MidCurrent Tested & Trusted: Renzetti Traveler 2200 Series Vise

Eighteen years in, the chipped-jaw Traveler 2200 still doing exactly what it was built to do, cranking out flies. Photo: Rick Mikesell

I do not love tying flies.

I would not consider myself a passionate tier, and while I admire the hell out of the great fly tiers in our sport, I would rather be on the water. Early on, it was new and kind of exciting. But that wore off quickly. These days, tying is a necessity, not a pleasure. I sit down at the bench when the fly shop does not have what I need, when I am prepping for a guide trip and cannot afford to have flies fall apart, or when I am headed on a trip where having the right pattern matters.

I do enjoy tying big stuff now and then. Pike, muskie, maybe tarpon. But that is the exception.

The Traveler lives up to its name. still holding strong at fly tying nights, seminars, and community events. Photo: Denver Trout Unlimited

A Backward Beginning

I taught myself to tie in the early days of online fly-fishing content. There were books, a few grainy forum photos, and not much else. I started tying left-handed without realizing it, likely just following the photos. It was not until years later, sitting next to other tiers, that I figured out how far off I had been.

Even so, I kept at it. And through all of it, the learning curve, the bad habits, the late nights, my vise never gave me a reason to quit.

The Renzetti Traveler 2200 was a gift from my wife when we first started dating, 18 years ago. An upgrade from the simple kit vise I had tied on since the beginning. The jaw is chipped now, but it still holds hooks  just fine. Since then, I have tied everything on it from tiny midges to 6/0 predator flies.

Going on two decades with this vise. Now it’s helping teach my kids, and maybe one day it’ll be theirs. Photo: Rick Mikesell

It has been dropped, shoved in drawers, stuffed in duffel bags on faraway trips, and knocked off more benches than I can count. It has been treated like a tool, and it keeps working. These days, I keep it stashed on a shelf high enough to stay clear of the kids.

Aside from a vise rack and a materials clip I added years ago, along with lots of spilled super glue, it is the same vise it was on day one. Smooth rotary action, easy jaw adjustment, and the very handy bobbin cradle for palmering and laying in lead wraps.

Built for a Lifetime

The Traveler 2200 is not the cheapest vise out there. Expect to spend around $265, but for what it delivers, it is a solid value. It takes the original Traveler design from 1988 and tightens everything up.

Notable features include:

• Anodized aluminum construction for a longer lasting finish
• Black oxide cam jaws with a polyurethane O ring for smoother wear
• Rotary tension screw for dialing in resistance
• Available with a  five by five inch powder coated base with a seven inch stem or a coated C clamp with an eight inch stem

I use the base version, and it has always proven stable and sturdy, at home or on the go, as its namesake implies.

Still on the Bench

I am not overly sentimental about gear. I do not keep things around just because they have been with me a long time. But I have never once felt the need to replace this vise.

Tying flies is not something I look forward to. It is part of the grind. A necessity. The Traveler makes it less of a hassle. It does the job every time so I can have the ammo I need for memorable days on the water.

Check Out Renzetti’s Traveler Series Vises Here