Why is it so difficult to find rod socks longer than 5.5 feet? I feel like this can’t be good for my 7’+ rods to keep the tip bent like this.

[Ohioguy25]

Every brand I’ve found seems to top out (spinning) at 67”.  Casting rods go a bit longer, but I find this strange as there are plenty of spinning rods over 7’.  
 

I just got a brand new St Croix LTB 7’1” and it is extremely snug in this 67” sock, which won’t even make down to the reel and has to be tethered to the reel knob, and bends the tip of the rod.  I stopped tethering it because I didn’t want to stress the blank.   What do you use for your 7’+ spinning rods?

[FrnkNsteen]

I don't worry about it. I just put them on so the tip of one doesn't go between the line and rod of another and get tangled up. As long as it reaches the last guide closest to the reel, I am fine with them. Keeps them from getting tangled in the rod locker.

[LCG]

I use rod glove socks in the xl size which is 75". I use them on my 6'8" rod so that it covers all the way down to the reel handle and I secure it with the Velcro closure of a reel glove as well. 

[Big Swimbait]

They made me some for my 8' swimbait rods so I am sure they can help. Best quality I have found.

 

https://rodwarriorusa.com/

 

[Koz]

I picked up The Rod Glove XL Casting at Tackle Warehouse and they are plenty long for my 7's rods.

[A-Jay]

Stick Jackets ~

A-Jay

[NorthernBasser]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

I picked up The Rod Glove XL Casting at Tackle Warehouse and they are plenty long for my 7's rods.

Yup, these are what I use as well and will cover the entirety of the whole rod down to the reel seat.

[scbassin]

A J's answer is all you need to have.

[Glenn]

Rod Gloves come in many different sizes and colors, and the tips are - how can I explain it - durable and won't tangle, unravel, or get hung up in the rod locker.  The tips are what sold me when I compared them with other competitors.  Been using them for years without any complaints.

[FrnkNsteen]

My issue has been finding ones short enough for my shorter spinning rods and some of my 6' casting rigs. I have shortened some of them. I get mine locally at Academy, but they only carry one size of each (Spinning and Casting)

 

I mark where I want them to be and simply slide on some 3/8" heat shrink I picked up at Menards. I tried to slide the heat shrink over the original tip, but it wouldn't quite fit, so I cut it off where I needed it, put the same tri-fold back in that was originally there and positioned the heat shrink to hang over the tip about 1/4". Shrunk it down in place with a heat gun and good as gold.

 

Open end is still original and now it is short enough to work on 5.5' to 6.5' rods, I don't like them long enough to reach the reel as then they get caught on lures hooked on keeper if in front of reel.

[bulldog1935]

just about any of the ebay and etsy sellers of custom rod socks and tubes will make you what you want. 

[Dash Riprock]

I have the opposite problem, but that's because I'm a bank fisherman and all but one of my rods is 6' 6" or shorter. Most of the time the rod cover pulls down too far and gets tangled in the hook keeper. I don't know exactly what brand(s) I have but the sizing seems to be inconsistent. 

[RDB]

6 hours ago, Dash Riprock said:

I have the opposite problem, but that's because I'm a bank fisherman and all but one of my rods is 6' 6" or shorter. Most of the time the rod cover pulls down too far and gets tangled in the hook keeper. I don't know exactly what brand(s) I have but the sizing seems to be inconsistent. 

On many mesh rod socks, the bottom is just cut and folded on the inside (I.e. Rod Gloves).  You can shorten them by folding more of the mesh to the inside to your preferred length and hit the end with an iron to create a new crease.  Now you have a custom length.

[NavyToad]

Never used a rod glove but after looking them up online I realized that they’re nothing more than “expando sleeving”.  I worked with it quite a bit for aircraft wiring harnesses. $25 for 100’ of 1 inch sleeving.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1X2XKC/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?pd_rd_i=B07K1XJNJN&pd_rd_w=YvexD&content-id=amzn1.sym.e620829b-a408-427e-99ea-7ac734a316f7&pf_rd_p=e620829b-a408-427e-99ea-7ac734a316f7&pf_rd_r=YJX4A353KT149CPJMJ8M&pd_rd_wg=xXEwm&pd_rd_r=7323d33c-994f-4bd6-96c8-8a2a14895af1&s=electronics&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFMS1c5STdZSDk0VzcmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzNDc2ODZFRUpSWFVKWkNBUzcmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDcwMDQ2OTJVSVZDRFJIVko3UE0md2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWMmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&th=1

[flyfisher]

I just make my own using hat was posted above and some heat shrink tubing.  Made them for my fly rods as I like to leave them assembled for heading to the lake or river and to get a fly specific one was ridiculous.  I made probably 15 total for the price of probably 3-4 if i bought them.

