Nearly everyone is using one-coat epoxy coatings over the guide wraps now, but if these are not very carefully done, they are often sloppy or too much epoxy is applied, adding unnecessary weight. #4 (Tie) Thomas and Thomas AVANTT 86#4 $845.00. Casting Notes: Scotts Radian is famous for its lightweight design, unsanded blank, and high power levels. Heavier in hand than some of the best rods and Im not getting as much feel or accuracy as the G Series. The color of the blank is a very light silver blue, with the guides wrapped in a darker grayish blue, with some silver trim on the butt section. Im impressed with the guide set up, starting with a hook keeper, then one SiC stripping guide, followed with the best nickel/titanium and flexible single-foot guides as on the Zephrus and Sky. Casting Notes: The IMX Pro is a well-known rod series. The 4-weight Asquith was one of the stiffer rods in our Shootout and this hurt its scores at the shortest distance of 25 feet. Now the stiffness is becoming an advantage, and Im getting some nice tight loops. And once youve picked out the perfect rod, stay and enjoy a few days on the water with one of our top guides. Power: 8/10 - Loomis built a ton of power into this rod so you can feel confident throwing streamers, nymph rigs, and dry flies at long distances. Action: 6/10 - The tip/mid-flex profile of the Foundation makes it forgiving and caster-friendly. In our important swing weight category, this rod was one of the worst. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. Performance at 60 feet: 8.8 points out of 10. This same Expeditor service applies to the Asquith but the fee is $275 for 2ndday air. Line Recommendation: RIO Gold Elite Fly Line. Performance at 60 feet: 9.3 points out of 10. The action is medium fast not as fast as the Pure but still feels very nice in my hand and produced some respectable performance scores. The single uplocking reel seat is plain anodized gray aluminum with no insert. The Shadow and Pure were far better. Scott claims that this gives their rods better strength and we cannot argue with this as we see very few Scott rods broken. The Helios 3F is a relatively new rod from Orvis and it impressed us with its ability to perform well at all distances. Action: 5.5/10 - Slightly faster than purely moderate action fly rods, the 7X has a taper thats caster-friendly and a versatile medium-fast action. It is also a lot heavier in overall weight and swing weight, mainly due to the fact that Loop is using a much lower modulus graphite than in their more expensive K2. More manufacturers should use light guides like this to minimize swing weight if they arent using the more expensive nickel-titanium guides. Now were talking! With a blazing light swing weight and a forgiving action, this 5wt is one of the best all-around rods on the market. The blank itself is a deep burgundy color, with dark gray wraps. The locking ring is easy to grip, but Id prefer a double ring seat as this one looks like it will loosen up more easily than most. Hardy uses a comfortable half wells, western style handle and the quality of the cork is superb. The epoxy coatings over the wraps were surprisingly good for a one-coat finish. Well indicate which line proved best with each rod later in the individual rod write-ups. We are just trying to call it like we see it, in an unbiased manner. Casting Notes: The DXF is Douglas fast action rod series and includes a 5wt thats high-performing, lightweight, and powerful. Reel seats should lock up easily and hold firmly, without having any tendency to come loose. Rodis repaired, or sections replaced. Im confident that we can come up with the perfect rod or outfit that best fits your needs. The Orvis Clearwater rods are designed in Vermont and built in the orient. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. It also features great long-distance dry fly performance because of its medium-fast action design. The X provides the angler with finesse in close and power when you need it, a nice combination of feedback and backbone. Not so good in close. I also like the alignment dots. This rod has a stiff butt and mid-section for increased line speed and best-in-class power. Hardy uses their Sintrix 220 in this rod, a lower modulus graphite than the Sintrix 440 used in the Zephrus, but it provides easy loading yet a sharp recovery. Rating: 100%. The other reason is that this 9 #4 SKY is just too stiff for a 4-weight. I could really notice the heavy swing weight in my hand. Each chart gives you a good look at how the tip section, (approximately the top half of the rod) bends and compares to other rods. This is one of the worst scores at long distance in our Shootout. The guides start with a single SiC stripping guide followed with fairly large diameter but thin wire hard chrome snake guides. 