Vest Causing Shoulder/Back Pain

[CtKenC]

I get really painful muscle aches/cramps in my back (Shoulder Blade area) when wearing my Simms Vests but when I just put a couple of small boxes in my shirt pocket I am largely pain free.
Even using an English style shoulder bag is better for my back than wearing a Vest.
I'm wondering if any of you have had similar aches/pains experience and if so, have you tried a Filson Strap Vest and did that help any? Did any other type vest help? I'm good with cutting down on the amount of "stuff" I carry.
Thanks,
Ken

[h.ridley]

:D CtKenC:

I have the same problem. I don't own a Simms vest but the 2 other brand vests I have cause the same kind of pain. Last year I bought a Cabelas vest with a single front center container. It's better but after a long time fishing the pain still occurs. This year I got a pair of waders from Stearns with a sort of built-in vest. It seems to be fine but I can't carry as much. If you find a good solution, I would be interrested.

Howie

[DA]

I've had the same problem for years. It helps to lighten the load. I put a few things in the front pocket of my waders and clip my forceps to my wader belt. Lately, during low water conditions, I have been fishing without a vest, using a small tackle pack that attatches to my wader belt. It holds a two small flyboxes, one medium size flybox, tippets and forceps. Even so, I still get the same pain sometimes. I think it is related to hunching over when concentrating on following the drift of the fly.

[Hot Tuna]

How about trying a chest box, such as a Downs or Richardson. Richardson is now making an ultralite version that you can fit out yourself if you like.
The three drawer is 45.00 last time I checked the website. The three drawer Downs is under 70.00 I think. Then you can buy a sling bag at Old Navy for your other stuff for under 15.00....I actuallly scored some sling bags there last year on the clearance rack for 2.99!
Good luck,
Hot Tuna

[DA]

I tried the Richardson 3 tray aluminum chest box about 20 years ago. It didn't relieve the pain. I added a couple of flat belt clips to the back of it and slipped it onto my wader belt. It solved the pain problem, but the box would get wet if I forgot about it and waded too deeply. Not fun having to dry the flies so that the hooks wouldn't rust out.

Here's a pic showing the belt clips. Click it to see a larger image. I would remove the shoulder sraps whenever I wore the box on my wader belt. I sold the fly box a few years ago. It was an original Richardson, not one of the copies.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6726/p7280100yu8.th.jpg (http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p7280100yu8.jpg)

[southpaw526]

I own a Columbia vest for almost 10 years now & I love it.....I used to have the same type of shoulder & neck pains until I found this vest.....It's got a neoprene collar....It makes a huge difference. The stretch in the neoprene distributes the load to the front flaps of the vest and away from your neck & shoulders......Here's a link to the Columbia website.....Not sure if it's the Henry's Fork or the Cool creek, but check them both out.....I think they both have the neoprene neck panel....


http://www.columbia.com/Product.aspx?top=1&cat=11090&prod=1183

[SloNDeep]

I cant remember the last time I felt neck-shoulder pain when fishing.

I have moved my less used boxes, a flashlight, and a spare reel to the back pocket of my vest and I think that helped a lot, though it was a serendipitous result, I am quite pleased

[Todd K]

I know I'm late jumping on the subject, but is it definitely your vest? I have had some pain, but it is from my posture. I tend to hunch over a bit to get a better view of the water...break the glare...or act stealth on the fish.

[h.ridley]

:D I think Flyaddict might be on to something. When I only fish for a couple of hours, the pain doesn't happen. but if I fish for a long time, it invariably happens.

Howie

[hookandhackle]

Back pain stinks. It could be caused by many things and your pack may aggravate it. Physical training and therapy really has helped me with my back problems. Very simple neck exercises and stretches that aren't taxing may help. Hope it feels better.

