the best approach is to put ALL your heavy stuff on your hips. That includes my water and my net.
Check this out:
https://troutbitten.com/2019/05/01/lets-rethink-the-wading-belt/
That’s how I do it.
Make sense?
Dom
Hey Dom
Thanks for the quick response and yeah makes perfect sense. I actually just read your wading belt article right after I posted this question – tucking the wading staff behind the net holster is genius!
My stretchy Patagonia wading belt (which came with the waders) sucks for attaching stuff – I’d have to upgrade to one like yours to use it as a utility belt.
I guess you’re right about the pocket access limitation with a backpack but I’d only ever use the backpack + vest when I’m fishing while hiking upstream to the campsite while I’d be carrying a bivvy/tent, sleeping mat, food, gas cooker, emergency kit and camera – i.e. a lot of gear.
This is probably only 1/20 trips for me though with the rest being half or full-day outings where the vest with food + jacket in the back sufficing.
Cheers
Dirk
Hi Dom
Great review as always. I have the regular Guide vest which I like but always wondered if the molded pockets would be easier to use especially for fly boxes. Have you compared the regular Guide vest with the G3? If so, do you feel the pocket design on the G3 is substantially better?
Also, as Kyle mentioned above I’m a little leery of the coils for the zingers. It looks like they can be replaced but it would certainly be a bummer if you lose a nice set of nippers.
Thanks, Mike
Hi Mike,
Yes, the pockets on the G3 are absolutely better. Look at the pics above for the molded pockets. That’s a really significant difference. The pockets built this way just open up and allow you to slide boxes in and out, instead of wrestling to jam them in or pry materials open first. Seems like a small thing. But it’s big.
Also, I strongly prefer coiled zingers. After many years and using both, I can say without hesitation, that the coils are more reliable. I’ve never had one break. But I’ve had plenty of the other style fail. Coils rule. If you don’t like them, just pin on your regular zinger (and then wait for it to fall off or fail someday.) 🙂
Cheers, and thanks for reading.
Dom