Have anyone had any experience with kistler company as far as warranty replacement on thier rods? I broke one this weekend and was wanting to know what to expect.

They replaced a magnesium for me last year with no fuss, they paid shipping and everything.  The epoxy was peeling, 1st run had issues.

I have had nothing but great service with Kistler rods.  I own seven rods from the Graphite to the LTX II line.  Trey will treat you right on a replacement.  Give him a call and tell him your situation.  You will probably have the rod by the end of the week.

What they said!

Dan

I don't wish to hijack Blade's thread, but I'm intrigued by the Kistler Helium blanks.

Do we have a Kistler Helium owner out there, who also owns another premium rod?

For instance a St Croix tournament series, Loomis, Daiwa Steez or Daiwa Cielo.

If so, how does the Kistler Helium compare to the other premium rod

with respect to weight, sensitivity and overall performance?

Thanx

Roger

Have anyone had any experience with kistler company as far as warranty replacement on thier rods? I broke one this weekend and was wanting to know what to expect.

Please let us know how old the rod is, how you broke it, and report on your experience with getting a replacement.   This will be helpful info for future threads...

but I'm intrigued by the Kistler Helium blanks.

The first year of the Helium, in '04, Kistler used a Rainshadow blank.  It was a good blank, and several custom rod builders also used the Rainshadow blanks.  In '05, Kistler struck up a deal with Batson, and started using their components exclusively...blanks, guides, and reel seats.  I've read quite a few posts about fitament issues with the Batson reel seats over the past 2 years, but I read that Kistler recently made the switch to Fuji.  I owned two of the graphite plus series for a week,  and have held and played around with the Helium and LTX II several times, but have not fished with them.  I didn't like one thing about my graphite plus series, which I thought were tip-heavy and had the look and feel of a $60 or $70 rod, but the Helium users are a pretty loyal following.  I'd just weigh all your options before you decide.

Please keep us updated.

What's the latest?

First off yes I do or have owned other premium rods (loomis, st. croix, diawa, shimano, etc.) and Kistlers are by FAR the lightest most sensitive rods I have ever fished with, sometimes I think I can feel fish breath on my bait. I currently own 7 of their rods ( 2 magnesium, 4 helium, 1 helium II ltx) and love every one of them. I would highly recommend them, they are alittle costly but I think they are worth every penny. I am in the process to converting scritly to kistler rods.

The rod I broke was around 2 years old, it was a magnesium ts jig-n-toad rod 7 foot heavy action. I broke it on hookset while flipping a bed in 5 foot of water with a brush hog. It was around 3 pound fish

I was using 20 pound p-line cxx. It broke about half way down the blank, good clean break.

I contacted Trey which is the owner/founder of the kistler company and he assured me that he would take care of it and have by new rod on the way just as soon as he recieved the broken one and everything checked out. So we will see, I think he will stand by his word.

     But yes I think kistlers have some of the finest rods on the market today. The helium 2 ltx are the best but the helium lta are the same blank just deffirent guides and grips. The magnesium series are fine rods are under $200 most places they run $179. the lta run around $229 and the ltx are around $300. if someone wanted to try them out I would sugeest starting with the Helium LTA rod series, you can find good deals on them on e-bay sometimes but just pay attention because some rods on thier are reparied rods and have no warranty, but they are usualyy cheap so that might be agood way to try them too. Will keep posted as to what happens

I don't wish to hijack Blade's thread, but I'm intrigued by the Kistler Helium blanks.

Do we have a Kistler Helium owner out there, who also owns another premium rod?

For instance a St Croix tournament series, Loomis, Daiwa Steez or Daiwa Cielo.

If so, how does the Kistler Helium compare to the other premium rod

with respect to weight, sensitivity and overall performance?

Thanx

Roger

I have owned and used 7 LTA Heliums.  I have since gotten some Megabass rods that cost twice as much as the LTAs but are heavier(my 7' Medium Helium floated when I knocked it overboard and that was with a Daiwa TD-Z, fluro line and a lure on it) and not as sensitive as the Heliums.  I still have 3 Heliums and recently landed a 7 lb Bass with my 7' Medium.  There are other reasons why I got some MB rods.

Dan

 The helium 2 ltx are the best but the helium lta are the same blank just deffirent guides and grips.

The LTX and LTA use different blanks. The LTX has a faster taper and uses higher modulus  graphite.  

I have owned and used 7 LTA Heliums. I have since gotten some Megabass rods that cost twice as much as the LTAs but are heavier(my 7' Medium Helium floated when I knocked it overboard and that was with a Daiwa TD-Z, fluro line and a lure on it) and not as sensitive as the Heliums. I still have 3 Heliums and recently landed a 7 lb Bass with my 7' Medium. There are other reasons why I got some MB rods.

Dan

Thanks for your reply Dan.

