Fishpond Thunderhead Sling Review: Truly Waterproof
Buy it if you wade deep, fish from a boat or a raft, or have already destroyed a phone or a camera on the water. Skip it if you fish shallow margins in warm weather, because a fully waterproof coated pack is hotter, heavier and slower to open than a mesh vest that costs a fifth as much.
A submersible pack with a self healing waterproof zipper, and the comfort cost of that.
Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Sling Pack
Under $500
A submersible sling pack built on coated fabric with a waterproof main zipper, aimed at anglers who put the pack in the water rather than near it.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Main closure | Fully waterproof, self healing TRU Zip zipper |
|---|---|
| Front pocket | Water resistant zipper closure |
| Fabric | 900D TPU coated NewStream fabric |
| Harness | Lightweight foam shoulder strap and back panel |
| Interior | Removable zippered pocket for organisation |
| Budget | Under $500 |
Specifications above come from Fishpond's published description of the Thunderhead sling. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- The main compartment is genuinely waterproof rather than water resistant, which is the whole point and the reason for the price.
- 900D TPU coated fabric shrugs off hook points, gravel and boat gunwales in a way ripstop nylon does not.
- A sling carries on one shoulder and swings round to the front, so you are not taking a pack off to change a fly mid run.
- The removable interior pocket means the pack organises to your rig rather than to Fishpond's idea of it.
Where it falls short
- Waterproof zippers are stiff. A TRU Zip takes deliberate force to open and close, and doing that with cold wet hands twenty times a day is genuinely slower than a coil zip or an open vest pocket.
- A coated fabric does not breathe. Against your back on a hot day this pack is warmer than a mesh vest, and no strap padding fixes that.
- A sling puts the whole load on one shoulder. Anglers who carry a lot, or who have shoulder trouble, are often better served by a vest that spreads it.
- In the under-$500 tier this is more than many people spend on a rod. It buys waterproofing and durability, not more capacity than a $40 sling.
What owners report
Published owner reviews of the Thunderhead are consistent that it does what it claims: people report contents staying dry through dunkings, rain and boat spray, and the fabric and zipper are the two features named most often. Reviewers who fish from rafts and drift boats are the most positive group in published reviews, which fits the design intent.
The consistent complaint is the zipper. Owners describe the TRU Zip as stiff, and several published reviews mention needing two hands or a lubricant stick to run it smoothly. That is the documented trade for waterproofing rather than a fault, and it is worth knowing before you buy rather than after.
How it fits with the rest of your kit
Before you decide how waterproof your pack needs to be, decide whether you want a pack at all. The sling pack against fishing vest comparison is the page that actually settles this, and for a lot of anglers the honest answer is a vest with a net D ring.
Whatever you carry, the thing most likely to end up in it is a net, and the Fishpond Nomad Mid Fork attaches to the same brand's packs. If you spend this much keeping gear dry, the two items worth protecting are your polarized lenses and your phone. And if you are wading deep enough to need a submersible pack, read the net against wading staff comparison, because at that depth the staff is the item that actually keeps you upright.
Who it suits
- Raft and drift boat anglers, where spray and swamping are routine.
- Deep waders who regularly fish at chest height.
- Anyone who carries a phone or a camera they would mind losing.
Who should skip it
- Warm weather bank anglers, who will find a coated pack hot and a mesh vest cooler and cheaper.
- Anglers with shoulder problems, since a sling loads one side.
- Anyone who changes flies constantly, because a stiff waterproof zip is a friction point every time.
Alternatives worth considering
Simms Freestone Vest, Pewter, XL
Under $250
Spreads the load across both shoulders and gives you open pockets you can reach without a zipper, for under $250. Buy this if speed of access matters more than keeping things dry.
Check price on AmazonMaxcatch Fly Fishing Sling Pack
Under $50
The same sling format for under $50. Not waterproof and not as tough, but it carries a fly box, tippet and forceps exactly as well, which is what most anglers actually need.
Check price on AmazonGonex Fly Fishing Vest, 18 pockets, adjustable
Under $50
Under $50 for an eighteen pocket vest. Buy this first if you have never used either format and want to find out which you prefer before spending real money.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Sling pack against fishing vest
- Rubber net against wading staff
- Fishpond Nomad Mid Fork net review
- Costa Rinconcito review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Fishpond Thunderhead actually waterproof?
The main compartment is, and Fishpond says so plainly: a fully waterproof self healing TRU Zip closure on a 900D TPU coated fabric. The front pocket uses a water resistant zipper rather than a waterproof one, so it is not the place for a phone. Treat the main compartment as dry storage and the front pocket as convenient storage.
Sling pack or fishing vest for fly fishing?
A sling wins for wading and for quick access, because it swings to the front without coming off. A vest wins for load spreading, ventilation and open pocket access, and it is cheaper. If you carry a lot or fish hot weather, take the vest. If you wade deep and move a lot, take the sling. There is a full comparison of the two formats on the site.
Why is the TRU Zip so stiff?
Because that is how a waterproof zipper works. The seal is an interference fit between two coated tracks rather than interlocking teeth, so it needs force to open and close and it will always feel different from a normal zip. Owners commonly report using a zipper lubricant stick. This is a design consequence, not a defect.
Is an under-$500 pack worth it over a $40 one?
Only if you are buying waterproofing and abrasion resistance, which is what the difference actually is. Capacity and organisation are comparable, and a $40 sling holds the same fly boxes. If your gear regularly gets wet, the Thunderhead pays for itself the first time it saves a phone. If it does not, the money is better spent on a line or on boots.
Can I attach a net to it?
Yes. Fishpond builds its packs and nets to work together, and its Nomad nets are designed to attach to the back of a pack. A magnetic release or a simple net holster works on most slings. Whatever you use, make sure the net releases cleanly, because a net snagged on your back while you are trying to land a fish in current is an annoyance at best and a hazard at worst.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, line and leader standards, and verified owner reviews across retailers. We do not test gear in person, and every diameter, grain weight and breaking strength quoted here is the manufacturer's published figure unless we say otherwise, so check the spool label before you trust a number. Nothing here is professional instruction. Wading moving water is the real hazard in this sport: wear a snug wading belt, know the water temperature, and turn back rather than push through a crossing you are unsure of.
