Today I may have witnessed a bit of history, “Where were you on the 27th of May 2010”, people may ask?

Decades after changing the fishing rod world with the introduction of carbon fibre, Hardy, the well known British brand, has done it again. A 12-man media-jury gathered in Alnwick today to hear of Hardy’s new breakthrough technology called SINTRIX™. The fishing rod world will really never be the same again.

SINTRIX™ short for Silica Nano Matrix is a new formulation of resin that binds the carbon fibre and re-enforces the blank to such an extent that broken rods may be a thing of the past. On the Hardy rod test machine today we witnessed a SINTRIX™ fly rod basically being bent double without breaking. It was a staggering demonstration. Rods made with SINTRIX™ are effectively 60% stronger, up to 30% lighter and have hugely improved impact resistance over conventional carbon fibre.

Initially the new technology will be used in Hardy fly rods but eventually SINTRIX™ will also be used in Carp, Coarse and Sea ranges within the Greys and Chub brands.

Rods made with this technology (SINTRIX™ inside!) will take the market by storm when they launch in January 2011. The rest of the world's rod makers are, from today, playing catch up.

On a recent test trip to Florida five Hardy & Greys product developers caught around 1,000 fish on SINTRIX ™ rods .The fish ranged from 5lbs to 350lbs and the idea was to put the SINTRIX blanks in situations above and beyond normal use. Despite their best efforts to test the rods to destruction their testers did not break a single SINTRIX ™rod! Some of this action is available to view below:


Andy Mill, Hardy & Greys US based consultant and five time gold cup Tarpon tournament winner said about SINTRIX™ rods.

“These new SINTRIX™ rods are the most powerful, lightest, smoothest casting rods ever designed EVER!”. Andy recently landed an 80lb Tarpon in Just four minutes using a SINTRIX™ rod.


Below is a picture of a Sintrix rod (9' 6" #7) being tested to the Hardy rig's limits. We cast with it afterwards and zip it has!


Initial SINTRIX™ developments involve three Hardy fly rod ranges, one saltwater range and two freshwater ranges which will include double handed models. In addition to these increases in performance and durability the company retains its commitment to using the highest quality fittings. This combination has not, however, resulted in a price increase which puts this material and its advantages out of reach to most consumers and prices should be comparable with other premium fly rod ranges.

The new Hardy SINTRIX™ rods are set to be available in January 2011 but I tried three of them today. They were too good for me!

Congratulations to all the Hardy team on what marks another historic day for this historic company.


Colin.

One can but only imagine what price these will command ...............sounds like pretty good stuff however........One for the tackle tarts......birdsnest

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Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

Well If Hardy are reading this:Send me out a 10' or 10'6 #7/8 weight and a 10" #5 weight, nymphing, rod, both 3 or 4 piece. I'll beast them to pieces, and report back...I kid you not.
Hardy have my address, or they can send me a P.M. here.
Let's see.
It will be intresting to see just how they dampen.
So come on Hardy...bring it on.If I can't break them, no-one can.

Every 'advance' in rod building materials was 'supposed' to be the new 'end all-be all.' From bamboo to fiber glass, to 'S-Glass (which was a heck of a good product), to carbon fiber, then 10 variations on that theme, then Boron, then high matrix from low matrix, to ......... SINTRIX to something else.

Incrementally did any/all of the above bring anything to the Party? As a group they did, did all the over the years tweaks bring something to the Party. Some times, but usually (in real terms) not. This one? Time will tell, but unlikely my wallet will be one of the test beds. Unless Hardy wants to take both the 'Skunk' and I up on the same offer. "Helping Hands across the sea' and all that.

fae

They assured us that they expect most of their range of rods (60%+) - Greys as well as Hardy branded - to use this technology. They are after market share and I for one think they will get it!

Colin

Presumably they will be backing up their claims by offering a totally free lifetime breakage guarantee- including postage of course.

__________________
Behold the fisherman
He riseth up early and disturbeth the whole household.
MIGHTY ARE HIS PREPARATIONS!
He goeth forth full of hope and when the day is far spent he returneth
Smelling of strong drink, and the truth is not in him

If it is that good they might, won't do much for the rod market or their share of it between now and availability in 2011. Surprised it has been announced so early.

I don't need to ask, but I will... Where was I? Yup that's right thinking to myself, hang on seen this before and they don't come with a Hardy price...

I read the below advertisement text in Airflo's 2010 PDF catalogue I while back. I just think Airflo are playing on the word "Nano" and Hardy are emphasising the word "Sintrix". Those marketing boys have been busy... Similar or the same materials used in manufacture I don't know!!! But I can't justify to the wife the price of a Hardy rod, the historic history, the brand, the price... Personally I can guarantee a Hardy rod, can not/will not catch me more fish, bigger fish than any of the other rods I have owned over the years including Hardys or the three rods I currently own none of which cost me more than £75.

Catologue and site link
Airflo | PDF Catalogue Download

Airflo NANO
THE BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT SINCE CARBON ITSELF
Carbon fibres are just that, long thin lightweight strands of carbon that need to be
converted into a cloth in order to turn them into a fishing rod.
When making fly rods, each long strand of carbon fibre needs to be held together
with a reinforced resin system that provide strength and impact resistance.
This carbon cloth is then wrapped around a mandrel to form the blank and
subsequently baked at high temperature, melting the resin to create a full strength
fishing rod.
WHAT IS CARBON NANO TUBE TECHNOLOGY?
Applying Carbon Nano Tube, or CNT technology creates a stronger resin
distribution system, this helps eliminate any weakness in the blank to create rods
with significantly increased strength and improved impact resistance, without
adding any significant weight to the blank.
The resulting rods are light, smooth and ultra strong - a 50% increase in flexural
strength and a 25% increase to impact resistance - without any effect on the
superb casting performance you come to expect from all Airflo fly rods
AIRTEC NANO SERIES
When developing fly rods, technology usually presents itself in small
incremental improvements over the course of many years in development. Not
since the advent of carbon fibre have we seen such a fundamental improvement
in technology, Air tec Nano helps you take full advantage of this at an incredible
price. Airtec Nano combines state of the art blank technology with the highest
quality fittings to produce one of the hottest looking rods on the market.
Not just a pretty rod, you’ll find it has a power to weight ratio that will improve
your efficiency out on the water. It will also withstand those little knocks when
you don’t get it quite right.


Sorry... It's okay now the wife's just picked them up for me and put them back in my pram!

and if your not privileged there already available... (whoops... it's felt out again!)


Woz

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Well, as yet, no P.M from Hardy or their reps.
Noticed someone on the forum was selling an Orvis Helios with the option of doing a swap for a Sage XP plus cash.Sometimes we have to go back in order to progress.
Just done a bit of research on the Hardy De-luxe Classic.There's one on eBay and the seller reckons they're now going for £950.
With all new Technology there's always a pinch of Bullshit baffles Brains, so until I receive the two rods I've polity asked for, to test and report back, the jury's out.

But you might also have been thinking of buying a competitor's rod ? - now perhaps you may wait and see!

Anyway, that's how I see it.

Colin.