Orvis Hydros Rod Gets 2010 "Best of Best" Award from Field & Stream

March 4, 2010 By: Marshall Cutchin

“The Orvis Company’s new Hydros fly rod series was named ‘Best of the Best’ for 2010 by Field & Stream Magazine in their recent annual gear review issue. This marks the third time in four years an Orvis fly rod has received the award.”
Read the full press release in the extended entry.


Orvis Hydros Wins Field & Stream “Best of the Best” Fly Rod for 2010
Orvis Claims Coveted Award for Third Time in Four Years
Manchester, VT (Vocus/PRWEB ) March 4, 2010 — The Orvis Company’s new Hydros fly rod series was named “Best of the Best” for 2010 by Field & Stream Magazine in their recent annual gear review issue. This marks the third time in four years an Orvis fly rod has received the award, bolstering Orvis’ stance as the global leader in fly rod design, performance, and manufacture.
Setting a new precedent for American Made premium fly rods at a great price. In announcing the award, Field & Stream recognized that Orvis used its award-winning, patented and proprietary Helios fly-rod technology to bring fly fishers the new Hydros fly rod.
“Orvis pirated the technology from its top-of-the-line Helios rods to produce the new Hydros series. The Hydros is a sensitive, responsive rod that puts a fly where you want it and is a pleasure to use all day. We cast it head-to-head with its Helios counterpart, and the testers agreed that performance characteristics were very similar. The difference lies in the more modest, but still fully acceptable, hardware that makes this rod about $250 cheaper than its predecessor.”
Steve Hemkens, the Orvis fly-rod designer who worked closely with Orvis’ Vermont rod-building team and engineers, said “The Hydros gives fly fishers a premium fly rod that outperforms and is up to 22% lighter than the top fly rods made by direct competitors, at a far lighter price. Such a great premium fly rod at such a price is a real breakthrough on it’s own, but is utterly unprecedented for a fly rod we are very proud to say is made in The United States, made by hand right here in Vermont where Orvis has made rods for one hundred and fifty-four years.”
The new Hydros are presently offered in 21 models, from 3- to 12-weight, in both Mid Flex and Tip Flex actions. At a price starting at nearly $300 less than the the top of the line rods by other manufacturers at $495.00 – $525.00 Each model is a 4-piece rod with brushed and anodized two-tone skeletal reel seat, lightweight chrome snake guides, handsome dark-blue finish, super-grade cork handle, and comes with a Cordura rod tube with protective internal dividers.
About Orvis
Founded in 1856 as a small bamboo fly rod shop in Manchester, Vermont, Orvis has been leading the fly fishing industry in innovation and quality for more than 150 years. Orvis donates five percent of pre-tax profits each year to environmental programs. Read more about Orvis and the new Helios rod on their website at www.orvis.com.