Best Telescoping Fishing Rods in 2023 – Reviewed & Tested by Experts
We know what it’s like having to carry a huge fishing rod and walk with it for miles. It’s painful, annoying, and a huge effort-waster.
Well, in order to conquer that, telescoping fishing rods came into play.
They are collapsible fishing rods that can fit into your backpack, so you wouldn’t have to carry your fishing rod around all day because it just causes unnecessary fatigue.
However, finding a good telescoping fishing rod is not easy, but it can be. We’ve prepared a list of the best telescoping fishing rods that you can purchase today. So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
List of the Best Telescoping Rods:
- Plusinno Telescopic Fishing Rod – Best Overall
- KastKing Blackhawk II – Travel Rod
- Sougayilang Telescopic Fishing Rod – Budget-Friendly
- Eagle Claw PK56TS Combo – Freshwater Rod
- Hurricane Mako – Heavy-Duty
- TroutBoy Black Warrior – Powerful
- Goture Portable Telescopic Fishing Rod – Ultra-Heavy Power
Our Top Picks:
| Rod | Material | Powers | Number of Length Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plusinno Telescopic Fishing Rod | Carbon fiber and fiberglass | Medium | 6 |
| KastKing Blackhawk II | 24-Ton carbon matrix | Medium, medium-heavy, and heavy | 14 |
| Sougayilang Telescopic Fishing Rod | 24-Ton carbon fiber and E-Glass Composite | Medium-light | 6 |
| Eagle Claw PK56TS Combo | Fiberglass | Medium | 1 |
| Hurricane Mako | Fiberglass | Medium, heavy | 1 |
| TroutBoy Black Warrior | 24-Ton carbon fiber and E-glass composite | Medium, medium-heavy | 6 |
| Goture Portable Telescopic Fishing Rod | Cross carbon fiber | Ultra-heavy | 6 |
The 7 Best Telescoping Fishing Rods in 2021
1. Plusinno Telescopic Fishing Rod – Best Overall
Our top-recommended telescopic fishing rod is the Plusinno rod. It is one of the most popular rods on the market, and there’s a reason everybody loves it.
There’s a combo kit that you can purchase, including the rod, a fishing reel, lures, hooks, and a bag at a very reasonable price tag.
It is made from carbon fiber and fiberglass combination that offer durability as well as lightweight. Its guides have aluminum oxide inserts, and it comes with a stainless steel hooded reel seat that protects against saltwater. It also comes with an EVA grip that provides comfort.
It is portable and compact, and that makes it easy to travel with. In addition, it offers sensitivity and durability, so you wouldn’t need to worry about your rod breaking anytime soon.
It comes in length options of 5.91’, 6.89’, 7.87’, 8.86’, 9.84, and 10.83’ with medium power, so you’ll most likely find a size that fits what you’re looking for.
Pros:
- A combo kit at a reasonable price
- Portable
- High quality
Cons:
- A little too stiff
- Some products may have manufacturing defects
Final Verdict
Plusinno telescoping rod is the best option on the market, especially if you get the combo kit. It is durable, sensitive, and is the optimum choice for saltwater fishing with its corrosion-resistant reel seats. You can’t go wrong with this rod.
2. KastKing Blackhawk II – Travel Rod
The Blackhawk is yet another great telescoping rod that we highly recommend. The main advantage of this rod is that you’d have a wide variety of styles to choose from, as there are Spinning, Casting, and Inshore models.
Being made from 24-ton carbon matrix material, the Blackhawk II rod is durable while still being lightweight. Its stainless steel guides are corrosion-resistant, and it features reinforced graphite reel seats.
It is easy to extract and collapse, and that saves you a lot of time and effort when traveling and having to assemble your rod quite often.
In addition to having different styles, it also has 14 options for lengths, and each has its own power settings. The lengths start at 6’6” and go all the way up to 8’ with powers of medium-light, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy.
Pros:
- Quick assembly
- A various range of models
- Easy to travel with
Cons:
- Eyelet alignment can be a little difficult
- A little on the pricey side
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for the best travel telescoping rod on the market, look no further because it’s right here. The Blackhawk II is portable, lightweight, and durable. It offers an unmatched range of styles, lengths, and powers, ensuring that you’ll find what you’re looking for.