[Dave Underwood]

I have been struggling with a slightly herniated disk for some time. Back problems are caused by many things, bad posture, sitting on your wallet, beer bellys, and it doesnt help if you inherited a predisposed lower lumbar problem. I find fishing would kill my lower back and neck.
I was using an LLBean chest pack, which would put pressure on my lower neck and cause me to slightly hunch over. I recently received a fishpond vest from my friend Flyone73 and I have to say....WOW. My fishing experience has gotten alot more comfortable. Weight is evenly distributed on my shoulders now. However, lower back pain is still a problem based on standing on uneven surfaces, fighting current. I know LLbean makes a vest that has a lower back support and distributes the weight like a hiking pack. This may help. I also was looking into a sling pack, and even the simms dry waist pack....but the deal from Flyone prompted me to stop looking. Id be curious if anyone has any feedback on a sling or the dry waist pack.

[Flyone73]

I also have the Simms bag if you are interested. LOL. My wife would kill me if she knew how much stuff I really had. Or what it really cost. The only problem I found with the Simms dry bag is that the "waterproof" zipper in front isn't really waterproof. Found out the hard way. Had some "valubles" in there that got totally soaked. If you do buy that bag make sure it is the one whith the roll down top. Other than the zipper it's a great bag.

[CtKenC]

I have been struggling with a slightly herniated disk for some time. Back problems are caused by many things, bad posture, sitting on your wallet, beer bellys, and it doesnt help if you inherited a predisposed lower lumbar problem. I find fishing would kill my lower back and neck.
I was using an LLBean chest pack, which would put pressure on my lower neck and cause me to slightly hunch over. I recently received a fishpond vest from my friend Flyone73 and I have to say....WOW. My fishing experience has gotten alot more comfortable. Weight is evenly distributed on my shoulders now. However, lower back pain is still a problem based on standing on uneven surfaces, fighting current. I know LLbean makes a vest that has a lower back support and distributes the weight like a hiking pack. This may help. I also was looking into a sling pack, and even the simms dry waist pack....but the deal from Flyone prompted me to stop looking. Id be curious if anyone has any feedback on a sling or the dry waist pack.

My problem is between my shoulder blades and cramps so bad I have to stop fishing (almost) some times and go get a handful of Advil (Ibuprofen).

[SloNDeep]

I have been struggling with a slightly herniated disk for some time. Back problems are caused by many things, bad posture, sitting on your wallet, beer bellys, and it doesnt help if you inherited a predisposed lower lumbar problem. I find fishing would kill my lower back and neck.
I was using an LLBean chest pack, which would put pressure on my lower neck and cause me to slightly hunch over. I recently received a fishpond vest from my friend Flyone73 and I have to say....WOW. My fishing experience has gotten alot more comfortable. Weight is evenly distributed on my shoulders now. However, lower back pain is still a problem based on standing on uneven surfaces, fighting current. I know LLbean makes a vest that has a lower back support and distributes the weight like a hiking pack. This may help. I also was looking into a sling pack, and even the simms dry waist pack....but the deal from Flyone prompted me to stop looking. Id be curious if anyone has any feedback on a sling or the dry waist pack.

Someone (Hodgman I think) makes a very wide wading belt that looks like a weightlifters belt, this might help with your lower back pain.

[southpaw526]

Slo is right...That is a great belt.....I got one w/ my Hodgman wadelights

[Dave Underwood]

Thanks for the recommendation, I will certainly have to try that. The one good thing about a bad back, is that I cant golf....which leaves more time for fishing :lol:

Now if only we can give CTKen a remedy for his upper back problem...

[Flyone73]

I've seen you golf, your'e better off fishing.LOL

[Dave Underwood]

Someday, when i grow up...i hope i can be like Flyone. He can drive the ball 300 yds, and double haul farther than i hit my 7 iron.....
Keep it up kid, or ill tell the wife how much the stuff in your "fishing room" is worth ;)

[Todd K]

Fishings more fun anyway...

[Flyone73]

Speaking of golf, Pimp, we should get out before the end of the season.

