anyone know when EVA foam was first used on rod handles???? cant find an answer

One of the first that I can remember using EVA was the original Carrot Stik.   

25 minutes ago, Heartland said:

One of the first that I can remember using EVA was the original Carrot Stik.   

Carrot Stiks have only been around a dozen years or so. My 25+ year old Berkley Enforcer has EVA grips...or something VERY much like it.

Berkley Lightning rods had EVA when they were introduced in '83. There were probably others before it but this comes to mind.

3 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Berkley Lightning rods had EVA when they were introduced in '83. There were probably others before it but this comes to mind.

X2. Don't know when they first appeared, but this is when I first started seeing them.

Welcome to the forum. I have an old Shimano rod from the late 70s or early 80s that has an EVA grip. It is a 5'6" rod with a pistol grip.

Definitely late 70s early 80s when they popped up.  Cork became expensive for a while back then. 

used a Shimano Beastmaster that was probably 30 years ago that had Eva grips.

I have a Daiwa procaster casting rod that’s probably around 30 years old that has EVA grips on it. 

11 hours ago, crypt said:

used a Shimano Beastmaster that was probably 30 years ago that had Eva grips.

I had Shimano and Berkeley Rods by around 1984 that had EVA foam.