Gravity X

There’s a big shift going on at SONIK Sports right now. They’ve come from being a company who “do really good deals on rods” to “those Tourno reels look top-end, perform top-end, yet don’t give my wallet a cash haemorrhage” to recently being rated by one of the very biggest tackle manufacturers in the UK as, “SONIK will take more market share; they’re a very impressive company right now.”

So it’s with great expectation that we get to check out the Northerners new top-of-the-range rods, Gravity X. We’re told there’s a whole bucket of cleverness poured into these rods, starting with some very advanced new carbon fibre technology which, as we pointed out in last month’s Hardware Annual Special, results in a rod which is very unlike anything you’ve cast/played before.

The Big Questions...

Yeah, I did see the mention last month but are they really that different? It looks just like any other rod…
Yes, they are really different, and no, they’re not like any other rod. Cosmically, they’re one of the most refined rods we’ve laid our hands on, but it’s all in the performance where the Gravity X Carp Rods wins and that’s thanks to them being manufactured from a new-breed of carbon fibre material: Toray Nanoalloy.”

That sounds fancy, but what makes ‘Toray Nanoalloy’ so special?
For all you techno-minded rod buffs, it’s innovative control technology that offers dramatic improvement in characteristics compared to existing materials by minutely dispersing multiple polymers on a nano-metric scale. And for the rest of us mere mortals that basically translates into the fact that SONIK can now produce lighter, slimmer, stronger and faster recovery blanks which is clearly a huge advantage when producing a world-beating carp rod.

So I’m guessing that means it handles better than other rods, both on the cast and for playing?
Absolutely. The whole range of rods is designed to give the perfect blend of finesse and power. What will really blow your mind is when you hold one (N.B. If you can make it, get over to The Brentwood Show at the end of January as SONIK will be holding a casting comp with these rods): despite the lovely light and well-balanced feel to the rod (almost mimicking a lightweight match rod), they nevertheless pack a serious punch when it comes to launching a lead. The Gravity X’s have a lightening quick recovery so long – and more importantly – accurate casts become much, much easier and controlled.

Impressive. What are the fixture and fittings like?
Spectacularly good. They’ve fitted the blanks with the latest lightweight full titanium, impact resistant SIC guides and a Fuji DPS reel seat, along with eye-catching metallic blue ventilated front and rear collars. Each rod is then finished with black tyings and metallic blue tippings – plus you can have either full cork or abbreviated handle versions.

What about test curves and lengths?
There are six models with three different test curves within the range, all of which are 12ft. The lightest model is 3lb TC and comes with a 40mm butt ring in both cork or abbreviated. Next up are the 3.25lb and 3.5lb models, both are equipped with 50mm butt rings and come with the two handle options.

Do I want a set?
Definitely. In our eyes, the Gravity X promises to reset the benchmark for a top-end rod at realistic price points. And talking of cash, they start off at £249.99 for the 3lb model and top out at £299.99 for the 3.5lb/50mm butt ring option. Top work, SONIK.