
Still Ugly? The Ugly Stik GX2 Gets a Makeover

Date: |
7/23/24 |
Tackle type: |
Rods |
Manufacturer: |
Pure Fishing -
Ugly Stik |
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Introduction: America's favorite fishing rod received a makeover this ICAST with the introduction of the GX2 Series, and the changes are
more than cosmetic and designed to improve both durability and sensitivity. But
the big question is are they still Ugly?

Meet the newest Ugly Stik, the
refreshed GX2
Still Ugly? We all grew up with them and while
most anglers think the name "Ugly Stik" refers to the orange, not so-attractive,
styling of these rods the name is actually a tongue and cheek way of describing
just how "ugly" tough these rods are. But let's face it, for many generations
the name as pretty on point as attractive design wasn't high up on the list of
attributes for these rods.

The GX2 continues to pay homage to
the brand with Red and yellow threading and graphics
The new GX2 rods pay homage to the previous
generation rods but features a much cleaner look, with less obnoxious colors,
and improvements in grip and reel seat materials. The red and yellow graphic and
threading do a nice job paying homage to the Ugly Stik legacy without being
obnoxious, and there are less red highlights than the previous GX2 rods, giving
the rods a cleaner more purpose-built look.

The foregrip is high density EVA
The engineers at Pure Fishing prioritized
strength, which is certainly on brand, but also wanted to improve sensitivity on
these new rods.
The new Ugly Stik GX2 is designed to build on its unbreakable
reputation, and adds new features that are designed to make it tougher than the
original GX2.

The GX2's "Ugly Tech" blank
remains unchanged as does the popular clear tip
The popular Clear Tip design and Ugly Tech construction remain
unchanged but the one-piece stainless steel Ugly Tuff guides have been improved
upon in the latest series with a proprietary coating to increase wear resistance
and prevent corrosion.

Guides are improved with a
proprietary Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating for more corrosion
resistance and improved wear resistance
The new GX2 also features a rubberized diamond EVA handle for
better grip and improved durability, and a new composite reel seat that is
designed for better hand feel and increased sensitivity. The multi-piece models
are also more user friendly now with added alignment markings.

The biggest cosmetic upgrade that
you can feel is a more durable rubberized X-Pattern EVA handle grip
The rods match up well with affordable Ugly Stik reels that
feature corrosion resistant composite components and a simple yet reliable 3
bearing system. The new GX2 will be available as standalone rods and with
combos.

Rods can be matched up with a
no-frills but well built Ugly Stik reel

Reels will be sold as part of
combos and standalone. Prices have yet to be announced but we expect combo
prices around $69-$79 depending on configuration
Our Quick
Take: Right before ICAST we got our first look and feel of one of the new
rod and perhaps most importantly it still looked and felt like an Ugly Stik.
Refreshing the series and completely going away from the identity of what makes
these rods so popular would be a mistake. The change in the grip design gives
the rod a much higher-end look and adds durability.

A look at a Ugly Stik spinning
combo
Most important of all is that the
Ugly Stik still stays true to their DNA. If they had introduced new and improved
cosmetics and sensitivity but sacrificed durability it would have been a big
miss. It looks like these new sticks, while slightly more refined, are still
built to take a beating from fish, and the anglers that wield them.

While the new GX2 rods get some
cosmetic and performance bumps I'm glad to see that they are still built tough
and aggressively priced
Also equally important is their
value. The new Ugly Stik GX2 rods will retail for $49.95, the same aggressive
price as the previous generation. Let's not make any mistake about it, these
rods are not Abu Garcia or Fenwick offerings when it comes to performance, but
they are not supposed to be. Ugly Stik rods are designed for every angler, and
are priced to be accessible to everyone, and even come with a 10 year warranty
providing peace of mind for anglers to crank on these rods just as hard as they
are intended to be fished. Cosmetic, durability, and sensitivity enhancements...
Check. Still Ugly?... Absolutely.

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