The Best Chest Packs of 2024 to Put Convenience Up Front

Graham Averill

February 2, 2024 at 4:39 AM·14 min read

There’s nothing inherently wrong with the backpack. The design has stood the test of time for just about any activity where your hands have better things to do than carry stuff. But that doesn’t mean the traditional backpack is perfect in every adventure scenario—whether its hiking, mountain biking, casting for trout, or carving your next backcountry ski trail.

“The problem with traditional backpacks and hip packs is that they aren’t ideal when you’re engaged in the activity, because you have to stop what you’re doing and dig through the pack,” says Ryan Bales, founder of West Slope Gear, a pack manufacturer based in Steamboat Springs, CO. “Moving your essentials front and center adds utility and convenience.”

Enter the chest pack, which as the name implies, shifts the load to the front of your body so you can get your hands on it more easily. Chest packs have been popular in the fly fishing world for decades for that very reason; they allow anglers to access their kits without taking off a pack, which can be downright impossible when you’re standing in the middle of a stream. Recently, the chest pack trend has expanded beyond angling to infiltrate other adventure sports, from skiing to trail running. Our favorite and top overall pick after testing the best chest packs available is the Marsupial Multi Pack. It may just be the one chest pack to satisfy almost any outdoor enthusiast, from birder and skier to fisherman and hunter.

Chest packs first entered my radar when West Slope released their Pro-180X a couple of years ago, targeting skiers. I wore it for a full season and enjoyed the quick access to my snacks and phone while skiing east coast ice. Since then, chest packs have crept into various other outdoor niche markets as more adventurers and pack makers have put a priority on fast access. So, we put several new chest packs to the test in the field to find the best option for a variety of different sports. Here are our favorites, tailored for your next adventure.

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Best Overall Chest Pack: Marsupial Multi Pack

Marsupial’s Multi Pack has the largest volume (7 liters) of any of the packs we tested. It also has the most traditional build, with firm structured-foam sidewalls and dedicated pockets that are more akin to a daypack than some of the chest packs on the market. It was originally designed for fishing, and it still has a lay-flat work station that makes it incredibly useful in that scenario, but this isn’t only a fishing pack. The main compartment is large enough to hold binoculars or a water bottle and plenty of food—and that interior of the pack is just the beginning. Four small stretch pockets add exterior storage that put your gear accessible on the fly. There’s even a magnetic tool sleeve built to hold forceps or a knife, while a rear zipper pocket keeps your phone or a map close to your chest.

Hunters in particular are fond of this pack because of all of its smart details, but I’d argue that it’s just as handy for mountain biking. Those front stretch pockets were designed for small fly boxes, but they also fit a bike multi-tool pretty damn well. Tubes pop into the side stretch pockets, too. The Multi Pack is built with MOLLE webbing on the bottom, which allows you to add accessories like zippered pouches and bear spray pouches available for purchase.

Volume: 7 liters
Material: 500D Cordura nylon
Straps: Yes

Best Chest Pack for Fly Fishing: Simms Tributary Hybrid

Thankfully, for us minimalist anglers, fly-fishing gear has been trending toward the slimmer and more stripped down side over the past few years. It's a boon for those of us who prefer to carry the least amount of tackle possible to our local trout stream or bass pond, and the new Tributary chest pack from Simms caters to this crowd with its light construction and roomy pockets. But even though it presents a low-profile silhouette, it still packs an impressive 5 liters in its rugged, recycled 600-denier polyester fabric shell.

The chest pack's fully padded and adjustable yolk-style shoulder harness is wide and comfortable. A handy zippered pocket is secreted behind the integrated net sleeve on the back with a D-ring for extra-secure net attachment. The spacious main compartment, accessed via a large zipper on top, includes a stretchy mesh internal pocket to help keep numerous bits of fly fishing tools organized and separated. And an additional accessory pocket on the pack's face is perfect for stashing small fly boxes or leader for quick access. Nice touches we liked when hiking through woods to our secret spot, and while on the water, included the small mesh water bottle pocket at the pack's base that includes straps for securing larger loads. The shoulder straps also host a hypalon tool dock for easy access to your fishing tools, while the large Velcro fly patch on the face ensures you're always ready for the next cast.

