Rods with EVA Handles? 2024

LAO162 reply :

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= reply :

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

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

SpringCantComeSoonEnough reply :

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 reply :

Quote
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. reply :

Quote
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= reply :

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 reply :

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= reply :

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. reply :

Quote
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. reply :

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,

Raul reply :

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 reply :

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 reply :

** 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= reply :

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

I keed I keed! 8-)

Tin reply :

Maybe he could get a sponsorship with Kotex. ;D

RoLo reply :

Quote
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 reply :

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 reply :

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

SpringCantComeSoonEnough reply :

Quote

Quote
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 reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote
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 reply :

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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 reply :

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Most higher end rods tend to have cork grips.

Wrong!!!!!!

=Matt 5.0= reply :

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

LAO162 reply :

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

RoLo reply :

Quote

Quote
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

Alpster reply :

Quote

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

Roger,

I disagree that foam is hard to work with, 3 of my personal rods that I built for myself have Hypalon grips. I love working with foam. I think it is easier to shape and manipulate than cork. When 4bizz gave me the specs for his giant swimbait rod, I was very pleased that he wanted foam grips. He gave me very specific dimensions for the split grips and the foam made it easy to make exactly what he wanted. I also like exotic burl cork. I don't do anything with conventional cork like you see on most rods. Light weight is it's only advantage. JMHO

Ronnie

RoLo reply :

Quote

Quote

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

Roger,

I disagree that foam is hard to work with, 3 of my personal rods that I built for myself have Hypalon grips. I love working with foam. I think it is easier to shape and manipulate than cork. When 4bizz gave me the specs for his giant swimbait rod, I was very pleased that he wanted foam grips. He gave me very specific dimensions for the split grips and the foam made it easy to make exactly what he wanted. I also like exotic burl cork. I don't do anything with conventional cork like you see on most rods. Light weight is it's only advantage. JMHO

Ronnie

I'm not a rod builder, I can only extend what I've been told by a rodmaker.

The custom rod-builder at Mac's Bait in New Jersey came close to refusing to build my rod because I insisted on hypalon grips.

If I'm not mistaken, Reel Mech feels the same way about working with foam grips.

Back on point,

If we agree that hypalon is superior to cork, then what is the real reason why cork grips have become more popular, I'd really like to know?

Roger

Alpster reply :

Quote
I'm not a rod builder, I'm only extending what I've been told by a rodmaker.
The custom rod-builder at Mac's Bait in New Jersey came close to refusing to build my rod because I insisted on hypalon grips.

If I'm not mistaken, Reel Mech feels the same way about working with foam grips.

Roger

I hope you don't think I was doubting your word Roger. I just don't understand why any rod builder with a decent lathe for shaping cork would have trouble with foam. I also like foam because I can use my "Fordom" wood shaper on foam, it destroys cork.

You get ready for another tuna rod, you just let me know. I won't complain about the foam grips.

Ronnie

RoLo reply :

Quote

Quote
I'm not a rod builder, I'm only extending what I've been told by a rodmaker.
The custom rod-builder at Mac's Bait in New Jersey came close to refusing to build my rod because I insisted on hypalon grips.

If I'm not mistaken, Reel Mech feels the same way about working with foam grips.

Roger

I hope you don't think I was doubting your word Roger. I just don't understand why any rod builder with a decent lathe for shaping cork would have trouble with foam. I also like foam because I can use my "Fordom" wood shaper on foam, it destroys cork.

You get ready for another tuna rod, you just let me know. I won't complain about the foam grips.

Ronnie

No, I never thought you were doubting my word, but I'm genuinely curious about the disappearance of foam grips (I love them)

As a retired tool-&-die maker, I can't say that I'm surprised that you have no trouble turning foam.

I have never turned Hypalon or EVA per se, but I have turned foam products in a lathe

that displayed very annoying springback (the apparent rub). In most cases, increasing the back-rake of the cutter

and stepping-up the RPMs gave the material enough rigidity to control the diameter.

In any case Ronnie, it's good to learn that there's still one source of hypalon grips

Roger

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Rods with EVA Handles? 2024

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