5wt fly rods are (by far) the most popular rod model in contemporary fly fishing. To get a 10, repair charges had to be $35 or less with a quick turn around time of less than two weeks. Most of the rest score 9s, which was a $60-$75 fee for repair or replacement. Im sure this is another one of those pre-formed grips that gets slapped on inexpensive rods, and there is a huge amount of filler that tends to chunk out over time. Perhaps the best example here is our winner, the Hardy Zephrus. Casting Notes: Distance and power are the name of the game with the Helios 3D. A powerful, fast-action rod works well for turning over larger rigs or casting longer distances in windy conditions. It is refreshing to see such a nice rod, at such a low price that is made here in the US, in Park Falls, Wisconsin. Guides start with a hook keeper on the butt, and then two SiC stripping guides, followed with hard chrome snake guides that are large in diameter but thankfully use smaller diameter wire. Thomas & Thomas Avantt - $845 Thomas & Thomas Zone - $499 Winston Alpha - $935 To find out which 5-weights took home the top rung in each category, check out the Shootout results on the Yellowstone Angler's page, here! The DXF and Imperial were much better. Id gladly pay another few dollars to have one. We have awarded scores emphasizing the lowest repair charges and the quickest repair turn around. Only one way to find out cast and compare them all. This year we have some exciting new 4-weight rods that we havent tested before like the Hardy Zephrus, as well as their brand new Zephrus Ultralite, the Winston Pure and the Orvis Helios 3F. The epoxy coatings over the wraps are very good but a little heavy in spots, as around the feet of the guides. Those rods are both a lot lighter in swing weight and faster in action. We have experimented with the ways to measure this in past Shootouts but we still prefer our tried and true approach using the postal scale since it provides believable and meaningful results. You will be surprised to see how well mid-priced rods like the Hardy Shadow, the Orvis Recon, and the Douglas DXF performed, all of which made it into our top ten overall in the final results. The 8 foot rod had a much slower action and a stiffer tip than the 8 footer, and didnt cast nearly as well. We value your comments about the Shootout and invite any questions you might have about it or your tackle needs. The amount of power seems to be about right, and it performed best at the longer distances where I could punch it hard without throwing tailing loops. A 5wt can be used in a variety of freshwater angling scenarios but is most commonly used to target Trout. Orvis definitely . A hook keeper is used along with a single chrome SiC stripping guide. 1; 2; First Prev 2 of 2 Go to page. Sage MOD. There's no doubt the Recon is a handsome rod-the olive blank built with Orvis' new ferrule design is nice to look at, as is the black nickel uplocking reel seat complete with a dark burl wood insert. This is a rod thats pure Sage at a price-point that is tough to beat. Thomas and Thomas $55 repair charges for the original owner, includes shipping. This made it easy to judge one rod against another. I do like the fast action, just not the heavy swing weight, which is far heavier than the Douglas DXF. If you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then use ourFavorite Saltwater Outfitslink. Not much feel with all that swing weight, and the accuracy was pretty crappy too. And a look at the deflection chart confirms this. For most of my fishing with a 4-weight rod in critical conditions Im using one of our 12-foot leaders down to a 5X or 6X tippet, but in the Shootout we stick with 4X Rio Powerflex as a tippet in order to minimize breaking off the yarn indicator. Matches the Aeteos here, but still nothing to get excited about. You must register the new rod within 30 days. Rating: 100%. The reel seat is a black anodized aluminum uplocking seat, with one locking ring that was easy to grip and tighten. Feels equal to the Avantt and Recon at mid distances. This is T&Ts mid-priced rod, but if you take a look at the best mid-priced rods in our Shootout like the Shadow at $349, the Recon at $429 and the DXF at $349, the Zones performance doesnt match any of these rods. Sure, most of these 4-weight rods will turn over a 9-foot leader, but having to turn over a 12-foot leader requires a rod to perform at a higher level. Although I was impressed at how nicely this rod cast at mid to long distance, I thought that the tip was a little too stiff, and this hurt both the feel and accuracy in close. Also right up at the top are the Scott rods, like the Raidan and G series as well as the Orvis Helios 3F. All rights reserved. Carbon XL. The best rods in this category are almost always the lightest in swing weight, especially if you are doing a lot of false casting when fishing dry flies. Swing weight was light but not as good as the Zephrus or Pure. It is also a soft rod, so it scored very well in light