Volume: 5 liters
Material: 600D recycled polyester
Straps: Yes

Best Chest Pack for Photography: Mystery Ranch DSLR Chest Rig

Amateur photographers take note: once you start carrying your camera on your chest, you’ll never want a camera backpack again. Being able to access your kit quickly without removing a pack is the only way to shoot in the field. Mystery Ranch’s DSLR chest pack is specifically designed for this purpose, with a large top-loading compartment that’s padded and structured to protect a big-bodied camera with a long lens. There are even adjustable shelves inside that compartment that you can customize to the size camera/lens that you’re carrying on any given day.

A small zippered pouch on the top flap allows you to carry SD cards or an extra battery safely, while an additional zipper pocket on the front of the pack can hold your personal items. We wish the side stretch pockets were bigger, but they’re good for carrying a small tripod or a snack. The harness is svelte enough to be worn beneath a larger backpack if you’re on a multi-day mission, or need to carry more than just camera gear.

Volume: 3 liters
Material: 500D Cordura nylon
Straps: Yes

Best Chest Pack for Hunting: Sitka Mountain Optics Harness

Hunters are also opting for a more minimalistic vibe when stalking their prey these days, and Sitka's Mountain Optics chest pack is a slim and unobtrusive way to tote your binos, rangefinder, and various other small essentials into the field. Constructed of three pouches—a large one in the center and two smaller, detachable ones on the sides—made with a stiff material covered in a soft and rustle-free polyester, they keep their shape when digging for essentials or when pulling out and putting away your binoculars hundreds of times a day while glassing distant peaks and valleys. The lids are also form-holding and have small bungees with plastic tabs that are easy to hook back on their notch even with gloves on. The main compartment lid has a magnet embedded in it to allow for easy, silent, and secure closing. We found the various small elastic pockets great for stashing lens wipes, folding knives, lip balm, and other fiddly essentials.

We think the only downside to this pack is that the long and thin straps can be a bit fiddly to wrangle and clip into place when strapping it on. It's not a huge deal and can be easily managed with a bit of pre-planning and strap management before donning it, but a little help from a hunting partner can go a long way toward quickly getting it on and getting underway in the pre-dawn hours.

Volume: NA
Material: Brushed polyester
Straps: Yes

Best Chest Pack for Skiing: West Slope Pro-180 Slim

As the name implies, the Pro-180 Slim is a sleek pack with 1 liter of volume that keeps the bare essentials close to your chest. You’re only going to be able to carry your phone, keys, wallet, and maybe a snack in this pack, but the design is perfect for high-movement activities like skiing; you don’t want a heavy pack bouncing around when you’re charging through bumps or powder. West Slope added volume by creating a hydration bladder sleeve on the back of the pack, which allows you to take 40 ounces of water on the go.

We like the little details of this pack’s design, like the cell phone panel that folds down away from the pack, allowing you to access your phone without taking it out of the waterproof panel. There’s also a small zipper pocket on the shoulder that’s perfect for your key, and a burly D-ring where you could attach a walkie-talkie or small speaker.

Volume: 1 liter
Material: TPU-coated nylon
Straps: Yes

Best Chest Pack for Birding: Leupold Pro Guide Binocular Harness 2

For birders and hunters alike, the Leupold Pro Guide chest pack is a compact but expandable outdoor companion that is easy to don and simple to adjust for the perfect fit. The shell is made from durable 600 denier nylon and the interior is lined with fleece to prevent scratches on your prized binos, plus the soft fabric helps dampen any noise that deploying your extra eyes may make that could scare away wary birds or elusive game.

We especially love the no-buckle magnet closure on the top flap that lets you easily open it with one hand—and it also can fold up and attach magnetically so it stays open. The updated, wide mesh straps are comfortable during long days stalking your next lifer or trophy bull. Extras are easily stashed in the front-zippered elastic pocket, two elastic side pouches, and a rear cell phone pocket. Another nice touch is the quick-disconnect safety tethers that allow you to attach your binoculars to the straps themselves and not have to tote along superfluous strap. If you need more room for other essentials, you can easily add on pouches like the Pro Guide Rangefinder Pouch and Pro Guide Zippered Pouch—either to the sides, the bottom, or on the side straps of the chest pack.

