About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the fishing sling, which I purchased with my own money in March of 2023.

My take

The Orvis Mini Sling is a durable, comfortable pack designed for the minimalist angler. It’s another option in the well-thought-out Orvis Sling Pack lineup.

About the pack I own

• Model: 2023
• Gender: Unisex
• Size: Mini
• Pack capacity: 5L
• Pack type: Sling pack

About me

• Height: 5’9”
• Weight: 200lbs
• Experience: 40+ years of fly fishing

Test conditions

• When I bought it: March 2023
• Type of fishing trips: Backcountry and half-day trips
• What I carried:
  • Fly Box: Mayfly boxes
  • Accessories: Tippet, indicators, floatant, weights, nippers, forceps, extra leader
  • Rain Gear: N/A
  • Other: Water
• Total pack weight: About 3lbs loaded
• Used for: Day trips of wader fishing
• Where I’ve used it: Streams
• Seasons I’ve used it in: Spring

How it performs

What I was looking for

I use larger versions of the Orvis Sling Packs and I wanted a pack that I could use for quick half-day trips or trips where I hiked to the fishing hole. I was looking for a pack to use when I go ultralight fly fishing.

Why I chose this gear

I chose this gear with the intention of holding a few fly boxes and a minimal amount of gear that would not take up room when hiking to the fishing hole. Prior to purchasing this sling pack, I would use a lanyard to hold my gear and would stuff fly boxes in various pockets of my pants. This proved to be an inefficient way to fish, and often, I would forget an item after hiking into my location. I own other Orvis sling packs and have enjoyed using them, so I naturally gravitated toward the mini sling when looking for a smaller pack.

What I love about it

• Durability: These packs are durable. I have not had any issues with briars catching and ripping the pack. The zippers are easy to use.
• Weight: This pack is lightweight when fully packed and easy to carry when hiking to fish.
• Ease of use: The pack can be conveniently slid to the front for access and then slid back to be out of the way. A useful strap helps hold the pack tight to the body and prevents slippage.
• Comfort and Accessibility: The compartments are relatively large and hold a minimalist day’s amount of gear. Hook and loop patches on the shoulder strap, pack, and inside hold flies and nymph rigs securely for easy fly changes.
• Adjustability: This pack can be adjusted to make the fit very comfortable.
• Features: A tool docking station is included, which makes frequently used tools easy to get to. Loops are designed for a tippet post, which conveniently holds tippet spools for easy access. The hook and loop fly patches are conveniently placed, and a clip in a zippered pocket is a secure way to store car keys.
• Organization and pockets: The large main compartment has smaller pockets to help organize smaller items. A smaller external pocket also has dividers to help with organization.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Weather Resistance: While this pack is not waterproof, Orvis does make a waterproof sling pack if that is what is needed.
• Ease of use: This pack is really set up to be worn over the right shoulder. As I am a right-handed caster, this is not an issue. If one were a left-handed caster, this could be a potential problem with one’s casting arm contacting the pack.
• Capacity: At five liters in capacity, this is a mini pack. I do not carry a rain jacket in it, and lunch consists of some granola bars when used for the whole day. The pack does not have a separate water bottle holder.

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with this gear was using it to chase wild brook trout with my ultralight set up. The tranquil forest streams and the vibrant-colored brook trout make daily troubles fade.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Orvis Mini Sling is ideal when I only need to carry a small amount of gear. The durable construction and lightweight nature make this a perfect pack for those situations. However, unless one is sold on the Sling Pack, one should still consider other pack options. Here we’ve included a comparison of the different types of packs with pros and cons for each.

Final verdict

The Orvis Mini Sling is a great option for anglers looking to carry a minimal amount of gear while keeping their overall weight down. Backpackers, alpine fishers, and ultralight anglers should consider this option for their adventures.