$239 | patagonia.com
August 06, 2022
By Fly Fisherman
It might look like most other rod cases you’ve seen, but there are two major differences—it’s bigger and made with 100% recycled fabrics. The only parts of the new Black Hole Rod Case ($239, patagonia.com ) that aren’t recycled are the zippers and buckles, and you can bet that Patagonia is working on that. Even the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in the Black Hole Rod Case is recycled. Patagonia has been using recycled nylon and polyester fabrics for some time, but this is the first time recycled TPU has been used in the fly-fishing industry. TPU is a waterproof material, also used to make inflatable rafts and waterproof backpacks.
Most other rod case have inside dimensions of 32 inches, but this one takes rod sections up to 36 inches, so you can tote 11-foot Euro-nymphing rods and switch rods wherever you want to go. The case has movable dividers in the main compartment to help you organize whatever you need—reels, sunglasses, fly boxes, and other essentials. There’s a comfy shoulder strap, and the handle is large enough to slide over the handle of your roller bag so you can easily manage multiple items at once.
There are two large zippered compartments inside the top of the case, perfect for extra fly lines, leaders, and travel documents. On the outside, there are two high-volume zipper compartments suitable for books or multiple large fly boxes. Most rod cases have some external zippered storage, but these are substantially larger than most other brands, making the Patagonia Black Hole Rod Case the largest-capacity rod case on the market today.
$239 | patagonia.com
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