Favorite Rod Handle Material

[Ron Fogelson]

What is your favorite rod handle material?  Why do you like it over the other two?



You don't have to post why if you don't want to do so after voting, but please vote 

[Bud Kennedy]

The Winn grips just feel very comfortable to me.  I have cork, eva and composite and while I like the composite for the weight, they just feel too slick for me.  I said the feel slick but in reality they aren't it is just a feel thing I guess.

[zippyduck]

I chose cork as it has more sensitivity than the other two. Eva feels spongy to me, and Winn grips just don't feel responsive.
But then my favorite are carbon fiber, you won't miss any ticks with these.

[Stren_g]

...I just like the way cork looks. That being said, all but two of my rods are eva.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Love the look and feel of cork, but also like EVA.
I've handled rods with Winn, but without fishing with them, getting my hands wet and slimy, and feeling for the sensitivity, I can't tell anything special about them.

Cork feels good to me, sticks to my hand pretty well, looks classy, and forms a patina over time that I think looks pretty cool.

I like the EVA that Abu uses on their Vigilante series full length grips. After using the two I have, the foam is kind of compacted a bit where I grip them, contoured to my hand a little and feels more solid/dense than when new. I'd assume all their EVA comes from the same source.

I also prefer full length grips, so that may make a difference. Split grips are just too short and taper too sharply for me to hold onto them.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[LgMouthGambler]

I chose cork, because you didnt have carbon fiber. 

[Oldfart9999]

Cork followed by Winn. There's just something about the feel of cork, I don't mean Mike.
Rodney

[Princeton_Man]

I'm not sure I have a favorite anymore other than to say my least favorite is EVA foam.

Most of my sense of feel is at the reel seat.

I've always felt like cork absorbs or dampens the ticks and taps, EVA foam as well.

[cport]

Cork followed by Winn. There's just something about the feel of cork, I don't mean Mike.
Rodney

Thanks for the clarification

[LgMouthGambler]

Thanks for the clarification

Maybe he should come to Kissimmee. 

[Nutt]

Split grip cork all the way. 

[the_huber_show]

I like the winn.  It just feel more comfortable and grips better for me.

[Wizard]

I like cork but I only use Portuguese cork. The pores are finer, it is easy to clean and you can repair it yourself.

Wizard

[Smallie_Stalker]

I chose Cork because I hear Mike and Laurie get royalties everytime the word is used or a "Cork" handle is sold.        

Seriously, I did choose cork because
1) I'm old school (and that's mostly because I'm old) 

2)I hate the way EVA feels.

3)I have never tried the Winn styles on a rod handle but my son had them on a tennis racket and I didn't care for it too much.

[D.W. Verts]

Cork.

[SteveTX]

1) I'm old school (and that's mostly because I'm old) 

2)I hate the way EVA feels.

3)I have never tried the Winn styles on a rod handle but my son had them on a tennis racket and I didn't care for it too much.

Exactly ^^^ Except the part "my son had them on a tennis racket". I have no son and no tennis racket. 

[Ron Fogelson]

I chose cork, because you didnt have carbon fiber. 

Only carbon grip I've used is on an Okuma rod,,,, first impression was it would be slippery but surprisingly its not, it almost gets tacky holding it,,, and would say its a preference in cold rainy conditions.  Not sure I like it any more then my cork or cork/eva combos I think the cork/eva is the best fit for me, but the carbon is right up there

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Has anyone ever tried, or does anyone make Micarta grips?
It's very dense and super sensitive. But it'd also be heavy.
It would feel very slick, like Ron mentions with carbon fiber, but it's actually grippier than you'd expect as well.

I have Micarta slabs on a Buck 124 from the 70's. It's been covered in blood from deer and man, and was still easy to hold onto. Morbid note, you can feel a man's heartbeat when you stick 'em with it.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[SteveTX]

It's been covered in blood from deer and man, and was still easy to hold onto. Morbid note, you can feel a man's heartbeat when you stick 'em with it.

So what your saying is its sensitive down to the slightest pump of a living being. Wonder if you could feel the fish heart beat. 

[SteelHorseCowboy]

So what your saying is its sensitive down to the slightest pump of a living being. Wonder if you could feel the fish heart beat. 

Lol, surely not with a rod and line! But may be more sensitive than other handle materials.
I may try to make one for one of the junker rods I keep around for parts and tinkering.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Ron Fogelson]

If you haven't voted yet, please do when you have the time this weekend 

[Princeton_Man]

If you haven't voted yet, please do when you have the time this weekend 

I voted. There wasn't a selection for "all of the above" so I just picked one. 

[Ron Fogelson]

I voted. There wasn't a selection for "all of the above" so I just picked one. 

Perfect LOL

[Ron Fogelson]

This question is being asked here, FB and other social media platforms and the info is going to a rod company,,, they've been building rods for decades but it's always nice to reach out to the public just to make sure the needs are what's still driving the ship rather then ingrained personal feelings