3. Sougayilang Telescopic Fishing Rod – Budget-Friendly
Maybe at some point in time, the budget was a huge factor in determining the quality of your rod, but not anymore. The Sougayilang telescopic fishing rod offers high-quality rod and at a budget-friendly price point.
It’s made from 24-ton carbon fiber and E-glass composite material that is lightweight and durable. It has three-point welded stainless steel guides that have ceramic inserts; besides, the reel seat is also corrosion-resistant that is made from CNC machined aluminum.
Using the three-point guides, the rod offers versatility as it allows braided or mono fishing lines that can be used in saltwater as well as freshwater.
It offers lengths of 5.91’, 6.89’, 7.87’, 8.86’, 9.84’, and 11.81’ that can be collapsed into much smaller sizes for convenience when traveling.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- High quality
- A wide range of lengths
Cons:
- No carrying case
- Eyelets are a little weak
Final Verdict
Being on a budget is no longer a set-back with the Sougayilang telescoping fishing rod. It offers durability and corrosion resistance that allows you to use it saltwater. Also, it provides a wide range of lengths that you can choose from, and they all can collapse to smaller sizes for easy storing and portability.
4. Eagle Claw PK56TS Combo – Freshwater Rod
The PK56TS is another budget-friendly telescoping rod as you can purchase in a combo that includes reel, lures, and line.
Made from fiberglass, the PK56TS is a durable rod that you can use for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. However, we’d recommend you use it with freshwater as it may not be able to handle larger saltwater fish.
Besides, it comes with a graphite reel seat and an EVA grip that provides comfort when using for extended periods of time.
Lastly, if you’re looking for versatility, this rod is not for you. It only comes in at 5’6” length and medium power.
Pros:
- You can purchase a combo kit
- Budget-friendly
- Portable
Cons:
- No carrying case
- Not suitable for bigger fish
Final Verdict
While the PK56TS doesn’t offer much, it excels at what it does offer. It is a durable and lightweight telescoping rod that will last you a long time, mainly if you use it for freshwater fishing. Also, purchasing the combo kit is an excellent option for beginners.
5. Hurricane Mako – Heavy-Duty
So, you like saltwater fishing, and you enjoy the fight with a heavier fish? It’s not an easy task to find a good telescoping rod that can handle heavy-duty; however, Hurricane Mako defies all the odds.
Made from fiberglass, the Hurricane Mako is a durable fishing rod that can take a beating and come out victorious with your fish. It has ceramic guides, graphite reel seat, and EVA grips. However, it is not the most lightweight rod out there.
On the downside, it only comes in 7’ and 8’ of length. Not the most versatile out there either, but you don’t have many options when it comes to heavy action.
Pros:
- Can handle bigger fish
- Durable
- Excellent money value
Cons:
- A little on the heavier side
- Comes in with only one length
- Not the most portable
Final Verdict
Not all telescoping fishing rods are sturdy enough to handle heavy action, but Hurricane Mako certainly is. At 7’ or 8’ of length, your rod will be durable enough for saltwater fishing. However, it’s not as lightweight as you’d want it to be.
6. TroutBoy Black Warrior – Powerful
The TroutBoy is one of the most powerful telescoping rods on the market. Not only is the rod at a reasonable price, but you could also purchase a combo kit that includes a reel at a very fair price tag.
Being made from 24-ton carbon fiber and E-glass composite, the Black Warrior is extremely durable while still keeping its lightweight. Its guides are stainless steel with ceramic inserts that are corrosion-resistant. Also, its reel seat is made from CNC machined aluminum, not to mention, an EVA grip.
Not only is it lightweight for portability, but it is also collapsible for easy travel and comfort when fishing all day long.
Besides, It offers a good range of lengths that are 5’10”, 6’10”, 7’10”, 8’10”, 9’10”, 11’10” as well as medium and medium-heavy powers.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- You can purchase a combo kit
- Powerful
Cons:
- A little challenging to collapse
Final Verdict
The TroutBoy Blak Warrior is a warrior, indeed. It is powerful, durable, and will provide you with longevity. It can collapse to a smaller size for portability. Moreover, its lightweight allows you to fish for longer without experiencing unnecessary fatigue.
Before you go trout fishing, I think you should also check out our trout fishing guide here. It covers all the basics and gives all the pro tips I’ve learned over the years, so I think you are likely to find it helpful.