I was afraid I'd hear that,  it's only May and already I've got my Christmas list started

Roger

ive also got a kistler rod  about two months old  but the hook keeper broke off...im not disapointed and wont bash them as some others will bash...but i need to find a rod tube to send it back to them   does the post office haave them..i also emailed them to see if they cover shipping cause lbh said they covered his  so ill post a reply when i receive it...oh by the way  i love my kistler  i call the ts   the terribly  sexy

Recent interview with Trey Kistler

Dan

Kistler bashing is all about their marketing scam.

Maybe they have achieved a level of excellence, but for those of us that have looked at the rods and followed their brief history, it's just marketing hype. The first Kistlers were "Comparable to a Loomis, but at a better price." Well, in fact they had "issues" and components often fell off; the original blanks were replaced by another manufacturer, guides and reel seats changed. Significant "quality control" problems have been chronic. The initial pitch was a "state of the art" hook holder.

The original Kistler was NOT comparable to a G.Loomis.

I'm not going to keep pounding them and I have VERY high regard for some of our members that are sponsored by Kistler, pro staff and/or friends of the owner. If the company's reputation improves in a couple of years maybe I'll consider buying a rod, but Kistler's history does not support such strong endorsements.

At a comparable price, there are some great rods made by companies that have built their reputation over decades. I'm a BIG fan of some of those companies.

Try you a kistler RW and you will to be converted to fishing with the best there is... I have had/used some of the other rods that are supposed to be the best there is and they don't hold a candle to kistlers, the ltx line of rods weigh in at an unbelievable 3 ounces you can't find that anywhere else, not to mention the sensitivity.  Not going to keep bragging on them just get off your tail and go buy one and get ready to be hooked :)

Try you a kistler RW and you will to be converted to fishing with the best there is... I have had/used some of the other rods that are supposed to be the best there is and they don't hold a candle to kistlers, the ltx line of rods weigh in at an unbelievable 3 ounces you can't find that anywhere else, not to mention the sensitivity. Not going to keep bragging on them just get off your tail and go buy one and get ready to be hooked :)

You dont know RW very well, do you? ;D Kistler could send RW 10 LTX's and 10 Heliums for free, he'd throw them around a little, send them back and apologize to his Loomis rods for being unloyal. ;D

Kistler sent me a replacment rod with no questions asked. i love all the kistlers i have.

I only have one LTA Helium in my collection of IMX, GLX, Airrus, Seeker, Rogue, Powell, Okuma and Shimano......this is the rod ( and reel ) which I can cast the smaller and lighter lures....by using this set, 2/3 of my spinning tackle became obsoleted.

Have anyone had any experience with kistler company as far as warranty replacement on thier rods? I broke one this weekend and was wanting to know what to expect.

Please let us know how old the rod is, how you broke it, and report on your experience with getting a replacement.   This will be helpful info for future threads...

but I'm intrigued by the Kistler Helium blanks.

The first year of the Helium, in '04, Kistler used a Rainshadow blank.  It was a good blank, and several custom rod builders also used the Rainshadow blanks.  In '05, Kistler struck up a deal with Batson, and started using their components exclusively...blanks, guides, and reel seats.  I've read quite a few posts about fitament issues with the Batson reel seats over the past 2 years, but I read that Kistler recently made the switch to Fuji.  I owned two of the graphite plus series for a week,  and have held and played around with the Helium and LTX II several times, but have not fished with them.  I didn't like one thing about my graphite plus series, which I thought were tip-heavy and had the look and feel of a $60 or $70 rod, but the Helium users are a pretty loyal following.  I'd just weigh all your options before you decide.

I'm always amazed how that a high dollar rod can be built with such cheap components and blanks. Rainshadow blanks are ok, but nothing compared to the $$$ they wants for the Kistlers. The Batson stuff is junk! Hopefully they have made the switch to Fuji. I wouldn't have anything but Fuji components on a rod. Batson components are CHEAP! I build rods and Kistler must have been making a killing on their rods using Rainshadow blanks and Batson guides and reel seats!

I don't know what blanks the Helium rods use but I do know that I love my Helium rods and find that they are worth the money. It is one of the lightest, strongest, most sensitive rods made period.

          It is one of the lightest most sensitive rods made period.                          

In your opinion

      It is one of the lightest most sensitive rods made period.                        

In your opinion

And mine.

I'll decide for you guys... just need a few samples...

Anyone can build a lite rod. They leave stuff off like fore grips and use lite guides and lite epoxy. Anyone could build a lite rod, but lite is not always better. My only problem with them is that they were using Batson components and they are some of the cheapest components on the market! I'm just amazed when they sell a rod for what they do and have very little in it money wise and people shell out the $$$ just because it's lite. Does anyone know if they even spine test their rods?

don't know about spine testing but do know they stand behind the rods because my brand new one came in yesterday.  As far as the components I have never had an issue with them Kistler makes the best rods available IMO. They are no doubt the lightest and that does matter because a lighter rod is a more sensitive rod. So is1jay don't be bashing them just because you can't build a rod that light and get people to shell out $$$ money to you for them.