I have struggled lately transporting my rod arsenal, either in cars stuffed full of paddling gear or vacationing with the wife, dog and all accoutrements. My car has vertical cradles and a set of Yakima rails, so it is always chosen as the primary carry vehicle for big floats. Cramming in gear, rods, tackle, paddles, seats, and accessories for two invariably leaves my rods at the bottom of the pile and at the mercy of Murphy's Law.
A snapped tip or missing guide on your go-to rod can really put a damper on the excitement of an early morning launch. VRX Fishing Products “The Rod Glove” is a plastic, mesh-weave sock that slides over your rod to protect the blank and guides. The primary purpose of The Rod Glove is to prevent the tip and guide damage that leads to lost inserts and out-of-commission rods. Aside from damage protection, The Rod Glove makes stowing away and retrieving your rods easier. If you have ever tried to snake one rod out of a pile, you will know that guides hang on each other, bang around, and tangle.
My Rod Gloves held up well over the last season, keeping my rods separated and protected through family trips and long distance floats. The only negative aspect I could find for them is that small guides sometimes slipped through the mesh weave and are susceptible, but this was a rarity. Coolers, tackle boxes, fish finder batteries, and other large items have landed on or roll across my “Gloved”rods with zero signs of guide or tip damage. Considering guide insert replacement costs between $10 and $15 each, and the replacement fee for a broken rod is at least $50 plus shipping, at $5.99 The Rod Glove is quite the bargain.
Bottom line, if you choose to invest in high quality rods, then protecting them with an inexpensive cover is a no brainer. For organization and tackle storage it benefits low budget rods as well. For more information or to purchase, check out the VRX Fishing website.
