I use a bit of stainless and some ali'. Either original solar Sticks or some cheaper lighter stainless for the back rests and Fox camloc for the fronts. Use a pod once in a while but try to avoid using it if possible.. Its an ally one and tbh it's a joke.

In reply to Post #1
Feel more like a dinosaur now, thanks for that
I've not used Ali since the 80s and wont ever again given a choice. Coated, not for me, simply wont stay tidy over the length of time I take to change stuff.
I have betrayed the love of my 17 year old Solar stainless Sod with a Titanium Panther from Keith at Defiant, it still feels wrong at times, but 1 thing for sure, both will outlast me and any trends that hapoen inbetween.....or so he says

In reply to Post #21
I have the Chris brown Bars and banksticks, brilliant aren't they, Much prefer them to the stainless I had before them

I use Steve Neville FO stainless, brilliant kit but weighs a ton !!!

I'd use ali or carbon over stainless due to weight but titanium is superior to the lot imo. Strong, light and sexy.

if you want a light and mobile approach then the stainless is the first thing to go imo.

I put together a small light setup for my son. which cunningly works for me on my bike too.

i really liked the weight and look of his little Nash KNX 2 rod pod. But its tiny and 9 foot dwarf rods still have the butt ring
on the far side of the alarm. it worked fine for my local club lake with a fish a week. but last week at a runs water its stability was an issue.

one time it just fell over when one rod was removed. another time when there was a take. and it was tricky to put rods back on after playing a fish, i like to slacken the clutch and put it back on the support when dealing with a fish. Twice we we had the rods shoot forward. it didn't help that i was running between swims I admit. but it did make me appreciate how stable my wide sawn off MPS Trident is. You can stumble into it and the only thing that cares is your leg.




This is his swim. I reeled in eventually as he went to bed lol

In reply to Post #37
I've had a similar problem with a light pod.
Two bank sticks and two buzz bars would be more stable and less to carry.
If you think the ground might be too hard then take a spike of some sort to make a lead hole. Alternatively use stainless or titanium.

In reply to Post #38
Quality stainless will last a lifetime, aluminium won't. Maybe that's why a lot of manufacturers are cutting down on the amount of stainless that they produce as it lasts too long which isn't beneficial to their profit margin. They want anglers buying new gear frequently which is why there isn't much produced nowadays that is built to last

In reply to Post #39
That depends what grade stainless or Ali is used, there are many varieties of both

In reply to Post #39
Assuming it is looked after there is no reason that any of the decent hard anodised ali options wont last a lifetime. Even if the coating is scratched, ali doesn't rust like steel. Aluminium oxide will form which actually protects the ali.

But it is a simple fact that ali is nowhere near as strong as stainless.

In reply to Post #41
I've bent several titanium pent pegs pushing them int o hard ground. Never happened with stainless (I think it would be impossible) so I'm personally not convinced by titanium.

edit: sorry not directed at your post Yonny just a general comment

In reply to Post #42
There are different grades of titanium (just like different grades of stainless) some are soft, but like for like titanium is stronger and lighter than stainless.

For banksticks as has already been said stainless is heavy i personally use titanium and have done for many years now with no probs what so ever, it certainly has advantages over stainless and carbon and a lot of aluminium sticks although there are some very good ally sticks about to name one jag would be my preference

In reply to Post #38
Ive got screw in stainless on the Trident but I always use the pod. The ground is always rock hard
Or compacted hardcore under bark. Ive seen videos of it being screwed into tarmac. But
When ive tried that its ages of sweating and pain in the hands.

I havent used buzz bars for years . Has anyone eliminated the twist!?

In reply to Post #44
I got rid of buzz bar twist by firstly using a stabilizer then i machined two slots on the top of my sticks that perfectly fit a 13mm spanner with this nipped up against the buzz bar it will never twist.

Other companies have achieved similar by different methods, i know defiant mps now offer a hex insert on their sticks so the locking screw locks up against a flat surface