[southpaw526]

I used to golf, but I kept getting yelled at by my golf partners for daydreaming everytime we played a water hole.....The only time I'm not thinking about fishing is when the wife is feeling frisky......That's like twice a month and only if you catch her during the right lunar phase..... :lol:

[Flyone73]

LOL. Southpaw ain't that the truth. But thats half the fun of golfing is seeing all those huge, unmolested bass, and wishing you threw a rod in your bag instead of a driver.

[pvansch1]

You all got to come over to the dark side, AJ Thramer builds a 4'3" 4wt bamboo rod for a 4wt line that is a killer for incognito fishing. At that length only the grip would stick out of your golf bag and you could hide it with one of them woody mittens.

[hookandhackle]

Keep it up kid, or ill tell the wife how much the stuff in your "fishing room" is worth

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I can relate to that big time. It's tough hiding new fishing gear. The wife has all 14 spin, surfcasting, boat and 3 fly rods inventoried. :roll: When and if I bring home that shiny new 2 wt, fly vice and tying supplies I'm going to have to dig a hole in the yard to hide it all. :D

[cirrus]

>>>But thats half the fun of golfing is seeing all those huge, unmolested bass,<<<


Wish I had a rod when I was golfing on this course over in Avon....they had this pond and a bass around 8lbs (I used to tourney bass fish)came flying out of the water going for either my ball scouper or a butterfly going by... my heart almost stopped....:lol:

[h.ridley]

:D Golf isn't so bad. I go golfing with my wife on the weekends and she lets me go fishing anytime during the week. That is, after the honeydo list is taken care of. I do make her give me a stroke a hole each time though. If I ever pulled out a fly rod on the course, it might be the last time I did anything.

Howie

[Hot Tuna]

"I do make her give me a stroke a hole...." :twisted:

[CtKenC]

I know I'm late jumping on the subject, but is it definitely your vest? I have had some pain, but it is from my posture. I tend to hunch over a bit to get a better view of the water...break the glare...or act stealth on the fish.

I went to a Chiropractor today .. .1st time in many many years.
He suggests my posture is the culprit... just as you suggest.
Looks like I could have saved some money and time by paying more attention to your suggestion, which, I had not ignored, in fact, I had thought you had probably nailed it.
Thanks,
ken

[ANDREW W MANCHESTER JR]

Hello
I have had 3 vests in the 30+ years I have been beating the water.
My first was a size small and was well used and outgrown by the time I reached 20.
That vest saw some interesting fishing situations and was passed on to my eldest son when he was 10 or so. He's 27 now and I hope he hands it down to my grandson when he reaches 10 or so.
My next vest had allot more Pockets and special compartments even a creel.
I used it well and it had so many patches by the time I started shopping for a new one it nearly fell apart.
The problem was that I couldn't find another like it and I shopped for about 5 years for a replacement.
I tryed on lots of vests none had that style that I had become so comfortable with.
I had however purchased a couple of vest at tag sales and such but none of them were worthy.
Just not the right pockets or comfort level .
My better half purchased a vest for me she didn't understand nor had I made my delema known.
So I was still in the old rag.
Last spring she says why don't you use that new vest I gave you ?
So I explained that none of the now 3 replacement vests were a good fit for me.
She insisted that it was a reluctance for anything new on my part.
So next She and I went to work ,I showed her all the things I liked about the Old vest and showed her the differance between them all.
What happened next was a marvel.
She got out the sewing machine and all her sewing stuff.
Measured my ever growing frame and went to town.
The seam ripper and sewing machine and a week later WOW.
She made me from the 3 replacement vests one taylor made fishing vest.
It has 22 pockets all just in the right places.
All my gear has it's own pocket .
My new custom made vest is functional Comfortable has room for extra clothing under it. All the best features form all the donner vests and then some.
Best of all it was made for me with love and my best interests at heart.
This vest will last me the rest of my days and is my new old freind.
Next time you are thinking about a new vest consider asking someone that knows how to sew if they can help you out.
I wish I had long before I did.
Tight Lines and Comfortable Loops
Andy M