Volume: 2 liters
Material: 600D nylon
Straps: Yes

Best Chest Pack for the Backcountry: 5.11 Skyweight Survival

Take one look at the Skyweight Survival chest pack and you can tell this 2-liter bag was designed with tactical applications in mind. It’s about easy access to the gear you need, when you need it, but anyone that enjoys the outdoors will find the Skyweight useful. I found this pack to be incredibly handy on long, backcountry hikes when I wanted to pack light and keep moving through difficult terrain. There aren’t a lot of frills to the design, but the main pouch is large enough to hold food, wallet, phone, and other small essentials, while the exterior of the pack is loaded with a MOLLE panel where you can attach items that you want immediate access to, like a knife or walkie-talkie.

Gear loops inside the main pouch help you organize further (they’re designed for magazine clips, but they fit granola bars too), and you can ditch the removable harness and wear the Skyweight as a hip pack if you prefer. The Skyweight is easy to put on and is one of the more comfortable chest packs I tested for this article. My only complaint is there isn’t a lot of room to carry water in the pack.

Volume: 2 liters
Material: 330D nylon ripstop
Straps: Yes

Best Versatile Chest Pack: Patagonia Stealth Work Station

Instead of a standalone pack, Patagonia’s Stealth Work Station is built to enhance gear you already have, attaching to the front of your fishing waders to give you 2 liters of storage right where you need it. You can attach it to other packs or your belt, as well. The Stealth is made from a thin recycled nylon ripstop with a poly coating on one side and TPU coating on the other. The result is a lightweight (just 7 ounces) but water-resistant shell that’s packed with just enough smart storage for the essentials.

Most of that storage comes in the form of a single internal pocket, which has a large space divided by a panel to keep your reel and fly boxes organized. But there are also two individual stretch pockets, each big enough to hold extra line or tippet. The outside of the pack is just as useful, thanks to the magnetic tab (which can handle a few flies or nippers) and dueling gear sleeves that can hold calipers or a knife. The Stealth doesn’t have a fold-flat panel, which might bother some anglers, but the versatility and svelte design of the this add-on makes it a no brainer for adventurers who want to fish fast and light.

Volume: 5 liters
Material: Recycled nylon ripstop
Straps: No

What to Consider When Buying a Chest Pack

Chest pack volumes are typically small for a reason: It’s uncomfortable to carry large loads on the front of your body. So, if you tend to overpack, the chest pack might not be for you. That said, many chest packs are built to work in tandem with traditional backpacks to give you extra carrying capacity while moving key gear to the front of your body. If you often find yourself in a situation where you regret having to stop, remove your backpack, and dig through it for that snack or compass or your phone, then a chest pack might be a smart choice for you. Chest packs can be ideal for carrying a few pieces of gear during high-movement activities like mountain biking or skiing. Think about the adventures you believe a chest pack will amplify and be honest with the load you typically carry during those adventures.

Features to Look for in a Chest Pack

The materials and overall design principles of chest packs are very similar to what you’re used to seeing in backpacks. Most are made from thick poly and given a coating to add water resistance. If gear access is your true priority, look for packs that add gear storage options on the exterior of the shell, like MOLLE panels, which makes accessing certain tools a breeze. For high adrenaline sports like mountain biking and trail running, the harness is key. You want to make sure the pack fits snug and the load is carried close to your body so there’s no bounce when you’re getting after it. Finally, think about hydration. Many chest packs are too small to carry water bottles, while others can accommodate 16 ounce bottles or small bladders.

Why You Should Trust Us

I’ve been reporting on pack trends and testing backpacks for 20 years, publishing articles on the subject in a variety of magazines, from Backpacker to Outside to Blue Ridge Outdoors. I’m an avid cyclist, trail runner, and skier who’s logged countless hours in each sport with some sort of pack on my back or hip.

Together, with Men’s Journal’s gear editor Adam Bible (an avid angler and hunter with another two decades worth of gear testing experience), we identified the most promising chest packs on the market for a variety of different sports—and we put the bestsellers to the test personally. We’ve spent the last two months hiking, skiing, fishing, biking, and hunting with these packs on our chests.

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