New gear: Vedavoo Inversion sling pack

Scott Hunter shows off the company’s new Inversion sling pack made with raft vinyl that might have otherwise ended up in a dump.

When I first met Scott Hunter at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show in New Orleans in 2011, I was impressed with his entrepreneurial spirit.

A young man from Wyoming, Hunter essentially hit on the idea that soft goods for the fly industry were getting too expensive, but without much innovation. He taught himself how to sew, and started the the company Vedavoo to address those needs. For years, he toiled away in his basement in Massachusetts making sling packs and other soft goods, like the rod holster that everyone raved about at last year’s IFTD here in Orlando.

This year, Hunter has rolled out the Inversion sling pack that not only lives up to his exacting standards for quality, but uses durable Watermaster raft vinyl that might otherwise have ended up in a Montana landfill—he takes the pieces that are leftover after Watermaster’s raft construction.

This sling is seriously bomb proof, and it’s the first time Vedavoo has used a zipper in its products—the company is known for using heavy-duty Velcro. The sling fits so it rides a bit higher on the back than the company’s previous models, and it slides to the front easier, and put all your on-the-water gear at your fingertips. It’s got a snug fit, but it’s not at all restrictive, which is important when you’re casting or fighting fish. I’m excited to give it a try.

Now, with seven people sewing for Hunter’s company, Vedavoo has developed a reputation for quality and innovation. I’m a fan.

— Chris Hunt

By Chris Hunt.