I don鈥檛 like hiking, unless I鈥檓 on my way to fish. On most outings, I鈥檓 likely to ditch my friends to search for trout while they head off on some loop trail or鈥擨鈥檒l never understand鈥攎ake a push for a summit. But lugging around a four-piece rod, a hefty reel, and boxes of flies in the hope that I might find a worthy pool is a pain. That鈥檚 why I鈥檝e fallen for the brilliant telescoping rods from
Packaged with a simple walnut line spool instead of a reel, a single-strand line with tippet ring, three hand-tied flies, and a carbon-fiber case with a velvet sleeve, it gives you exactly what you need to catch fish and nothing more.聽
My favorite, the 4.4-ounce , grows from a backpack-friendly 21.5 inches into a 13-foot wand that鈥檚 perfect for conjuring lunkers from mountain streams. It鈥檚 all the excuse I need to listen for a plunge pool around every bend.聽
$159;