New light retractable travel rod

[MuskieBait]

Carbon material touted by the Chinese rod manufacturers are really just graphite. I have a tenkara rod from a Chinese rod manufacturer that also use the word "Carbon" to describe the rods. I'm just putting it out there so people are not confused with woven carbon fiber clothes that some rod manufacturers use now to reinforce their rods.

While there are good telescopic rods out there, especially ones of Japanese and European manufacturers, Chinese products are still lagging behind. I don't speak from personal experience, but through product reviews from friends of mine in Hong Kong who regularly uses telescopic rods for coastal fishing.

The rods they use range from 10-20 feet in length, with most typical length ranging from 13-15 feet long. They have landed some impressive catches with their rods including 15lb+ Snubnose Pompano (think Permit) and even Kawakawa (tuna) off the sea cliffs. However, the rods they commonly use are priced between $150-200 (if not more)...not the sub $50 rods off the internet.

I don't have experience with these long telescopic rods...but I'll take a 4-piece travel rod over an 8-segment telescopic rod any day. The more segments, the more weakness areas along the blank. 4 breaking points are enough...I don't need 8...