Paxis Twin Lakes Backpack Review: Easiest Access Ever!

While it’s possible to fish on foot without a pack of some sort, very few of us do it unless we’re within sight of the car. We end up wanting an extra layer, lunch, a cold drink, and so on. To say nothing of fly boxes, tippet spools, and the like. For most of us, a backpack is a necessity. But the hassle of a backpack is that to get anything out of it, you have to take it off and set it on the ground. The fishing industry has tried multiple solutions to this problem. From giant storage pods attached to shoulder straps on your chest to single strap “sling” packs that are designed to swing around in front of you without removing it from your body. But the chest pods are a hindrance when casting (especially spey casting) and using a sling pack for anything heavier than a fly box and some granola bars is an awkward pain. So perhaps it’s time to think outside the box a bit? The Twin Lakes backpack from Paxis attempts to do just that. The fine folks at Paxis sent us one to take out on the water and see if they succeeded.

What is it?​

The same problem I described above is what caused Orcas Island resident Cathy Vierthaler to tell her husband Paul to stop complaining and think of a better solution when he grumbled about not being able to easily access water, gloves, etc in his backpack when they were out hiking. Being a clever sort of fellow, he did just that. After some trial and error with a child's backpack, a bit of welding, and scrap metal, a prototype was born. From there it was just a matter of finding a production facility, dealing with trademarks, registering patents, and so on. But eventually Paxis (combining “pack” and “access”) was born. As word got out, the use cases continue to grow, with photographers, fly fishers, bird watchers, snowshoers, and parents who need quick access to snacks, drinks, and wipes for their kids liking the design. The packs sparked an interest from one of the co-founders of iconic outdoor brands Oakley and Ocean Pacific, who recently invested in the company and uses the packs on the guided fly-fishing tours that he hosts throughout the Northwest.

The defining feature of the Paxis Twin Lakes backpack is the “Shuttle Pod System” and uses what Paxis calls “ARC Swing Technology”. Essentially, this means that the backpack is designed with two separate storage sections. The top section acts like a normal backpack, but the bottom section is connected to an aluminum armature that allows that section to swing around to the front of the wearer's body. Typed out, it doesn’t make much sense, so here’s a GIF of my surly teen showing you how it works.

In use​

The short version is that the Paxis Shuttle Pod system works really well. It is easy to swing around and access and then snap back into place. You reach back and pull a release tab to free the pod and then once you are done, just swing it back closed again and pull it against your body to latch. It’s a little bit like shutting a car door, and like a door, you do need to use a little force to engage the locking mechanism. But the design and material are both solid and never feel chintzy or unstable. When you have it deployed around in front of you, the Shuttle Pod is steady and doesn’t droop even when fully loaded (there is a 5lb weight limit for the pod). That stability is what you get in trade for the extra weight of the aluminum armature. Speaking of the extra weight, I was surprised to realize that I really didn’t notice it while in use. Sure, if you pick up the empty pack and compare it to an empty hiking pack from REI, it is going to be clear which one is heavier. But in use? I didn’t think about it at all. I was too busy being impressed with how well the Shuttle Pod worked.


The pack itself is a fairly standard “outdoor” pack with all the typical features one would expect. Chest strap, wide padded waist belt, padded/vented back panel, interior organizer pockets, and even a laptop/tablet sleeve. But there are a few other features that impress as well. The pack’s base is waterproof and the base/pod design allows the pack to remain standing when placed on the ground. There is an external “flap” that offers multiple gear lashing options. And while it’s not a unique feature these days, I genuinely appreciate the fleece lined sunglasses pocket. I really only have two minor quibbles with the design. The first is that I wish the Twin Lakes was set up for a standard hydration bladder. It wouldn’t have taken much to make it happen. The laptop sleeve could have held the bladder, Paxis would have just needed to add a passthrough for the hose and perhaps a bit of elastic on the shoulder strap to hold it in place. You could use the dedicated rain cover pocket for a small bladder, I think. But since there is a nice mesh exterior pocket that fits a water bottle, I found myself just carrying a Nalgene bottle instead. Still, it's something I’d love to see addressed if there is an updated design down the road.

The second quibble is less of an issue and more just a fact of life for this sort of design. While the Shuttle Pod is extremely easy to access while wearing, the tradeoff is that the pod is kind of a hassle to get into when you aren’t wearing the backpack. I don’t see this as a problem. For one thing you’ve got a whole upper section to store the kinds of things you’d want to access when the pack is off your back. But more importantly, if you want a backpack that’s easy to access when you aren’t wearing it, there are thousands of other packs in the world. The Twin lakes is for people who want to be able to take something out of their pack while they are still wearing it.

