Complete Your Kit
Probably cost 3¢ to make, and it shows.The top rod chair doesn’t told the tippet in place very well when taking it apart. The first time I used it I spent the first 20 minutes at my tailgate untangling the line because the leader fell out of the rod chairs. Needs a better solution for that. Thinking a small strip of velcro at the top of the bottom section before I take it apart? Simple solution, makes me regret paying $600 for this silly set-up, when if I velcro it and toss it in the back seat in two sections I get the same result for $5.
Hi Nicole, Thanks for the feedback, and sorry the tangle at the tailgate soured the first outing.
Rod Chairs are made from a biodegradable foam, a deliberate material choice so they do not add more plastic waste over time the way a molded synthetic part would. That approach costs more to produce, not less, but it is the tradeoff we think is worth making.
On the tangle itself: Rod Chairs cradle the rod sections during transport, but they are not built to hold the leader and tippet in place on their own, that comes down to how the line is handled before breakdown. Reel up until the fly sits at the tip top, fold the rod at the center ferrule, then take up the remaining slack with a single wrap around the reel foot. That keeps everything contained without creating a tangle.
Happy to send a couple of Rig Wrap sleeves your way if you would like something that holds the full rig, tippet and fly included, as one unit. Reach out anytime at info@riversmith.com.
I am fastidious about my equipment and try to keep it in pristine condition. The rod chairs will keep my rods from rubbing on the tubes of my Quiver.
Definitely reduce but not eliminate rod chatter making welcome noise reduction when sunroof open. Cork like material seems brittle and may break down with frequent use. We’ll see.
Rob, glad they're cutting the chatter with the sunroof open. That's exactly what they're designed to do. The Rod Chairs are EPE foam, a closed-cell material chosen specifically for durability and shape retention. We tested it extensively before production and it holds up well under repeated use. No brittleness, no breakdown. You're in good shape. Come back and let us know how they're holding up after a full season on the water.
The Riversmith Team
Easily installed with snug fit; adding peace of mind for long road trip. thanks Riversmith
Love this product. So easy to slip o and off coming in and out of the rod vault.