Cork vs foam/Eva vs Winn grips

[DN3]

Which do you prefer and why? 

[LCG]

For comfort and control 

Wynn grips 

Cork 

Foam 

In that order.

But if the rod fits what I am looking for power and action wise, I can be swayed as long as it's comfortable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mike L]

With all thing's being equal…

Full cork AAA and up

Winn

Foam

 

In that order 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

IMO grips are largely aesthetic. When actually fishing my hand makes very little contact with the grip do I’m not picky in that regard. 

[Msl819]

9 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

IMO grips are largely aesthetic. When actually fishing my hand makes very little contact with the grip do I’m not picky in that regard. 

My take as well, although I am not a huge fan of foam. No particular reason, just a preference.

[swhit140]

I've only owned/used cork rods, I also like the look and feel of cork. 

[HaydenS]

Split grip foam is my first choice.

If the rod has nicer cork, I’ll go with that second.

I hate winn grips, so it isn’t very likely I’ll get a rod with winn grips.  

20 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

IMO grips are largely aesthetic. When actually fishing my hand makes very little contact with the grip do I’m not picky in that regard. 

Like DVT said, my hands rarely make contact with the grips, so it isn’t the biggest deal.  I only touch touch the butt end grips when casting.  I palm my reels.   

[Catt]

Ya can't run fast enough to give me a EVA gripped rod!

 

When EVA  gets wet it stays wet & feels slimy to me.

[islandbass]

Honestly,I could care less as long as it feels comfortable. 

[The Maestro]

I like how eva stays looking new and I don't find them any less comfortable or sensitive than cork.

[bulldog1935]

Similar to the way cork quality varies, the quality of EVA varies - you can especially feel this difference in handle knobs.   

EVA is definitely the lightest. 

High-grade cork is lighter than low-grade cork, because of all the resin needed to fill the holes in low-grade cork.  Because of the holes, low-grade cork will eventually chip and crack. 

Some people put Winn grips at the top of their list - the opinion pendulum swings to both extremes. 

It's fair to say Winn grips are the least durable of the three, in spite of anecdotal praise. 

 

Took this photo because the butt-cap shows a 1914 date mark for FE Thomas, and this is high-grade cork after 100 years). 

 

Hopefully, you buy the rod because of the blank and how it fits in your niche. 

This finesse example, 8' and weighs a shocking-light 73 g

[scbassin]

I am with Mike L on this I like Full Handle cork & I will not buy a rod if does not have it. I prefer AAA but will go with AA if it's a rod I want. I put U-40 cork seal  on my handles it helps keeping the dirt, sweat, oils from my hand getting into the cork. It seals the cork & that helps with chipping on the lower grades.

[DougHall_NY]

Full cork grips on my spinning gear. Split grip cork on my baitcasters. Winn would be my second choice if cork was unavailable. Wouldn't buy straight foam as I don't like how it feels.

[Kevhead19]

Quality hardened EVA is my favorite. I like the looks. Split grip preferred. (Miller, Evergreen, etc.)

 

Second would be winn for same reasons though I have less of those.

 

Third is cork split then full. My reasons are mainly visual for my ranking. They all fish the same to me at the end of the day 

[Mobasser]

My first choice is full cork grip. I like the look and feel of good cork.

[walleyecrazy]

My personal preference is cork, and then EVA foam. I actually am not a fan of Winn grips at all. There is just something about the feel of them that I can’t stand. 

[FishTank]

I have EVA, cork and Winn Grip rods and out of the three, I like good old fashioned cork. I have had EVA rods start to fall apart when wet. They also get this slimy feel like stated above. Winn Grips work well in wet water but are weird to me when dry. Cork works under every condition. 

[A-Jay]

Full cork handles are nice.

They bring me back to my youth.

But they do seem to have a 'life span' which can be lengthy if cared for & not abused.

I also have a few sticks with foam, which are OK

but may have an even shorter life span than the cork.

My Favorite and it's by a wide margin actually, is the St. Croix’s Xtreme-Skin Handles.

I have them on a couple of older rods from the Rage Line and it is sweet !

Comfortable, non-slippery and seems super durable.

Unfortunately that line of rods was discontinued a while a go

and that handle is now only available in the Legend Xtreme line.

Do not own any of those mostly because of the price point. 

If I were to tunnel down into the 'complete rod building' rabbit hole,

I would most definitely be looking to use that type of handle on every one I spun up. 

Not sure it's even available though ?

So for now & the foreseeable future,

big bass seem content to eat baits delivered with the full cork.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

[Lead Head]

I'm really growing to like carbon fiber grips, after that winn, then cork. Split grips. 

[Jig Man]

I like cork covered with shrink tubing.

 

 

[WC53]

Full cork or full carbon

[T-Billy]

I'm good with cork or EVA. Not a fan of wynn grips.

[MN Fisher]

Split grips - always unless the rod type/power/action I want doesn't come in it.

Cork - preferable

EVA - if I can't get the rod I want with cork, EVA is a workable substitute

Winn Grips - tried a couple rods that had them...not for me, thank you.

[Aaron_H]

Shape of the grip is more important to me. I have EVA and cork grips that I love, and have a couple of both materials that are less than comfortable. The cushion of a quality EVA gives it more wiggle room than cork if the grip shape isn't just right IMO, but I enjoy both.

 

If I had to pick, a good high density EVA foam (like Shimano's) would be my first choice, followed closely by cork. Winn grips are comfortable but they aren't very durable or long lasting. I have EVA and cork grips that are over 20 years old with heavy saltwater use and are still just fine.

[Scott804]

For me shape is paramount. I was never a fan of full grip rods... until I felt my brother's fenwick HMG. The shape of the full cork grip on those rods is super comfortable to me. I have a lot of EVA rods and they don't bother me at all, so long as the shape of the grip is good.