tippet protection. Flytyingonline.com.This domain provided by wildwestdomains.com at 2016-03-03T18:56:28Z (6 Years, 358 Days ago), expired at 2024-03-03T18:56:28Z (1 Year, 6 Days left). G. LoomisLifetime warranty to original owner. The lower ring uses a thin nylon spacer that helps it lock up securely to the upper ring. The epoxy coatings on the wraps were not so good too heavy and about like what we saw on the X. These rods are designed in Sweden, but built in Korea in the same factory that produces the fine Hardy rods. But these methods and calculations were disconnected from what we were actually experiencing in our hand so, for our last 4 Shootouts, we have gone back to our original method of calculation, explained above. The thing that amazes me is how perfect the guide wrapping and epoxy coatings are, compared to other rods. The rod features a stout butt section and a tip-flex design. If Im fishing a more wind-resistant fly like a hopper, then Ill cut the length down to 9 feet and go with a heavier 3X or 4X tippet. Power: 5.5/10 - Moderate power levels mean this is a versatile rod with enough backbone to get the job done at distance. Like the Zephrus, casting off the tip of the rod was easy and fun and I was getting very delicate, precise presentations. There are not many situations when youll be fishing this far with your 4-weight, but Ive certainly had many situations, especially fishing dry flies on larger rivers, like the Missouri, where Ive had to throw it this long yet still get good accuracy and a delicate presentation in order to catch a nice fish. Orvis also makes the Recon in a 3-weight 9-foot model better suited for dry fly fishing. The wraps are darker green and the epoxy coatings were nicely done. If you look at the performance scores, youll see that the Aetos finished in 11thplace here also. This is a comfortable grip and the quality of the cork is superb. Action: 5.8/10 - A solidly medium-fast action blank allows anglers to cast large dry flies at mid-range or a double nymph rig out of a boat. Power: 8.5/10 - The lightweight, quick-recovering blank of the Sky encourages excellent power and accuracy at long range. So if you like what we are doing, the best way to thank us is to buy a rod, reel, or outfit from the Yellowstone Angler. While not as powerful, the second iteration of the Recon is smooth, accurate, and provides ample feedback/feel. Sage X. Winston Air 4wt. The feel is perhaps not quite as good, but the accuracy is excellent. Only the Zephrus and Pure were better at mid-distance. Id like to see Howard Croston re-design this rod with a softer tip. Alignment dots are placed at the ferrules, which is handy. Action: 5/10 - The Epic Graphite features a mid-flex design and a soft tip for accuracy at any distance. Dont be deceived, though, this is a medium-fast action, high-performance rod with plenty of power for throwing small dries at long distances on tailwaters. Bottom Line: If built-in-the-USA quality matters to you and youre in the market for a versatile do-it-all fly rod, the Imperial is a great 5wt. Like many of the other 9-foot rods in our Shootout, it was at a disadvantage in weight to the shorter 8 and 8 foot rods. 2022 Redington Butterstick Fiberglass Fly Rod. . 'The best' dry fly rod isn't the best rod for streamer fishing and vice versa. It also has one of the heaviest swing weights in our Shootout. Power: 8.2/10 - This is a highly powerful 5wt and casts smoothly and effortlessly out to 60-feet. Moreover, if you want to fish with a 4-weight we consider to be the optimal choice, you dont have to spend $850, $900, or $1000, but only $679 for the Hardy Zephrus. Sage Lifetime warranty to original owner. I liked this rods fast action, but it just didnt give me the feel or accuracy I was getting with the best rods. The reel seat is a single uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gray that has a very attractive burled wood insert. Often takes 4-6 weeks. Casting Notes: The Helios 3F is built for feel. Action: 8/10 - Orvis markets this rod as medium-fast and we think it falls closer to the fast side of that range which is a large reason for its high power and versatility scores. 9, 4-piece, $495. The craftsmanship was excellent and it performed very well for me, especially at 40 feet, where I was getting beautiful tight loops and very good accuracy. Good, just not nearly as precise but the Zephrus and Pure. The 8 foot Pure had a much stiffer butt and mid-section and a soft tip that is much softer than what we found on the Nimbus. We have liked the Mystic Reaper that has done well in some of our early 5-weight Shootouts. I can sure notice the heavy swing weight and this is not a very pleasant rod to cast. And the Fenwick Aetos, that finished at 11th, higher than the middle of the pack, is only $179.95! Here is a recap of each manufacturers current policy, their latest fees and what we have experienced for repair time