The best travel fishing rods

Nine sections might sound like a tent pole, but Daiwa’s Legalis Travel Rod joins together to form a responsive rod that has an action just like a two or three-piece rod.

Fished at the full 10ft it’s ideal for launching lures or a ledger rig, but if you’re fishing tighter swims, you can shorten it to 9ft without losing its balance. This adaptability makes it perfect for everything from canal and river lure work to light sea fishing off piers or harbour walls.

It packs down to just 40cm, and supplied in a 45cm hard travel case, it will fit neatly into a backpack, suitcase, or even behind the passenger seat of your car. Stored easily and ready at a moment’s notice if the opportunity to cast a line presents itself.

With a fast-to-progressive action and a casting range of 20 to 50g, it’s more than capable of handling a multitude of fishing opportunities. This rod should be in your suitcase before your sunscreen.

Not every fishing trip is planned and sometimes you just wish you had a rod on hand to make the most of an opportunity, whether it's at home or abroad. That’s where the Shakespeare Ugly Stik Travel Spin rod comes in. Compact, rugged, and built for light to medium spinning, it’s ideal for chucking little spinners, spoons or jigs at fish like perch, bass, zander and trout whenever the opportunity arises.

The 1.98m blank is both slim and strong, enough backbone to stop any decent fish you are likely to hook, but soft enough for small lures and accurate flicks into tight spots. It breaks into four sections, each just 54cm long, so it’ll fit in a suitcase, rucksack or behind a car seat without fuss. Whether you’re on a weekend away or heading off-grid, it’s a rod that doesn’t ask for much space but delivers every time you fancy a few casts.

It’s as simple as it is tough. EVA Handle, single leg guides and supplied in a protective tube that makes it genuinely travel-ready. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a walk in the woods and comes across hidden pool full of wild fish, then you want this rod with you.

If you take your fishing seriously and are looking to spend a little more on a higher quality travel rod, the Westin W2 Seabass Travel rod fits the bill perfectly. Built on a high quality blank, you wouldn't even know it was a travel rod such is the performance this rod delivers.

As the name suggests, it is great for catching bass with in the UK, but it also makes for a great rod for catching tropical species that are known to put your gear through far more punishment than species you would normally catch.

The responsiveness of these rods really help you work a variety of lures their full potential, whether you are ripping lures along the surface or bouncing creature-bait style lures slowly along the bottom, you will stay in direct contact and be able to feel exactly what is going on.

As you would expect, the W2 rods are built to withstand harsh salter environments, being corrosion resistant with full SeaGuides eyes throughout and a quality SG reel seat.

The four section design packs down to around 67cm, allowing it to fit in most suitcases, bags, or even attached to a bicycle.

Fly fishing is becoming more and more popular, especially in saltwater so if you are heading off somewhere tropical, the Shakespeare Oracle 3 Fly rod is a great choice that won't cost the earth.

Available in a range of lengths and casting weights, there will be something to suit any angler or destination, and the four-section design allows you to pack in away so it is available at a moments notice. The rod also comes in a very sturdy hardcore holdall to protect it if in a suitcase or in your boot.

The rod is unbelievably light so you won't get a sore wrist easily, even casting the biggest flies, and the fast action allows you to quickly set the hook, perfect if you are fishing for tiny brown trout or even wary bonefish. The guides are ceramic-lined to prevent premature wear from constantly stripping line through them.

The Shimano Alivio Slim TE GT is a telescopic all-rounder that punches well above its price tag.  The 2.7m (9ft) model is best suited to the travelling angler, and is just as capable flicking a spinner down the canal as it is to launching lures off rocks.

The blank (XT30) is surprisingly slim for a rod in this bracket and made from tough carbon composite that shrugs off bumps and dinks. That makes it ideal for young or newer anglers, or just anyone who wants a budget rod they can take anywhere.

It’s fitted with Shimano’s Hardlite guides, so you’re fine with braid or mono, and you won’t have to worry about corrosion in saltwater. The comfortable handle gives you a solid grip and the whole thing folds down neatly thanks to its telescopic design. It’s affordable, durable and more capable than plenty of rods that cost twice as much.

With a wallet friendly price tag the Abu Garcia Tormentor Travel Rod is far more capable than its price might suggest. Designed for anglers who like to travel light and keep things simple.

Supplied in 3 (6ft & 7ft) or 4-piece (8ft, 9ft & 10ft) blanks, it packs down small enough to stash in a backpack, a carry-on, or in the boot of the car. It’s ideal for chucking soft plastics along the canal on your lunch break or jigging from a pier if you have a few hours to kill.

The multi-piece build doesn’t compromise the action either it fishes just like a standard two-piece rod, with a smooth, moderate-fast feel that’s just right for working lures. Constructed using 24T carbon and fitted with stainless LTS SIC guides, cork handle, and a sleek burgundy blank it looks the part.

The Shakespeare Firebird Telescopic Rod is ideal for those who want something that’s budget friendly, easy to pack, simple to use, and capable for whatever fishing opportunities present themselves at home or abroad. Whether it’s tucked into a case for a holiday or stashed in the boot for those spur-of-the-moment sessions, this rod's compact design means it’s always ready to go.

Its telescopic build collapses down to 63-67cm in seconds, available in 7ft, 8ft, 9ft and 10ft models, with casting weights ranging from 20g to 50g, making it ideal for travel or tight storage spaces. But despite its portability, it still feels reassuringly robust when extended and in your hand.

Sporting a EVA handle that’s comfortable even when you’re casting all day. Add in the titanium oxide double-leg guides and you’ve got a rod that’ll hold its own casting spinners or as a rod you use in a Spanish harbour catching mullet on bread from the hotel restaurant.

This isn’t just a rod for beginners, either. It’s got enough backbone to handle a range of species and enough finesse to keep things fun. Light, practical, and surprisingly capable despite its price.

The Abu Garcia Diplomat V2 does what so many travel rods try to do it feels like and behaves just like a conventional two-piece, but when it’s packed down, it’s compact size means it can be stored away in the car or packed in your luggage when going on holiday.

Built in four or five sections dependant on length, and capable of handling lures up to 55g depending on the model, this rod is designed with mobility in mind. Holidays, weekends away, spur-of-the-moment trips to the river or harbour wall, it’s made for anglers who don’t like to sit still. Whether you’re flicking lures at perch in a canal or targeting bass from coastal rocks, there’s a model in the range to suit.

You get a crisp semi-fast action, slim blank, and a protective travel tube. It’s a serious rod for those who take their travel fishing seriously. Perfect to have in the back of the car and forget about it, until you come across that perfect fishing spot and you’re ready to make the most of it.

If there’s a rod that sums up the ‘just in case’ approach to fishing, it’s this one. The Caperlan Travel Whip folds down to just 57cm, which means it’ll slot into a suitcase, stash neatly under a car seat, or tuck into a rucksack next to your sandwiches. Whether you're on a family break at a holiday park, mooching round a campsite lake, or fancying a quiet hour on the canal or fen, this little whip is always ready.

At 5m, it’s long enough to reach the fish but short enough to handle comfortably, especially for beginners or those just after a quick, simple setup. The fitted flick tip makes it easy, just loop on a pre-tied rig and you're fishing. No faff. No hassle.

It’s built from solid fibreglass, so it’ll take a bit of rough treatment, and it feels reassuringly sturdy in the hand. For the price, and the sheer convenience, it’s hard to beat. Every angler should have one of these knocking about somewhere, just in case the opportunity comes up.