Review: Orvis Loaded Lanyard

Published on 07/27/2023 · 3 min readCurated Fishing Experts share their experience by using the Orvis Loaded Lanyard. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.
Baily Dent, Fly Fishing Expert
By Fly Fishing Expert Baily Dent
Photo by Baily Dent

The Curated Take

4.7/5

The Orvis Loaded Lanyard, designed for easy access to essential fishing tools, offers great utility for both novice and experienced anglers. Its durability, portability, and safety make it an excellent choice for lightweight travel and wet wading. With a built-in breakaway mechanism, it ensures safety while its versatility allows for targeting any species. Despite the lack of quality nippers, it remains cost-effective, given its robust features. Its compact nature and easy-to-use interface make it an ideal companion for spontaneous fishing trips.

Ideal for
  • Great for beginners
  • Great for traveling light
  • Easily accessible
Not ideal for
  • No room for extra gadgets
  • Can get tangled
Functionality
Baily Dent, Curated Expert
This lanyard is laid out so that everything I need is right at my fingertips and easy to access. A tippet bar, tools, floatant, and a fly patch are right...Read more
Durability
Baily Dent, Curated Expert
I work for Orvis, and we use this lanyard in every class. We put over 200 people through our classes each season, and I have lanyards that have been in...Read more
Portability
Baily Dent, Curated Expert
I have everything I need to grab it, throw it around my neck, and go out and catch bass and bluegill all afternoon on my farm pond without carrying a...Read more
Safety
Baily Dent, Curated Expert
Pieces on each side of the lanyard snap together, and if they get caught on something, they will release. They need a good amount of force to come apart, so...Read more
Sharpness
Baily Dent, Curated Expert
The comfy grip nippers are less high quality compared to other types of nippers that Orvis carries. They get the job done but do not have replaceable blades, so they...Read more
Versatility
Baily Dent, Curated Expert
While the lanyard comes with a tippet specifically for targeting trout, it is easy to swap out and set up for targeting any species. The floatant and tools will work...Read more

Expert Reviews of the Orvis Loaded Lanyard

 This loaded lanyard is great for people new to fly fishing or those looking to travel light with just the essentials. The lanyard comes loaded with three tippet spools from 3x to 5x, a pair of hemostats, nippers, and floatant. There is even a handy fly patch at the bottom for extra fly storage or to let them dry in between uses. The neck strap is adjustable and has a handy clip to attach to clothing to keep it from moving around too much. Other than a fly rod and a couple of flies, this is everything needed to get right out and go fishing.

Product Specs

Fishing typeFly
WarrantyOrvis Great Catch Guarantee

Review Ratings

Functionality

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. This lanyard is laid out so that everything I need is right at my fingertips and easy to access. A tippet bar, tools, floatant, and a fly patch are right where I expect them to be. There is no need to search through a pack to get everything I need on the water.

Durability

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. I work for Orvis, and we use this lanyard in every class. We put over 200 people through our classes each season, and I have lanyards that have been in use since the store opened eight years ago. This is very tough and stands up to hard use.

Portability

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. I have everything I need to grab it, throw it around my neck, and go out and catch bass and bluegill all afternoon on my farm pond without carrying a big sling pack or getting fully outfitted in waders or vests. I like to keep one in my truck on the rearview mirror, so I always have that with me and a rod behind the seat so if I decide to fish after work, I can.

Safety

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. Pieces on each side of the lanyard snap together, and if they get caught on something, they will release. They need a good amount of force to come apart, so they only release if under great strain. If they release, they will snap back together to reuse.

Sharpness

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. The comfy grip nippers are less high quality compared to other types of nippers that Orvis carries. They get the job done but do not have replaceable blades, so they will need replacing once they wear out in a year or so. They are not expensive, though, so it's not a huge deal.

Versatility

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. While the lanyard comes with a tippet specifically for targeting trout, it is easy to swap out and set up for targeting any species. The floatant and tools will work for any time of fly fishing. I can take it anywhere easily because of how compact and easily transportable this set up.

FAQs

What was your favorite moment with this gear?

I also work for Orvis full-time when I am not Curating, and we use this lanyard in all our classes. It is super easy to use. The first question I always get about is, "What's in the little bottle?" It blows people's minds when I explain the function and use of the floatant to them. It's such a game changer when one is dry fly fishing that even a lot of long-time anglers are unfamiliar with it and think it's such a great idea. The looks of amazement never fail to put a smile on my face.

Why did you choose this product?

This is such a great product for anyone wanting to travel light while fishing. It's something I use if I'm planning on hitting the water close to home for a short period. I know what fly I want to fish and just need the basics, like extra tippet spools and hemostats for removing deep-seated flies. It's nice to be able just to grab this, throw it around my neck, and get right out on the water. The adjustable strap keeps it out of the way, as does the built-in shirt clip that keeps it from flipping around and hitting me if I need to bend over to release a fish.

What is the value for the money versus other options?

The quality of Orvis products and customer service are the best in the business. I like the peace of mind that comes with this product knowing that the company stands behind it and that if anything fails, they will replace it. With all the gear on this lanyard and a way to carry it, anglers can't piece it out individually and purchase a vest or pack for this price that would compare to the quality.

What do you love about this product?

The Orvis Loaded Lanyard is a great piece of equipment for anglers of all skill levels. The lanyard comes with three tippet spools already loaded on the tippet bar from sizes 3x-5x. The lanyard has comfy grip nippers and hemostats, and each is securely fastened in place. There is also a bottle of floatant that is quick to hand and ready to apply to any dry flies and a fly patch that's great for storing extra flies or drying flies between casts. This is a great purchase for new anglers as it has everything needed to get right on the water with a new rod outfit. Still, it's also great for more experienced anglers looking to travel light. I like to use one when I fish my pond, so I have everything I need but don't have to take a bunch of gear just to catch a couple of fish in an evening.
Baily Dent, Fly Fishing Expert
5.0
Baily Dent
Fly Fishing Expert
19 Reviews
254 Customers helped
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