On Sat, 04 Feb 2006 22:53:29 GMT, Old Grey
wrote:

Since you own a fly shop I thought you might be a good person to ask.
I hope you don't mind the intrusion. I have a 9' four piece Winston
Ibis that came with the cordura rod tube. Together with the rod and
tube it weighs in around 19 oz. I am looking to do some long
backpacking trips this summer (Muir Trail) and am trying to find a
lighter rod tube but one that still has rigid sides. Do you know of
any rigid side tubes (aluminium or other material) 2 inch diameter by
30 inches long or so that weigh in less than 8 to 10 oz.?

Thanks for any feedback.

Allyn

How "rigid" fits your definition of rigid? Does it need to survive a
fall that you, um, won't or ??? If it simply needs to protect the rod
and guides from bumps/snags, you might look at a corrugated plastic
tube*, such as used for storing photos, plans, art prints, etc. I don't
know the weight of it for a section 2" x 30", but I'd bet such data
could be found fairly easily online, and like the paper-product tube, it
has matching light plastic end caps, so if it will fit your needs, you
could assemble your own with no more labor than cutting the tube as
needed and inserting the end caps.

If that won't be "strong" enough, look up the weights of thinwall
aluminum tubing, and find the alloy type that will work, weight-wise,
and locate it that way - IOW, it may be easier to find a 2" diameter
tube of "XXXX" alloy material than to find a "rod tube" that weighs in
at less than 9-10 oz.

*This is like the corrugated sign material, and it comes in various
weights, strengths, etc.

HTH,
R