EVA Handles or Cork Handles?

I am looking at some new rods that are exactly the same except they are offered with your choice of cork handle or eva handles. Got me thinking I own rods with both and it never really made a noticeable difference to me as to which one I was fishing with at the time so I dug up a little info that I posted below to see if it would help me decide. I think the biggest thing that jumped out at me in my research was if you plan on using your rod in a rod holder it can be rough on cork from jerking it out of the holders and the rod holder itself can create an indention in some cases.

Do you have a personal preference? Make your choice in the poll state your comments below.


Cork

Material overview
Cork is a natural material; more specifically, it is a layer of internal bark of a specific species of oak. While light and buoyant, it is hydrophobic and impermeable, meaning it will not absorb any liquids such as sweat or rain.
The last great feature (that is worth mentioning for grips) is that it is elastic, and therefore tends to form into specific shapes with pressure.

Cork as grips for poles
The use of grips for poles started with fishing rods - the lightness and hydrophobic nature meant they would float while staying dry when fishing. The idea worked well and seasoned fishers found that the grip started to take the shape of their hands over time, which made them more comfortable.


Foam (specifically EVA)

Material Overview
EVA (or Ethylene-vinyl acetate) is a polymer that can be made in a variety of ways based on the ratio of Ethylene-vinyl to Acetate. When it comes to what we want to look at, EVA is made in a foam form with a high ratio of VA, making it firm (compared to low VA, which is what makes cling-film).
EVA creates a material that is light and strong, with a high crack and abrasion resistance. As a foam, it is hydrophilic but dries extremely fast. It is soft yet holds its original form over time.


Cork or EVA, the reality
You might be a real believer that cork handles are great, that they feel comfortable and "don't sweat", but in reality, they are an out of date technology. Nature did a great job of showing us the ropes by making cork, and we made EVA foam based on what we learned. EVA is lighter than cork, less abrasive, retains its shape, tends to deteriorate slower, feels warmer to the hands and is much cheaper to make.

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Originally Posted by Lonnie84

I am looking at some new rods that are exactly the same except they are offered with your choice of cork handle or eva handles. Got me thinking I own rods with both and it never really made a noticeable difference to me as to which one I was fishing with at the time so I dug up a little info that I posted below to see if it would help me decide. I think the biggest thing that jumped out at me in my research was if you plan on using your rod in a rod holder it can be rough on cork from jerking it out of the holders and the rod holder itself can create an indention in some cases.

Do you have a personal preference? Make your choice in the poll state your comments below.


Cork

Material overview
Cork is a natural material; more specifically, it is a layer of internal bark of a specific species of oak. While light and buoyant, it is hydrophobic and impermeable, meaning it will not absorb any liquids such as sweat or rain.
The last great feature (that is worth mentioning for grips) is that it is elastic, and therefore tends to form into specific shapes with pressure.

Cork as grips for poles
The use of grips for poles started with fishing rods - the lightness and hydrophobic nature meant they would float while staying dry when fishing. The idea worked well and seasoned fishers found that the grip started to take the shape of their hands over time, which made them more comfortable.


Foam (specifically EVA)

Material Overview
EVA (or Ethylene-vinyl acetate) is a polymer that can be made in a variety of ways based on the ratio of Ethylene-vinyl to Acetate. When it comes to what we want to look at, EVA is made in a foam form with a high ratio of VA, making it firm (compared to low VA, which is what makes cling-film).
EVA creates a material that is light and strong, with a high crack and abrasion resistance. As a foam, it is hydrophilic but dries extremely fast. It is soft yet holds its original form over time.


Cork or EVA, the reality
You might be a real believer that cork handles are great, that they feel comfortable and "don't sweat", but in reality, they are an out of date technology. Nature did a great job of showing us the ropes by making cork, and we made EVA foam based on what we learned. EVA is lighter than cork, less abrasive, retains its shape, tends to deteriorate slower, feels warmer to the hands and is much cheaper to make.

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I highlighted the key phrase.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lonnie84

I am looking at some new rods that are exactly the same except they are offered with your choice of cork handle or eva handles. Got me thinking I own rods with both and it never really made a noticeable difference to me as to which one I was fishing with at the time so I dug up a little info that I posted below to see if it would help me decide. I think the biggest thing that jumped out at me in my research was if you plan on using your rod in a rod holder it can be rough on cork from jerking it out of the holders and the rod holder itself can create an indention in some cases.

Do you have a personal preference? Make your choice in the poll state your comments below.


Cork

Material overview
Cork is a natural material; more specifically, it is a layer of internal bark of a specific species of oak. While light and buoyant, it is hydrophobic and impermeable, meaning it will not absorb any liquids such as sweat or rain.
The last great feature (that is worth mentioning for grips) is that it is elastic, and therefore tends to form into specific shapes with pressure.

Cork as grips for poles
The use of grips for poles started with fishing rods - the lightness and hydrophobic nature meant they would float while staying dry when fishing. The idea worked well and seasoned fishers found that the grip started to take the shape of their hands over time, which made them more comfortable.