[Boomstick]

The Elite brand rod sleeves are very good. The standard size is adequate for roughly 7, rods but they make an extra long one. I use cheaper sleeves for cheaper rods but all my higher end rods get an elite and since I only use them for transportation they last forever.

[Steve Goldy]

On 5/27/2022 at 7:57 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

Every brand I’ve found seems to top out (spinning) at 67”.  Casting rods go a bit longer, but I find this strange as there are plenty of spinning rods over 7’.  
 

I just got a brand new St Croix LTB 7’1” and it is extremely snug in this 67” sock, which won’t even make down to the reel and has to be tethered to the reel knob, and bends the tip of the rod.  I stopped tethering it because I didn’t want to stress the blank.   What do you use for your 7’+ spinning rods?

Perhaps it’s a matter of expectations?

 

I originally had the same concerns as yourself…. that the cover did not extend all the way down the rod length. Even the higher end brands, such as “rod gloves” (as opposed to those spandex type, stretch covers), didn't seem to accommodate even basic 7’ spinning/casting rods.

 

I soon realized that, although not covering the entire rod length, the longer, xl type covers did indeed cover the most fragile elements of the rod…those being the rod guides. If you need additional protection for your cork handles, entire reel seat, etc…you might want to consider supplemental storage additives (such as, hard shell rod cases that accommodate  your entire rod length).
 

I ended up going with a combination of the longest “Rod Gloves” possible (for my up to 7’3” rods, be they spinning/casting), coupled with the Plano hard shelled expandable rod cases. The inner rod sleeve will protect the rod within the hard shell casing, even if the casing is unlined. This is how I store/travel with my rods, and it seems to have worked fine so far.

[Ohioguy25]

On 6/14/2022 at 1:31 PM, Steve Goldy said:

Perhaps it’s a matter of expectations?

 

I originally had the same concerns as yourself…. that the cover did not extend all the way down the rod length. Even the higher end brands, such as “rod gloves” (as opposed to those spandex type, stretch covers), didn't seem to accommodate even basic 7’ spinning/casting rods.

 

I soon realized that, although not covering the entire rod length, the longer, xl type covers did indeed cover the most fragile elements of the rod…those being the rod guides. If you need additional protection for your cork handles, entire reel seat, etc…you might want to consider supplemental storage additives (such as, hard shell rod cases that accommodate  your entire rod length).
 

I ended up going with a combination of the longest “Rod Gloves” possible (for my up to 7’3” rods, be they spinning/casting), coupled with the Plano hard shelled expandable rod cases. The inner rod sleeve will protect the rod within the hard shell casing, even if the casing is unlined. This is how I store/travel with my rods, and it seems to have worked fine so far.

I don’t care about covering the bottom of the blank, which is the strongest part.  I am talking about being able to reach the reel with the strap to keep the sock on.

[Maggiesmaster]

Navy Toad & Fly Fisher’s answers are spot on! Just get that stuff from Amazon, shrink wrap for the tip, an empty beer bottle for a mold & make them yourself.  I’ve made enough for almost all my rods ( all the ones I use) for a little over a buck apiece.  Utube is your friend. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

TWs socks will work well

[Ohioguy25]

On 6/27/2022 at 7:55 PM, Maggiesmaster said:

Navy Toad & Fly Fisher’s answers are spot on! Just get that stuff from Amazon, shrink wrap for the tip, an empty beer bottle for a mold & make them yourself.  I’ve made enough for almost all my rods ( all the ones I use) for a little over a buck apiece.  Utube is your friend. 

That sounds like a lot of work. I find it strange that they don’t make any rod socks for rods over 7’ as this is the standard size.

17 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

TWs socks will work well

Whats TWs?

[dodgeguy]

Tackle Warehouse 

[Maggiesmaster]

On 6/29/2022 at 5:22 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

That sounds like a lot of work. I find it strange that they don’t make any rod socks for rods over 7’ as this is the standard size.

Whats TWs?

Not much work at all; takes less than 10 minutes/sock. One nice thing is if(when) one blows out of the boat, you only lose the cost of a tungsten weight, not a high-dollar crank bait!