Fly-Fishing Vests

You need a vest for fly fishing if you’re not planning to carry a fishing pack or bag. You’ll need a way to organize your tools and gear and hold your fly boxes, and a vest makes a fantastic option. But fly-fishing vests are primarily for freshwater wade anglers, so you won’t need one if you’re fishing from a boat, since you’d have a boat bag or box. 

The best fly-fishing vest fits well without constricting movement, offers breathability, and provides ample storage pockets, tool docking, and clips or loops for accessories like tippet bars. All fly-fishing vests from Orvis provide these and other features.

Your Orvis fly-fishing vest size corresponds to your chest measurement. Small fits 34”–46”, medium fits 38”–40”, and sizes go up from there to XXL at 50”–52”. 

The Orvis PRO and Ultralight fly-fishing vests feature an adjustable closure for a custom fit. 

Durable material, plenty of pockets, and a smart, strategic design are the most important features in a fly-fishing vest. You should be able to carry everything you need for fly fishing within easy reach. Your fly-fishing vest needs to be durable enough to withstand environmental conditions, and it should securely hold your tools and fishing accessories.

We suggest a minimum of eight pockets for your fly-fishing vest, with a mix of Velcro and zip closures. For the serious or professional angler, we included 18 pockets in our Orvis PRO fly-fishing vest. Remember that it’s better to have too many pockets than not enough.

While you may be able to fit a small water bottle inside a bigger pouch in your fly-fishing vest, we recommend using a fly-fishing pack or bag to carry water instead. These sling, hip, and chest packs come with built-in water bottle holders so you can stay adequately hydrated while you fish.