EVA vs Cork
Which is Better
Along with the Butt Section we can also talk about the material on the Butt Section, EVA Foam Grip vs Cork Grip. Which is better and is there a really better choice here? I am a rod builder and over 35 years, in that time I have worked mainly with EVA Foam. At the time it was new and exciting and really was much easier to use when building. Of course I would also like to say I am a big fan of the cork handles, they are just so much more traditional in my mind.
Let's start with Cork. Cork is a natural material; it is a layer of internal bark of a specific species of oak. It is of course light and buoyant, it is hydrophobic and impermeable, meaning it will not absorb any liquids such as sweat. Also cork can be shaped to fit your hand better of course this is basically if you are building a custom rod but it can be done. When cork gets old it will become brittle and when it does there is not much that can be done when it starts to fall apart. Of
course it is easy to clean up with
some 200 grit
sandpaper and some
sealant. Just like that
it's back in order and
really quickly.