Foam (specifically EVA)

Material Overview
EVA (or Ethylene-vinyl acetate) is a polymer that can be made in a variety of ways based on the ratio of Ethylene-vinyl to Acetate. When it comes to what we want to look at, EVA is made in a foam form with a high ratio of VA, making it firm (compared to low VA, which is what makes cling-film).
EVA creates a material that is light and strong, with a high crack and abrasion resistance. As a foam, it is hydrophilic but dries extremely fast. It is soft yet holds its original form over time.


Cork or EVA, the reality
You might be a real believer that cork handles are great, that they feel comfortable and "don't sweat", but in reality, they are an out of date technology. Nature did a great job of showing us the ropes by making cork, and we made EVA foam based on what we learned. EVA is lighter than cork, less abrasive, retains its shape, tends to deteriorate slower, feels warmer to the hands and is much cheaper to make.

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I can pull you up a bunch of articles that will tell you cork is lighter than EVA. It depends on the cork used....cheap cork has a lot of filler making it heavier than premium cork.....and the EVA comes in cheap and good quality also. Depending on the rod and how you're fishing will determine what you want....and the types of grip and reel seat. If you are spider rigging...trolling...with rods in the rod holders...it will just be a personal preference. If you are a cast and retrieve guy and sensitivity means everything...and you are using a full grip....cork is the way to go....it is far more sensitive than EVA. But if you are using split grips and your fingers are in contact with a graphite reel seat EVA will many times be on the top part of the grip. Many of my rods have neither cork or EVA on the handle....reel seat. I have a lot of rods with Fuji SKS or TVS reel seats....the whole hand is in contact with the blank. Good cork is getting harder to come by.....and it carries a high price tag. EVA is cheaper than premium cork.

Regards


Regards

If it is in my hand I want cork. Personally I believe cork is more sensitive. If it spends it's life in a rod holder I don't care so EVA is tolerable.

Cork for sure. Just feels better.

As the first person to vote in this poll, I should like to state that my reasoning is based on my desire to see the USA support Portugal as much as is possible ;-)

Cork all the way for me.

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Good cork is getting harder to come by.....and it carries a high price tag.

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Yep. That's one reason premium fly rods cost what they cost.

I slightly prefer the cork. When using a foam handle I can't shake the thought that I'm using a Nerf fishing pole. :dono

Cork


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I prefer cork for fly rods, EVA for off shore rods, and carbon fiber for everything else.

Have build over 50 "PANFISH" rods in last 10 years using cork for grips so I could design the "handle". Prefer cork to Eva but have to agree that a Eva rod is much lighter than cork (and I am using Portugese (not cheap) cork. So my self built rods stay home while I use the Eva rods with slight alterations (First guide is only 19" from reel which eliminated the line dance!)

Cork!!

I have some of both and I prefer the cork.

Cork...in my experience, eva holds slime alot more. What sold me is pike fishing. After handling a couple I could barely keep ahold of the rod when casting(eva). Ymmv

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Originally Posted by mchech

If it is in my hand I want cork. Personally I believe cork is more sensitive. If it spends it's life in a rod holder I don't care so EVA is tolerable.

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X2!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Winn grip is nice, too. I have an ACC Crappie Stix and some St Croix Mojo Yak rods with it on the grips, feels great, looks cool.

I love nice cork, but these days, the rod itself - the weight and feel, the sensitivity - is more important to me.

I am not sure if I prefer cork or EVA... but my favorite rods have cork.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Hyplon for rod holders, although eva is nice too. Neither cork nor eva is all that sensitive, i.e. both absorb vibrations. Cork is more comfortable for holding over eva. But for truly sensitive rods, I like no grip (or a very minimal amount of rubberized (Hyplon, Winn etc) material.

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Originally Posted by bfish

Hyplon for rod holders, although eva is nice too. Neither cork nor eva is all that sensitive, i.e. both absorb vibrations. Cork is more comfortable for holding over eva. But for truly sensitive rods, I like no grip (or a very minimal amount of rubberized (Hyplon, Winn etc) material.

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That's why I like ESP rods .... the handles are graphite & the blank runs inside the handle & has metallic disks around it that come in contact with the inside of the handle. They call it V.A.T. -- Vibration Amplification Technology
https://www.norsemenoutdoors.com/wp-...08/esp-vat.png

For 60 plus years I've always favored cork. This ESP design is intriguing though!

I have to go with the eva foam...I have a few cork handle rods and I like them but the rods I seem to favor and use on a regular basis have the foam handles.Its kind of funny because I never really thought about that until this poll.

I learned something new recently. A rod that I thought had cork on it actually has a cork veneer. It’s a Lews rod that I paid a good dollar for and was disappointed at the discovery. That veneer is also about whisper thin. Second realization is that some rods with this veneer is covering a molded foam handle. Do I have to tell you what I felt right about then? I won’t rant but will say to look hard at the handle for the seam which is almost imperceptible.

Anyone tried hybrid rubberized cork? I have a couple but the rods are new and I haven't used them but a few times. They feel good but to me nothing beats the feel of cork.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

I prefer cork. EVA is harder to hold with wet/slimy hands.

Jim

I love my cork rods the most , not sure if it makes lots of difference but I love them

Cork , no questions.