I know the higher the IM or tonnage rating the more lighter and sensitive the rod is, but is one any better than the other? I'm looking at 2 budget rods, an Abu Veritas 2.0 (30ton graphite) and a Lew's Speed Stick (IM8) and can't find any real distinguishing characteristics. Aside from the Veritas appearing to be a bit more stiff, they're both light and feel good in the hand. I can get both for just under $60 but it's tough picking one without feeling the sensitivity while on the water.

A lot of people seem to like the Veritas 2.0. I haven't heard much about your other rod if that helps you at all.

Apples to oranges. You can only compare the IM rating of a rod to other rods in that company. A Lew's rod with IM8 graphite will definitely be more sensitive and have higher quality graphite than an IM7. There are many components that go into rod, resins.... the list goes on. I like to learn as much as I can about a product before I buy it but I gave up on learning about rod blanks, just too much information to learn and companies don’t give enough info. 

 

I’d go with the Vertias, it has a better reputation than Lew’s.

So what would scII or scIII

Compare to in IM 7 or IM 8 ?

 

I had the Veritas 2.0 in 7'3" MH/F last year. It's a good build, powerful, pretty sensitive. Though I wouldn't pay retail for it again. Too many better options out there, if you're talking about the Lews TP1, I'd take that over the Veritas. 

46 minutes ago, Burro said:

So what would scII or scIII

Compare to in IM 7 or IM 8 ?

 

I would check out this thread. Good info here and @Delaware Valley Tackle could answer anything this thread doesn't touch.

 

IM rating isn't an industry standard rating, it's a company standard rating. Within the own company the rating will tell you the difference in quality of the rod, but one company to the next, the IM7/8, 40 ton ETC rating means absolutely nothing.

i have a 7ft. MH speed stick and the 7 ft. 3in. MH Veritas.

my Lews has a softer tip and seems more sensitive. they are both decent budget rods.

Thanks for the info so far guys! Trying to understand rod blanks makes my brain hurt lol

Material is just one aspect of the rod.  The resin, mandrel used and a ton of other factors are critical to making a quality rod.  If your just looking for a quality build total rod weight is as good of an indicator.  This is a more total rod approach and is not subjective, making direct comparisons much easier.  It's a decent starting point before reading that specific rod reviews.

I have both a speed stick (american hero) and a TP1. The SS is IM6, and the TP1 is IM8. They're both pretty light and seem to have a fair amount of sensitivity, but  it's hard to say which is lighter or more sensitive. And I've never owned many mid-high end rods to compare them too. What I can say for sure is that they are less sensitive than my Diawa Fuego 8' drift rod that only gets used once in a blue moon when I go up north to fish the fast rivers of northern TX. And they certainly can't compare to the Carbonlites I've handled in stores. I've never had or held a Veritas though, so can't help much there.