7. Goture Portable Telescopic Fishing Rod – Ultra-Heavy Power
When we say high-quality, we mean high-quality. The Goture offers durability, strength, and sensitivity. Basically, everything you’re looking for in a telescoping fishing rod, the Goture has.
It is made from cross carbon fiber that we’ve already established is an excellent material that provides lightweight and durability. It offers guides that are stainless steel with ceramic inserts, and a sturdy reel seat.
When it comes to length options, the Goture is quite versatile as it offers 5.91’, 6.89’, 7.87’, 8.86’, 9.84’, and 10.84’ at ultra-heavy power.
Pros:
- High strength
- Ultra-heavy power
- High quality
Cons:
- Feels a little unstable
- A little too stiff
Final Verdict
The Goture has it all; it is lightweight, durable, versatile, and even offers ultra-heavy power. It is not every day you run into a high-quality ultra-heavy telescoping rod, so if you’re planning to fish in saltwater and you’re up for a challenge, the Goture is the one for you.
Why You Should Consider Buying a Telescoping Fishing Rod
Telescoping fishing rods are much more convenient when you’re a person who likes to hike, walk, or backpack. They can collapse and fit right into your backpack, and they’re super lightweight that you wouldn’t even feel them.
Some people worry that telescoping fishing rods are weaker, which we disagree with. Telescoping fishing rods are just as durable (if not even more durable) than regular fishing rods as they are divided into sections that allow pressure to be distributed evenly among them.
How to Pick a Telescoping Fishing Rod
1. Quality
Just like picking any other fishing rod, you need to look for a high-quality rod that wouldn’t break too soon. Each kind of material has advantages as well as disadvantages, so there’s no right or wrong answer here; it depends on personal preference.
2. Size
The size of your rod includes two things: the size when fully expanded, and the size when fully collapsed.
You should have a general idea of what you personally prefer your rod length to be. More importantly, though, you need to take into consideration how small your telescopic rod will be when fully collapsed.
If it can fit into your backpack, or it has its own bag, you’re good to go. Try avoiding telescopic rods that are still too big when collapsed as that defies the whole concept of telescoping.
3. Power
The power of your rod depends on what kind of fish you’re targeting. If you pick a power too high, you won’t be able to feel the smaller fish and vice versa. If you’re aiming to catch heavy fish like Bass, you’d need at least a medium-heavy or a heavy power rod that can handle such strong fish.
You can check out my guide on the pros and cons of telescopic fishing rods here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Are Telescopic Fishing Rods Any Good?
Yes, they are. They can save you a lot of time and effort when you’re on the go. If you’re a person who likes hiking to your fishing area, or you just like being on the move in general, you really could benefit a lot from a telescopic fishing rod.
You can check out my complete guide to answering are telescopic rods any good here.
2. Are Telescopic Fishing Rods Less Durable Than Regular Ones?
No, they aren’t. Telescopic fishing rods are made from the same materials that regular fishing rods are made of.
Moreover, we might even go as far as saying that telescopic rods are more durable as they can collapse to avoid any damage when traveling.
As long as you’re not too rough with your rod and you’re not forcing it to collapse or expand, you’re good to go.
3. Which Brand Manufactures the Best Telescopic Fishing Rods?
As you’ve seen throughout this list, no brand excels in telescopic rods. The brand’s name doesn’t make or break a product; it all depends on the product itself.
Final Words
Now that we’re at the end of the article, you’ve met our top 7 telescoping rods on the market, and you’ve been introduced to their pros and cons. If you’re still unsure and you’re looking for a quick recap, well, you’ve read my mind. Here’s a recap of our top 3 picks.
Our top pick is Plusinno Telescopic Fishing Rod that can do it all. It offers durability with its carbon fiber and fiberglass material, it offers comfort with its EVA handle, and it offers lightweight. It has everything that you might be looking for at a reasonable price.
In second place comes the KastKing Blackhawk II that we believe is the best rod out there for travel. It can collapse to fit into your backpack, it is lightweight, and it offers durability. Not to mention, it provides you with a wide range of models to choose from.
In third place is the Sougayilang, which is our budget pick. It competes with fishing rods with much higher price tags with its high durability and high-quality materials. Who says being on a budget is restricting? Not Sougayilang.
