RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate Review
If you are looking for a convenient and reliable way to store and access your tippet spools, you might want to check out the RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate. This handy device is designed to hold up to seven spools of tippet, and comes with a built-in cutter and a secure spring-loaded pull. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and drawbacks of this product, and compare it with some similar products on the market. We will also share some customer reviews and provide a link to purchase the product online.
Features
The RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate is made from anodized aerospace aluminum, which makes it durable and lightweight. It has a rotatable razorblade line cutter that can easily cut through any tippet material. It also has a secure spring-loaded pull that allows you to open and close the gate with one hand, and slide the spools on and off without hassle. The gate can hold up to seven spools of tippet, and comes with rubber washers that keep the spools in place and prevent them from spinning freely. The gate can be attached to any vest or pack with a carabiner or clip.
The product comes with four spools of RIO Powerflex tippet, which is a high-performance co-polymer material with excellent knot strength, abrasion resistance, and suppleness. The spools are 30 yards each, and have the following sizes: 2X (8.2 lb), 3X (6.4 lb), 4X (5 lb), and 5X (4 lb). These sizes are ideal for most trout fishing situations, as they can handle a variety of flies and fish sizes. The tippet has a clear color that blends well with the water, and a PTFE coating that reduces friction and improves durability.
Benefits
The RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate offers several benefits for fly anglers who want to organize and access their tippet spools easily. Some of the benefits are:
– It saves space and weight in your vest or pack, as you don’t need to carry multiple tippet holders or loose spools.
– It allows you to change your tippet size quickly and conveniently, as you can see the size labels on the spools clearly.
– It prevents your tippet from getting tangled or damaged, as the spools are securely held in place by the gate and the rubber washers.
– It enables you to cut your tippet precisely and cleanly, as the razorblade cutter is sharp and rotatable.
– It enhances your fishing experience, as you can focus more on casting and catching fish, rather than fumbling with your tippet.
Drawbacks
The RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate is not without some drawbacks, however. Some of the drawbacks are:
– It is relatively expensive compared to some other tippet holders on the market.
– It can only hold up to seven spools of tippet, which might not be enough for some anglers who use a lot of different sizes or types of tippet.
– It does not come with a carabiner or clip to attach it to your vest or pack, so you need to buy one separately or use your own.
– It might not fit some larger or smaller spools of tippet from other brands, as the gate has a fixed diameter.
Comparison
There are many other tippet holders available on the market, so how does the RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate compare to them? Here is a table that compares some of the features and prices of four popular products:
Product | Material | Cutter | Spool Capacity | Spools Included | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate | Anodized aluminum | Yes | 7 | 4 (2X-5X) | $39.99 |
SF Fly Fishing Tippet Spool Holder | Plastic | No | 5 | None | $9.99 |
Fishpond Headgate Tippet Holder | Anodized aluminum | Yes | 7 | None | $19.95 |
Orvis Tippet Tool Spool Holder | Aluminum alloy | No | 6 | None | $24.95 |
As you can see from the table, the RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate is the most expensive product among the four, but it also comes with four spools of high-quality tippet. The Fishpond Headgate Tippet Holder is similar in design and features, but does not include any spools. The SF Fly Fishing Tippet Spool Holder is the cheapest product, but it is also made of plastic and does not have a cutter. The Orvis Tippet Tool Spool Holder is somewhere in between, as it has a sturdy metal construction but no cutter.
Customer Reviews
To get a better idea of what customers think of the RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate, we have selected some representative reviews from Amazon. Here are some positive and negative reviews:
Positive Reviews:
– “This is a great product. It holds the tippet securely and the cutter works well. It is easy to open and close, and the spools are easy to change. The tippet that comes with it is also very good. I highly recommend this product.”
– “I love this tippet holder. It is well made and very convenient. The cutter is sharp and rotates smoothly. The gate is easy to operate with one hand. The spools are clearly labeled and fit snugly. The tippet is strong and supple. This is a must-have for any fly fisher.”
– “This is a fantastic tippet holder. It is durable and lightweight. The cutter is a nice feature that saves time and hassle. The gate is secure and simple to use. The spools are high-quality and have enough length for most situations. This is a great value for the money.”
Negative Reviews:
– “This is a decent product, but it has some flaws. It is too expensive for what it is. It does not come with a carabiner or clip to attach it to your vest or pack. It does not fit some of my other spools of tippet from different brands. It could be improved.”
– “I don’t like this tippet holder. It is too bulky and heavy for my liking. It does not hold enough spools of tippet for my needs. It is hard to open and close the gate with gloves on. The cutter is not very sharp and sometimes cuts unevenly. I regret buying this product.”
– “This is a poor product. It is poorly made and poorly designed. It broke after a few uses. The gate does not close properly and the spools fall off. The cutter does not cut at all and the blade falls out. The tippet is weak and brittle. This is a waste of money.”
Conclusion
The RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate is a convenient and reliable way to store and access your tippet spools, but it also has some drawbacks that might make you consider other options. If you are looking for a durable, lightweight, and easy-to-use tippet holder that comes with four spools of high-performance tippet, this product might be a good choice for you. However, if you are looking for a cheaper, simpler, or more versatile tippet holder that can fit more or different spools of tippet, you might want to look elsewhere.
If you are interested in buying the RIO Products Fly Fishing Tippet Head Gate, you can click on this link to purchase it online from Amazon.
: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XXRBFJH
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