![]() ![]() Overall, they both do a good job of protecting your fly rod but when it comes to quality I prefer the quality of the River Quiver. The River Smith has an extended option that will fit 11’ 4” rods. Both companies have rod carriers that will fit 10ft rods. The River Smith also offers color option or an option for your Euro Nymphing rod (prices vary). ![]() There are some screws for the top part of the mount for the Thule Rod Vault compared to the River Smith where you slide in a metal T bar.īoth the silver 4 banger and the Thule Rod Vault cost $599.99 each. Thule’s Rod Vault has a couple extra parts for mounting (see the picture below). ![]() The installation for both are very similar but when it comes to the amount of parts and how it is mounted the River Smith wins. When it comes to closing, you have to reach higher to close the Rod Vault than the River Quiver. If the wind is strong enough however, it will shut any rod carriers reel compartment. I prefer the River Quiver, opening from the side as wind can't close it as easy. Not to mention, if a gust of wind came and hit it then it would fall down. However, the Rod Vault seemed to close by itself. The hinges seem to open easier on the Thule Rod Vault than the River Smith. The Thule reel box opens vertically (bottom to top) and the River Quiver hinge opens horizontally (left to right). The reel compartments open different ways. The River Quiver locks easier than the Thule Rod Vault. The River Quivers' Lock system is a regular button that also has a key slot on it. It seemed to get stuck on some of the Rod Vaults and didn't want to open like it was suppose to. However, as I installed them, I realized that the button didn’t seem as durable as I would have liked. To unlock the Rod Vault, you push the button and a flap opens with the assistance of a spring. If the bolts came loose your rod vault would not close properly. When putting together the Rod vault, I learned that the locking mechanism is held together by some bolts to keep the lock in place. With fly rods being so valuable, a lock is very important to me. The Locking Mechanism on the Rod Vault Vs. The River Smith has 2 holes on each pole that line up and you can assembly it rather quickly. Since there were 4 different metal clasps on the Rod Vault sometime lining them up will be a little more difficult. Not to mention that if you over tightened the clasps it would mess with the tubing on the rod vault. When putting the 4 tubes all together I found it much more difficult to assemble. This is in comparison to the 4 metal clamps that hold the rod vault together. The River Quiver comes in half and has two plates (one on top, one on the bottom) that screw together to hold the River quiver together. Rather than 4 separate tubes on the rod carrier there are 2 thick compartments that have spots for 2 rods on each (4 banger River Quiver). Once I got my hands on one, I was impressed with the product. While the build and concept of the Rod Vault at the time was the best on the market, I soon came to find out that there was a company called River Smith producing a very similar product. During assembly, I found some of the parts weren't as durable as I expected. These two look almost identical when mounted onto a vehicle but have some differences when it comes to construction and the overall quality.Īt Denver Outfitters, I helped assemble and build Rod Vaults for some time. Primarily we are going to be looking at the difference between the Rod Vault by Thule and the River Quiver by River Smith. So how do you know which one to choose? Hopefully, I can help make the decision a little easier. Here I break down the similarities and differences so you can make the best choice for your rod storage. But, once I heard about the River Quiver I had to check it out. Having my rods at the ready means if my girl heads out for a last minute ladies night or I get off work while the sun is setting I have my rods ready to go when I see a prime fishing spot! As a former employee of Denver Outfitters (now Thule), I have hands on experience, building the Rod Vault. Which is why a quality fly rod holder is an essential rack accessory. As an avid fisherman, I am always looking to get out on the water. ![]()
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