Flites Of Fancy
These revamped Greys rods are absolute worldies and luckily, CARPology’s Thom Airs was first in the queue to give them a try...
To stand out in a crowd without being pretentious or vulgar is quite a skill, but the latest X-Flites from Greys have absolutely nailed it. Latest X-Flites? Yep, the original rods bearing that name first landed two decades ago and now the famous Alnwick firm have decided to update a classic.
Visually, they have knocked that brief out of the park. So many rods from different manufacturers look alike at the moment, but not these ones. That’s not to say they’re garish or attention-seeking either. It’s a fine balancing act, but one Greys have pulled off with aplomb. The gloss blank is the first thing you’ll notice if you’re used to modern rods with matt finishes and ‘raw’ carbon aesthetics. That gloss glows almost chestnut brown in direct sunlight—echoing all-time classics like Rod Hutchinson’s Dream Maker rods—yet remains dark and understated in the shadows. It’s a visual treat you might need to witness in the flesh at your local tackle shop to fully appreciate. The downside is, like an iPhone screen, that gloss finish does attract fingerprints like a magnet! The only other splashes of colour are the deep-red rings at either end of the reel seat, which also look fantastic.
The blank itself is very slim, accentuated by the shrink-wrap handle with flared end, while weight is further saved by the use of Pacific Bay Minima guides including an anti-frap tip ring.
There are three 10ft models in this range (with test curves of 3lb, 3.25lb and 3.5lb), plus the same test curves in 12ft options, and a 13ft 3.5lb model. The 3lb 12ft models on test here weigh just 370g apiece and, like all the X-Flite options available, offer a progressive action that gives you power when you ask for it.
With an RRP of £199.99 these are not cheap tools, but you immediately feel like you’ve purchased something with a bit of quality when you unsheathe them. Just like they do with their other top-end rods like the Xlerate range, Greys supply the X-Flites with proper neoprene protectors for the tips and butts, plus neoprene butt-guide shields. It’s a touch of class that not only keeps your rods safe but also fills you with confidence that Greys have paid attention to the little details at every step of the design process.