Fishing​

The Twin Lakes is simply outstanding for walk/wade fishing. The Shuttle Pod fits multiple fly boxes as well as tippet spools, indicators, leaders and the other assorted bits and pieces that we all want to have at hand. Having something the size of a small stripping basket in front of you when changing flies is pretty awesome. If you drop that sz 20 emerger , it’s likely going to fall into the pod instead of being lost in the river rocks. The pod in its stock configuration has one main fleece lined compartment and two zippered pockets (one mesh) in the lid. Paxis also offers a “Pod Armour Gear Protection” kit for the pod that adds two velcro edged dividers that allow more flexibility in organizing the pod’s contents. If you are a photography nerd like me with too many camera cases, you might have some extra dividers around that would also work for this task.

The upper compartment’s exterior “flap” has an opening at the bottom that fits a net handle nicely. Though depending on the size of your net, it may block the Shuttle Pod a bit. That said, with a little effort, I was still able to open/close it with the net seen in the photo. The flap also has dedicated loops that can be used to lash down a rolled up windbreaker, etc, but that also allow a rod tube to be attached up the side of the pack. I will say that it’s not the greatest tube holder design, particularly if the upper pack is fairly empty. But given that a more traditional design would block the Shuttle Pod, it’s an acceptable trade off.

I do feel like there are a few small fishing-specific features missing. I’d love a forceps/nippers pocket on the backpack straps or waist belt. And a few of those rubberized retractor attachment points wouldn’t be a bad idea, having one in the pod itself would be pretty handy. But these are also things that can be DIY’d pretty easily, so I don’t find them to be deal-breakers. Speaking of DIY additions, a mini Cling Mag Grab from our friends at Spawn Fly Fishing would fit nicely.

Photography​

While this is a fishing review (duh), I would feel stupid if I didn’t mention the Twin Lakes use as a photography pack because it really works extremely well for that purpose, too. No, it won’t hold a full press photographer kit and won’t even come close to holding oversized specialized gear such as birding lenses. But if I am going out for a hike with the family and want to bring a “real” camera, this is the pack I’m reaching for. A small mirrorless body with a fast mid zoom and a couple of prime lenses will fit in the pod easily. A full frame DSLR and zoom is a tight fit, but still doable (depending on your camera/lens combo). You’ll want to keep the 5lb weight limit in mind for the pod when loading. For those who need to carry more gear, Paxis makes an insert for the upper area of the pack that can hold more/bigger lenses, etc.
I hate hiking with my camera around my neck. But I also hate having to take off my pack and set it down on the ground to access my gear quickly enough to not miss a special moment. Being able to swing the Shuttle Pod around and grab my camera is outstanding. In fact, when I was out testing the Twin Lakes on the creek with my son, my fly gear and camera gear waged a bit of a battle to see which would ride in the pod because I was trying to both fish and take a few photos of my son fishing as well. Teenagers don’t tend to hold poses or smiles very long, so having quick access to the camera is pretty crucial.

Final thoughts​

Pros

• Shuttle Pod offers functionality not available in other backpacks
• Very easy to use
• Design is sturdy and not floppy or unstable
• It is awesome to access gear and change flies without worrying about dropping/losing things
• Makes a great photography backpack as well

Cons

• Shuttle Pod design is heavier than similarly sized backpacks
• Can’t access pod easily when not wearing the pack
• Missing a few fishing-specific features (i.e. nippers/forcep pocket)
• Limited hydration bladder options

The Twin Lakes backpack is a cool, and unique, bit of gear. In terms of making a fishing-related task easier, I’d put it right up there with zip front waders and tapered leaders. The swing arm Shuttle Pod design is really just that clever. It is sturdy, stable, and easy to deploy/access while wearing the pack. You don’t lose lens caps or nippers when using it, because the shuttle pod is like working over a mini stripping apron. I wish it were a little more fishing specific, but I also love that it works so well as a photo pack and wouldn’t want to lose that. Are there a few compromises? Sure. You give up some weight and space efficiency, and I don’t think this will fit the bill as an “every day, all situations” outdoors backpack. But if you are looking for a pack that does what the Twin Lakes does, allow you to access gear without taking the pack off, there is no better option in my book. The Twin Lakes has found a permanent home in my backpack rotation. And given the large number of outdoor/photo/fishing packs I have in my closets... that's really saying something.


Special thanks to "Surly Teen" for some of the photos in this article.