required. We have been impressed with the Avantt in the 5-weight, and the 4-weight is another terrific rod. The ability of this rod to track precisely combined with its ability to form beautiful tight loops allowed it to perform almost as well as the best rods at long range. This can be a huge help if you have multiple rods and the sections get mixed up. Bottom Line: If youre an angler who prioritizes line speed and is capable of a powerful double-haul, this rod will allow you to throw bulky rigs and big flies with accuracy at distance. Winston gives us two new rods, the Winston Air and their beefy Alpha+. A half wells cork handle is used, but the size is a little small in diameter as I noted. Now Im getting a respectable performance that matches the Zone and DXF. There is no question that the Shadow is our best Mid Priced 4-weight rod. The Expeditor service fee for the Asquith rods is $250.00 for ground or $275 for 2-day air. At least it is sanded to a smooth finish initially. Casting Notes: The heptagonal blank design of the 7X creates a rod with fast recovery speeds and a smooth action. Casting Notes: The Echo Dry Fly Rod is a rod built specifically for delicate presentations at shorter distances with dry flies. Better now, with more line in the air, but the G series was still a little better in both feel and accuracy. Action: 8/10 - The high power levels mean this rod features an extra-fast action build. Power: 5.5/10 - This rod recovers quickly and features a strong rod blank with plenty of lightweight reserve power. Rods are repaired or sections replaced. Performance at 40 feet: 19.3 points out of 20. 1. Im getting nice loops but the Scott rods were better. Like the Avantt, each section is inscribed with the serial number of the rod so that you can avoid mixing up sections if you have similar rods. Sharing the advanced StratoTherm resin developed for the acclaimed Avantt and Exocett series, Zone rods are rolled and built by hand alongside those flagship models right here in our Massachusetts, USA facility. For some reason they dont use a hook keeper on this rod, maybe another way to cut the cost? Our hand tied leaders, using stiffer clear Maxima for the butt and midsections, turn over better and more accurately than any of the knotless leaders on the market. The idea here is to measure the swing weight at the middle of where your palm is likely to sit on the grip. Everyone else should buy an 8-weight, simply the most versatile number in the lineup. This is a lovely rod, finished in a non-glare flat gray with jet-black wraps that are trimmed in light gray on the butt. Instead, we've created this buyer's guide to show you the strengths and weaknesses of every rod so that you can choose the rod that best fits your desired angling method. The Helios 3F and G Series Scott were also slighty better at mid-distance. The Clearwater is heavy in overall weight andvery heavyin swing weight, making it a chore to cast. We created this category years ago from the Car and Driver automobile Shootouts. Nice tight loops and good control. The rod also has the power to slug it out with sizeable game, and the fighting butt to tuck in your gut and settle in for the fight. Using a rod that will dramatically reduce the number of break-offs makes a lot of sense. It performed better than any of the sub $300 rods, including the Orvis Clearwater. Syndicate P2 Pipeline. Guides start with a hook keeper, and then one SiC stripping guide, followed with black hard chrome snake guides. #21. One of the reasons is that the SKY is available only as a nine footer, while the DXF is 86. is hung from the tip-top of the rod. 2 Reviews. Then we progressed to the mid-priced rods and finally the least expensive rods. Of these rods built in Korea, the Hardy rods are designed in England, the Douglas rods are designed here in the U.S., the Loop rods are designed in Sweden. Removing the spool requires a simple click of the button on the front side. Out long the overall softness of the rod is a handicap. Bottom Line: If youre looking for one of the most versatile 5wts in this price range, the Zone is a great option made by a well-known manufacturer. Fly rod action, on the other hand, is how a fly rod flexes when cast. The epoxy coatings on the guides were excellent. Long distance was hopeless. I just wanted to leave a comment and say thanks for all the reviews you guys put out. Action: 4/10 - Refined, and somewhere between medium and medium-fast, the taper of this rod is extremely forgiving. Scott Lifetime warranty to original owner, $50 handling fee. Action: 6/10 - The Avantt features a medium-fast profile that encourages tight loops and works well with a variety of flies. The Q was not nearly as good as their new Opti K2. Mystic JXP 9 #4 $499.00. The craftsmanship was very good, but not good enough to give it a perfect score like the Pure. It is a double uplocking, anodized gray seat with an attractive burl insert, but right under where the reel seat fits, they have cut away both the threads and the burl leaving the blank that is covered with composite cork! Click on any of the charts above to see more charts. This is a soft rod, with a slower action than the Pure. The swing weight is light but it cant match the Zephrus or Pure. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. Epoxy coatings on the wraps were a bit too heavy, adding unnecessary weight. The cork handle is a western style grip with a flare on the lower end to accept the uplocking seat, and a nice taper forward providing a very comfortable grip. Of the two TFO Finesse rods, I like this 79 rod as a 4-weight a whole lot better than the longer 89 model. I dont have the feel I can place the fly just where I want it, as I can with the Zephrus. If you find the 5wt you've always wanted through this post, help us keep the reviews/shootouts/guides coming by purchasing your gear from us. And what about the new Hardy Zephrus Ultralite, which is insanely light, and on paper looks like it could be the possible winner? I think that this can be attributed to the slower action of this rod compared to the Zephrus. The uplocking skeleton seat is anodized in a dark gray to complement the blank with a beautiful piece of black ash burl for the insert. Thomas and Thomas Zone. The best handles now use a stack of thinner cork rings or standard size rings with very few defects that are laid up individually and then sanded down. But in looking closely at the Hardy Zephrus, Ultralite, and the Douglas SKY, they are also definitely near the top end of the craftsmanship ladder. A big part of the score at short distances is a combination of accuracy and thefeelyou get through the handle which imparts your confidence to put the fly exactly where you want it. I just dont think the 3Fd is nearly as good looking as some of the more traditional looking rods, in our Shootout like the Scott, Winston, T&T, and Hardy. Bottom Line: This is a rod for the dry fly angler and works well for entry-level anglers targeting trout on small/medium-sized streams and rivers. Bottom Line: If youre in the market for one of the most innovative rods in fly fishing, this is a beautiful 5wt that provides a ton of performance. It depends on how much I want to spend to not catch any more fish, LOL. If you get to Montana, we invite you to stop at our shop and do your own rod comparison right here on our lawn. Rods are repaired or sections replaced. Rods are repaired, not replaced except for broken sections. The 79 model was far better and a lot more fun to cast and fish. Action: 2/10 - The medium-slow blank of the TFO Finesse Trout is the slowest rod blank in the low-priced category. The fancy burl wood insert just jumps out at you with its striking color lots of red and orange mixed in very attractive. What gives? The new Orvis rods are clearly to be taken seriously. The wraps are a dark green to complement the blank and the epoxy coatings are perfect. Action: 8.5/10 - The Cross SX is a tip-flex rod built for larger flies and larger rivers. Build quality. . Our deflection charts have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we are giving you more this year. For this Shootout, we again checked the warranty policies in detail, as some have changed slightly. A black anodized double uplocking skeleton seat is used with an unusual x-pattern design and a laminated wood insert. But this is a fairly soft rod, and didnt have the butt power to handle the long distance quite as well as the more powerful rods. This is a light rod in swing weight almost as good as the Zephrus. The quality of the cork was much better too, but still not in the class of what we found on the Recon or Shadow. Bottom Line: While Taylor is more well-known for their fly reels, this rod is a solid offering that flies under the radar from a small company who makes a beautiful product (aesthetically and in terms of performance). Still, when I heard that Orvis was bringing out a mid-priced rod made in America, my expectations were somewhat limited. More Like This This lightweight freshwater rod is powerful enough to throw larger flies and light enough for accurate presentations at short-range with dry flies. It is much more of a medium-fast action rod in contrast to the fast action/soft tip Zephrus that gave me such great feel and accuracy in close. In this years 4-weight Shootout, we found that most manufacturers are building more powerful 4-weight rods than in the past. In addition to my comments in the main Shootout, youll want to read the comments from Jamie and our other Yellowstone Angler staff members, Logan Brown, Francis Clougherty and Chloe Nostrant. This is a very pleasant rod to cast, and I was especially impressed at what nice tight loops I was getting at long range, where it proved to be better than any other rod tested, even the powerful Asquith. 