Rods with EVA Handles?

[LAO162]

Although I will probably end up with a Shimano Crucial MHF Spinning rod for worms & jigs, I'm tempted by the Cumara, in part due to its use of EVA type handles. I have an old Fenwick ultralite with EVA grips and I found them to be very comfortable.

Are there any quality rods in the ~$150 price range that offer EVA type handles? Thanks!

[=Matt 5.0=]

I'm not an expert on grips...but I love the Thermalon on my Carrot Stick.

http://www.e21fishing.com/catalog.php

[SpringCantComeSoonEnough]

Most higher end rods tend to have cork grips. I have fished nothing but cork for years now, and I'll never go back to foam. Of course, its all personal preference.

[Raul]

Most higher end rods tend to have cork grips. I have fished nothing but cork for years now, and I'll never go back to foam. Of course, its all personal preference.

Cork grip does not equal rod quality.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I'm not an expert on grips...but I love the Thermalon on my Carrot Stick.

http://www.e21fishing.com/catalog.php

I like the feeling on mine too.  Of course, I cant give an accurate fishing picutre since all I have done with it is look at it in the basement  LOL

[=Matt 5.0=]

I've had mine out for a few hours now. Thinking about brooming all my other rods and just buying Carrots from now on. It's that comfy.....(to me of course)

[LAO162]

Thanks for the comments

Matt & Speedbead, the LTX is on my list of "contenders." Unfortunately, I do not have a dealer in my area, so I've been watching for posts and reviews of the LTX. Hope you keep sharing experiences.  Cheers

Leon

[=Matt 5.0=]

Leon, I'm in R.I. We got our rods from Simmons Sporting Goods.

http://stores.ebay.com/SIMMONS-SPORTING-GOODS_W0QQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247

I was really interested in seeing a Cumara up close, but I have set a $150 cap on rods. (Well, actually, the wife did... :-[)

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Thanks for the comments

Matt & Speedbead, the LTX is on my list of "contenders." Unfortunately, I do not have a dealer in my area, so I've been watching for posts and reviews of the LTX. Hope you keep sharing experiences. Cheers

Leon

Well, depending on how quick you intend on buying the rod, I can give you a full report on how it performs toward the end of next month at Guntersville.

I have the 7'6" Flippin Stick

[.ghoti.]

Take a look at these.

http://www.rodsbyairrus.com/rods.html

Check out the Spectra, Co-Matrix and Ultra XL. All in your target price range. I have one Airrus rod, and would buy more, if I needed any more rods.

I personally like the EVA and Hypalon handles more than cork. I have two Team Daiwa rods that I bought in the mid-90's that have black foam grips. The look as good and feel as good now as they did when I bought them. Can't say that about any of the cork grips I have that are anywhere near that age.

Not all the high end rods have cork grips. Take a look at any of the JDM stuff.

CHeers,

GK

[Raul]

Another thing, EVA and Hypalon grips with time take the shape of your hand, the contour of your fingers and palm with use gets imprinted on the grip making them completely ergonomic and very comfortable to hold.

[burleytog]

The foam on the Cumara is not the foam I grew up with.  I actually like the Cumara foam.

OTOH, the Carrot Stick foam seems very soft to my hands.  That was my first impression.

[roadwarrior]

** OFF TOPIC **

I don't know how you could do this exactly, but if you could put a "." under your name instead of at the end, intstead of Burley (period), we'd have

"Burley on his period"

Then every four weeks it would make more sense to change your name back to Shirley.

;D ;D ;D

:

[=Matt 5.0=]

Eh, Shirley...Lynn... all the same....

:)

I keed I keed!  8-)

[Tin]

Maybe he could get a sponsorship with Kotex. ;D

[RoLo]

I have an old Fenwich ultralite with EVA grips and I found them to be very comfortable.

I'm with you. At one time nearly all my rods sported foam grips. EVA foam and Hypalon grips require a lot more work

than turning out cork grips so they have all but disappeared (like finding jute backing in a carpet).

EVA foam (ethylene vinyl acetate) or better yet "Hypalon", have many advantages over cork:

> It's much more comfortable than cork.

> It never gets slippery from fish-slime (real important when boating a barrel full of blues or mackerel)

> It does not get soiled and sooty-looking like an old cork butt (here comes muddy)

> To boot, foam grips are very attractive and come in many colors.

In all fairness to cork, it has one important advantage.

Normally but not always, cork will usually be a little lighter than EVA or Hypalon.

Good luck in your quest

Roger

[bpm2000]

I just started fishing with a rod with hypalon and one with what i believe is EVA this year and man I love it compared to my cork rods.  But admittedly my cork rods are not the highest quality (think basspro) so I dont know if higher grade cork would feel a lot better.  But the qualities that make me prefer the foam-type handles over the cork (warmth, cushioning, handling when wet, etc) I doubt would change with the grade of cork.

[LAO162]

Burley, quick question...  When you said the Carrot Stix foam was "very soft,"  did you mean too soft or nice & soft  .  Thanks!

[SpringCantComeSoonEnough]

Most higher end rods tend to have cork grips. I have fished nothing but cork for years now, and I'll never go back to foam. Of course, its all personal preference.

Cork grip does not equal rod quality.

Really? I never would have guessed.

It isn't hard to see that most "high end" rods use cork, and that his selection may be limited. :

[Jimzee]

Most higher end rods tend to have cork grips. I have fished nothing but cork for years now, and I'll never go back to foam. Of course, its all personal preference.

Cork grip does not equal rod quality.

Really? I never would have guessed.

It isn't hard to see that most "high end" rods use cork, and that his selection may be limited. :

You need to take a look at some Japanese websites my friend.  You will learn real quick just how high "high end" can be. 8-)

[burleytog]

Burley, quick question... When you said the Carrot Stix foam was "very soft," did you mean too soft or nice & soft . Thanks!

Entirely too soft for my liking.  It was almost like open-cell pipe insulation.

[lubina]

Most higher end rods tend to have cork grips.

Wrong!!!!!!

[=Matt 5.0=]

Strange...the grips on my Carrot Stick are pretty hard. Please no comments from the gutter...

[LAO162]

Thanks for all the input  I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who appreciates foam grips.  Cheers

[RoLo]

Most higher end rods tend to have cork grips.

Wrong!!!!!!

If the consumer doesn't complain, the producer will always take the easy road.

In my opinion, the popularity of cork grips is a case of monkey-see, monkey-do.

Hypalon wears like iron, it makes a beautiful appearance and has a great ergonomic feel.

By comparison, cork feels like a wax broom handle to me.

The real problem is that hypalon and EVA foam are dogs to work with.

I had a pair of standup tuna rods built in Shark River, New Jersey.

I had to twist the rodmaker's arm to get blue hypalon grips, although he agreed that Hypalon is the way to go.

Roger