Hi all. Just waiting for half a bottle of red to kick in
And was pondering that since I've been back on here
Rod support fashion has gone from arguably technically
Superior stainless. To anything black.

But what ever happened to that place that was doing the
Dove grey stuff? Was it Jag?

I looked but it was black or stainless. They did do
grey?

In reply to Post #1
They did but it was discontinued
But they are re releasing some items again

In reply to Post #1
They did do grey

I think most people decided not to carry 10kg of metalware when you could take 2kg for less money (with some exceptions)

In reply to Post #1
I'm not sure that stainless is better to be honest. I can't think of a reason why I'd go back to it. Actually I would say from my personal experience that stainless has been making a bit of a come back. But I don't think it offers anything over the other available offerings.

I've got a Matrix Slinky pod and it's not too heavy with the sticks only being 12mm - saying that I use my old fox xpod on the long walks to one lake.

If I could turn the clock back, I wouldn't buy stainless again, I go for light items wherever possible now.

Never liked the black stuff, looks cheap and scratches easily and then looks crap. Stainless all the way for me, i like shiny things. I also dont like all these all black rods and reels either, they look like budget rods and reels but thats just my opinion of course. They must be popular or they wouldnt make them.

In reply to Post #6
I use both stainless and aluminium stuff as the situation dictates but i must admit i still love my nev stainless, had it 20 odd years and it still looks the nuts

I've got the 316 super compact again I dont find it too heavy sticks and buzzbars go in my aqua buzz bar pouch and base goes in side pocket on my roving rucksack.Ive always been a stainless person in my eyes it's more robust and that little bit extra weight means you havent got to anchor it down if fishing snags

In reply to Post #6
Thought I was the only one that thought the black rods/reels look budget!

Black reels in particular remind me of the old plastic spare spools you'd get on budget reela years ago. Silver metal spool all the way for me.

jags prolite black doesnt scratch easy at all, fox and cygnet suff is a right mess after a few sessions pushing in the ground but the jag stuff is really durable

In reply to Post #10
Nothing wrong with stainless, just moved over to a complete Solar P1 setup, well built and a lot lighter than my Chub Precision Stainless set.

Never liked aluminum stuff, but it's all preference.

In reply to Post #1
Sadly its when todays anglers often attach more importance into how some think LOOKS ? rather that how well it works
its really sads IMO you see it in every bit of tackle ? someone says thinking of getting say blah blah alarms
and instead of a reply detailing how well or not it works

someone will post I think they look ugly ???????? I just think what a plank

In reply to Post #1
Nothing wrong with stainless, but I agree on the bank there is a fixation on what looks good rather than what works well.

Makes me laugh at how all the major reel manufacturer's have all gone black and at the same time cheapened the look if not the operability of stuff too.

I had a Defiant MPS Trident pod for easy 20 years and without doubt a fantastic piece of kit, easily the best made stainless anything I've ever owned.

I think the fact that when everyone is using slinky black products there is a perception that stainless has had its day, but I couldn't give a sh%t, I will still use it provided it continues to serve my needs.

In reply to Post #12
Yeah but those NTXRs are ugly.

The only reason I got rid of my Solar stainless stuff was the weight, it weighed a ton, the Jag grey stuff I have is just as robust but a fraction of the weight, maybe that's why stainless went out of fashion