Phenix Feather vs. M1

[drmevo]

I broke my Phenix Feather L 7'1" spinning rod in the late fall (my fault) and just got around to chopping it up and sending it in for the replacement program. Unfortunately, they don't have that rod right now and they don't know when they will again (could be months, I'm told). I really, really liked it. I can pay to upgrade to the M1 but I'm not familiar with it. Has anyone used both? I won't miss the extra $20 but I know sometimes just because a product is more expensive it's not necessarily better. I used the Feather for quite a lot - trout, crappie, finesse bass (I'm not one to keep or carry a lot of rods for FW). They're listed as the same weight (and the M1 is actually 7'2" not 7'1"). Anyone tried both?

[new2BC4bass]

Nope, but I'd like to.    Both seem to be well liked by those using them.  Hopefully you will get answers from those with hands on experience with both.  I await those replies with bated breath. 

[MickD]

Not familiar with the feather, but I've built a spin rod on the M1 7' 2" mxf and it's a very nice rod.  No complaints.  I use it for finesse, and it works fine.

[MickD]

18 hours ago, drmevo said:

just because a product is more expensive it's not necessarily better.

I have a process that easily measures the true natural frequency of blanks and rods.  While there is no objective test for sensitivity, most knowledgable rod people think that sensitivity is proportional to natural frequency of the blank.  Certainly, recovery speed is proportional to natural frequency.  The Phenix M1 in fact has quite  a high natural frequency, higher than similar blanks that cost less and are called things like RX6 or RX7.  From what I have found the more you pay for a blank the higher its natural frequency will generally  be compared to cheaper blanks of the same power and action.  You are getting value for your money if recovery speed is important to you. 

[drmevo]

3 hours ago, MickD said:

I have a process that easily measures the true natural frequency of blanks and rods.  While there is no objective test for sensitivity, most knowledgable rod people think that sensitivity is proportional to natural frequency of the blank.  Certainly, recovery speed is proportional to natural frequency.  The Phenix M1 in fact has quite  a high natural frequency, higher than similar blanks that cost less and are called things like RX6 or RX7.  From what I have found the more you pay for a blank the higher its natural frequency will generally  be compared to cheaper blanks of the same power and action.  You are getting value for your money if recovery speed is important to you. 

Thanks! I think I will go for the M1, it seems to be well-regarded like the Feather. 

[WRB]

Your Phenix Feather weighs 2.9 oz, custom reel handle with good rod blank and guide train. The M-1 weighs 3.9 oz, same guide train with traditional reel seat, similar rod blank.

If you like the feather reel seat and weight the M-1 may feel very different.

Tom

[torm]

Feather rod is a great rod for the price. However everyone I known with one has broke it. I have the M1 med lt and its fun ned rig rod. Feels great too although the but handle gets very slippery with wet hands. Sensitivity is so so in my opinion.

[RDB]

I haven’t used the M1 but I have 2 older Featherlite’s.  I haven’t used Phenix is a while, so I don’t know if Feather v. Featherlite is new branding or if they made changes.  IMO Phenix heavily over rates their Featherlite powers and actions.  Since you like the Feather you had, that’s what I would I would be most concerned about replicating.

[MickD]

Phenix calls the M1 I have Medium power X-fast action, and the CCS Action Angle is 78 degrees, which is about where most Xfast actions are.  It's called medium power and at ERN 17.2 it is close to the ST Croix SCV70MF.

 

If I remember right it weighs 3.6 oz with a size 17 Fuji pipe style reel seat.

 

 

[MickD]

4 hours ago, WRB said:

Your Phenix Feather weighs 2.9 oz, custom reel handle with good rod blank and guide train. The M-1 weighs 3.9 oz, same guide train with traditional reel seat, similar rod blank.

If you like the feather reel seat and weight the M-1 may feel very different.

Tom

When a blank weighs about 1.7 oz and the rod weighs 2.9, that leaves 1.2 for seat, guides, grips, and wraps.  It might not be ideal for ergonomics.  But it's your choice.  I go for better ergonomics and a total weight of about 3.6.

[WRB]

The OP owned and liked his Feather spinning rod. The M-1 is more of a tradition ergonomic build spinning rod. The Feather doesn’t have anything I would like, especially the reel seat design but the rod isn’t for me or you, it’s the OP’s choice.

My Victory 7’1” MF spinning rod weighs 3.5 oz, with excellent ergonomics. Victory doesn’t a 7’ ML spinning rod and the 6’10” MLXF, which I bought and returned, has a unusually soft tip, imo. 

I appreciate and respect your input, you know more about rods then I do. At the end of the day it’s what feels right to the individual angler and we can’t make that decision.

Tom

 

[drmevo]

Thanks for the additional insight, guys. Truth be told, I'm an idiot when it comes to freshwater gear and know next to nothing about all the various ratings and specs beyond the basics. I mainly fish the salt for striped bass, but I have a nice little pond (really dammed section of a river) around the corner from my house where I head with my one baitcaster and one spinning rig and have a blast either from shore or my kayak. I'm certainly no hardcore tournament guy - I keep it very simple and little nuances in weight or feel are unlikely to bother me too much one way or another. All that said, I did very much enjoy the Feather over the $60-$100 rods I typically bought in the past. If the M1 is in the same ballpark I think I will be happy - hopefully? I'm not sure I can wait months, is the thing, as the season will be starting up here shortly. 

[MickD]

• I just read the text on Phenix ads for the Feather and the M1, and I really think they are using wine label writers for their ads.  The Feather talks about Nanolite in the resin of the blank, the M1 Nanotubes.  Nanolite is a ceramic used for the rings on guides.  I doubt if it's used in blanks.  I'm not saying the rods are bad, just saying I don't think you can learn anything from the ads.  My M1, which I have used for one year, appears to be a very nice rod comparable in performance to other premium rods I have that I've made from premium blanks.  The objective CCS power and action numbers are consistent with other popular rods that were described using the same subjective power and action descriptors.   
•  
• I always  say you cannot have too many rods, so just go with what you think and if it doesn't work perfectly for your techniques, try again .  It will work for something.  It's not world peace; it's just a fishing rod.