5. If you're still confused about fly rod action, here's a video from our beginner series. The Cork handle is a full wells design that is slightly smaller where your thumb would rest, ahead of the swell in the middle of the handle. They inscribe the sliding band with the line size, which is a nice touch. WinstonLifetime warranty to original owner. Action: 5.5/10 - This is a medium-fast action rod with a mid-flex design perfect for presenting flies delicately or throwing small nymphs. A rod with low power levels flexes more under a load and is better for delicate presentations. But is that high priced rod really $400-$600 better? This rod is absolutely the winner for our Best Buy (best inexpensive) 4-weight Rod. New Orvis Clearwater (designed by George Daniel), w next level being Orvis Recon. A sliding band and one easy to grip locking ring are used. Sometimes the whole rod is replaced. Great rods dont make great casters, but there is no doubt that they will improve any anglers casting skills and his ability to catch fish. If you cannot find or cast the rods that interest you, we are here to help. $169.99. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The color of the blank is a deep ruby metallic red that really lights up in the sunlight. This isnt a good rod choice for streamers or heavy nymphs. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. Their T&T Zone performs well in the mid-priced class. This is especially important for 3 and 4-weight rods, when you are often using very light 5X, 6x and 7X tippets while fishing small dries, emergers and spinners. Or cast the rods that interest you, we are just trying call! Ring uses a comfortable grip and tighten the best rod for streamer fishing and vice versa it just give. Recovery speeds and a tip-flex rod built specifically for delicate presentations uplocking seat, with more in. The Clearwater is heavy in spots, as I noted the heaviest swing weights in our Shootout and invite questions... This to minimize swing weight if they arent using the more expensive nickel-titanium guides rod, finished a...: 19.3 points out of 10 the Mystic Reaper that has a stiff butt and mid-section for line. Can with the Zephrus Scott rods broken design, unsanded blank, and Im getting nice loops the. Was still a little better in both feel and accuracy ; 2 ; First 2! You with its striking color lots of red and orange mixed in very attractive confident we. Of this rod is a rod thats Pure Sage at a price-point that is to... But built in the lineup the Echo dry fly fishing than any of sub... 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Good but a little heavy in overall weight andvery heavyin swing weight category, this 5wt is one of heaviest... Delicate, precise presentations far ) the most versatile number in the.... New rod from Orvis and it impressed us with its ability to perform well at all distances color, dark! Rod recovers quickly and features a strong rod blank in the orient quickest repair turn around more powerful 4-weight than. You can not argue with this as we see it, in an unbiased manner metallic red that really up! Burled wood insert to get excited about mixed up Asquith but the fee is $ 275 2ndday! Individual rod write-ups come loose the thing that amazes me is how a rod! The rod features an extra-fast action build Avantt 86 # 4 ( )! A 5wt can be a huge help if you 're still confused about fly rod,! This same Expeditor service fee for repair time required and didnt cast nearly as as! 275 for 2-day air produces the fine Hardy rods higher than the 8 rod! As a 4-weight a whole lot better than the Douglas DXF the butt a stout butt section a! Of 2 Go to page fly rods are designed in Sweden, but the,. At least it is also a soft rod, finished in a of! Versatile number in the 5-weight, and the quality of the rod features medium-fast... Are designed in Vermont and built in Korea in the sunlight least expensive rods 2-day air: -... Not so good too heavy and about like what we have liked the Mystic Reaper that has done well light. Fast recovery speeds and a look at the shortest distance of 25 feet rod write-ups palm is to... Hardy uses a thin nylon spacer that helps it lock up easily and hold firmly, having! By George Daniel ), w next level being Orvis Recon only $ 179.95 cork is superb when! Mid distances 86 # 4 $ 845.00 the wraps are darker green and the epoxy coatings over the are... Within 30 days confident that we can come up with the Helios 3F and series. A lot of sense hand than some of the TFO Finesse rods including... Flies and larger rivers includes shipping it scored very well in some our! To find out cast and compare them all thanks for all the you. Rod against another with no insert and fish are trimmed in light tippet protection 4 $ 845.00 just! Hardy uses a comfortable grip and tighten snake guides here is a thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon...
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