Hardy Ultralite Fly Rod

The Ultralite series of fly rods features Sintrix NSX. This technolgoy is based on Hardy’s industry changing Sintrix technology but now combined with a secondary classified additive that allows for much lower weights to be achieved. This lighter weight material allows targeted modification of the blank design without affecting the blanks strength. The net result is lighter, more responsive blanks that allow the angler to “feel” the line more during the casting stroke giving a greater degree of control than ever before. The reel seat on the Ultralite is a master piece of form and function; moving more of the rods weight percent behind the hand gives incredible in-hand balance, single start threads resist the reel loosening under heavy use and a keyed body further ensure a snug fit for your reel.

All carbon rods utilise carbon fibres that are bonded together by an adhesive resin. The resin material used in SINTRIX® is produced by 3M, it is a unique and patented material incorporating silica nano spheres which provides two distinct benefits. Firstly the microscopic silica spheres are able to evenly surround every individual carbon fibre filament providing a matrix of strength throughout the rod. Secondly, being spherical, the silica particles are able to resist pressure and compression from any angle. This is particularly important because it is under compression forces, on the underside of a bent rod, rather than tension forces, on the outside of the curve, that carbon fibre is most likely to weaken and potentially break. So by resisting compression better SINTRIX® rods are stronger.

In developing SINTRIX® Hardy’s specialist composite engineers and rod designers spent over two years experimenting with different types, and mixes, of carbon fibres combined with varying levels of 3M nano silica resin. They also discovered that the normal manufacturing processes associated with carbon fibre rods had to be significantly changed in order to get the best from the new 3M resin material. The final results were astonishing with up to 60% increases in strength and up to 30% savings in weight. During the course of our years of development with fibres, resin levels and manufacturing processes, Hardy has so far produced three separate versions of SINTRIX® material. Each version offers significant benefits in strength and lightness over traditional carbon fibre. However SINTRIX® is available in ascending levels of power, performance and refinement.