Loop Opti Vest

publication date: Mar 7, 2008

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author/source: Simon Young/Fish & Fly

Review by Simon Young

Appearance and first thoughts
If you like to travel light or wade fish this vest from Loop Tackle is ideal. Based around a lightweight nylon shell it is very comfortable to wear. Don’t be alarmed at the bright rust orange colour because it is also available in a light olive green.

Performance and opinion 
This Opti vest sports 11 pockets in total, capacious enough for any angler. One thing that impressed me were the 3 deep vertical pockets on the front, these were big enough to hold the large size (9”x4.5”) Morell fly boxes, something that most other vests will not.
The 2 large pockets on the back will take a folded lightweight jacket or Thermos flask. This back panel can also be removed to reveal a mesh back, ideal in hot weather. The shoulder yoke is made from a soft stretchable material to spread the weight when the vest is fully loaded. On the left hand side of the front there is a zippered flap with 2 built in retractors the same as the Loop Opti jacket, these keep your clippers etc. tucked out of the way from any loose flyline. Just below this is a small Velcro backed fly patch, the wide black bars running across the jacket are also Velcro so the patch can be relocated. On the right front is a small welded pocket, ideal for keys, licence etc.
The front of the vest can be fastened by either a zip or an unobtrusive buckle.
In use the 2 rear side pockets are easy to reach and could be used to hold extra tippet material or spare reel spools of about #8 size. There are also 2 large internal pockets and a couple of tippet pockets. A good solid D ring to take a net is at the back of the neck.

I like to wear my vest on the outside of my jacket, so the soft, shaped neoprene upturned collar is a neat idea to deflect any rain, and of course being made of lightweight nylon the whole vest will dry quickly when wet.
One addition I would like to see would be a small hole at the rear of the neck area so a hydration bladder could be used in one of the rear pockets.

Features

Lightweight, quick dry nylon fabric.
Stretchable, load-bearing fabric on shoulders for comfort.
Non-crushable neoprene collar that will not retain water.
3 large, vertical front pockets.
Foam fly patch.
Zipper and or buckle closure at the front.
D-ring on back.
2 tippet pockets.
1 welded outer zipper pocket.
2 retractors and 2 straps to arrange your tools on the front of the left pocket.
2 zippered pockets on the back.
1 large back pocket.
Detachable back piece with mesh lining inside.
2 large zipped pockets inside.
Colour: light green or rust.

Cost: £75

Available for purchase from Loop retailers right now!