What type of grip you prefer?


1)Cork

2) Shrink

3)Duplon

4) Winn grip

.....and what you think about carbon grip handle?

In reply to Post #1
Cork was invented by the devil Horrible stuff,so split or full duplon for me.

Portuguese cork for me.

Winn grip or cork for me.

In reply to Post #1
What's the reason you're asking the question, are you part of a tackle company canvassing anglers?

In reply to Post #5
Probably bored.

Well for me it depends on what type of fishing, so theirs an open ended answer for the poster 😀

Though assuming carp - duplon or shrink wrap is fine.

In reply to Post #5
No and am also not a rod builder. Also i'm living in Norway

In reply to Post #6
I'm curious...not bored at all

In reply to Post #1
cork for river/float and shrink for carp.

Is Winn grip the wrap that makes your rod look like a golf club?

In reply to Post #1
Jap shrink for me, bullet proof

In reply to Post #1
Full cork, but only flor grade with minimal filler. Not the quality like Fox or Korum uses.

In reply to Post #10
Yes was having a read lots of folk use winn grips for golf as it gives good all weather grip, is lightweight and is relatively cheap I can see it's popular with lure anglers due to these attributes as it's all about feel when your using lures.

I guess the only downside is life is shorter.

In reply to Post #13
The fact that your expensive blank looks like something left at the pitch and putt would put me off but each to their own!

In reply to Post #14

In reply to Post #14
I guess the folk whom use it are more interested in the function, considering some of the camo worn bankside these days 😎 sometimes I think I'm in the saving private Ryan or Desert Storm set.

In reply to Post #14
Looks nothing like that , if you use a rod with a winn grip on you will imediately feel the benefits, your hands never slip even when soaked , always warm to touch , im talking about the specific grip made for carp rods not the tape , built a set of balistas 12 years ago and the grips are still going strong , they are quality , trust me.

In reply to Post #17
Have you got a any pics? I've never heard of it

In reply to Post #18
Send me your email via pm and i will send you a pic.

In reply to Post #19
I see Amazon sell the Winn grips as an overwrap. I do a bit of lure fishing on a boat from time to time. Being non slip very appealing as often casting & playing fish with wet hands.

Pics from jeff




I don't like that at all tbh (I'm not keen on the blue and silver tipping with the burgandy whipping either )

Cork is the lightest? by much \ does it make a diiference? I don't know.

I have shrink wrap on the butts of around 6” wish I left them naked.

In reply to Post #23
Take it off

That's exactly what I was talking about with the golf club grip. Like I said, each to their own, but where is the art of rod building in sliding that thing on the end? Looks like something you would pick up at a car boot sale to me.

In reply to Post #25
? No ones talking about Art of rod building ! I turn all my own corks is that all right for you ? Its about functional grips , these are the best and most comfortable for me fishing wild scottish lochs in temps down to - 15 , jap shrink takes 30 seconds to put on a rod , duplon the same,most rod builders use pre formed cork handles these days again 30 seconds .The op asked what were the best handles ,for me this is mine.

In reply to Post #26
It looks functional, low maintenance and a decent thickness, but it looks cheap and nasty imo. That said I'd look at it as an option for a spod rod that gets covered in crap. I'm not keen on shrink or duplon either tbh

Cork all day for me

In reply to Post #27
If i were still carping and down south it would be cork for me too.Nothing looks as cheap as duplon.

In reply to Post #28
Pretty stuff isn't what you need in extreme conditions

In reply to Post #29
You are right , i have rods with alps reel seats you cant use them in winter here your hand sticks to them literally freeze, i use them with cork handles for eel fishing in summer , Rod handles, whipping colour, guides is like everything in life a personal choice . My best mates wife was miss uk some years ago i think shes a mutt.

In reply to Post #30
That's a shame because she speaks very highly of you

In reply to Post #24
Can't not with out making it look worse as it's been varnished around the blank end. My issue with shrink wrap is that it actually moves and although there is glue lines heat shrink that's thicker (like me) anyway the wrap at the butt end has been pushed up the blank and a butt stop end pushed and kinda glued in.

In reply to Post #31
She would shes my sister.

In reply to Post #33

I don't like metal seats either, had them on some rods before, hated them in the hot, hated them in the cold, and hated holding them for long periods as they'd get sweaty and slippery.
My rods are pretty marmite, I'd have a pretty limited market if I sold them

In reply to Post #34
And thats just the point , you should buy/build what you want not what other people tell you you want , most rods are now built on looks not performance.And dont get me started on 50ml guides !

In reply to Post #33
its good to know you have boundaries

In reply to Post #35
I have the old KM alps seats on my rods love them really never got my head round the Century reel seat just a no go from the off. They look great however the functionality from extreme weather rule them out for a start.

As for 50mm I wish I didn't get them sadly at the time they seemed sensible. They work ok with my Tournie 6ks not so well with my ISOs which has resulted in a compromised blank that's far to heavy and lacks response. Anyway lesson learnt.

There's the vardon.