Help me choose a rod (on a budget)!

Stowaway's the best deal of the above, followed by the Orvis, then the TFO. Check out Sierra Trading Post too- I think that they had some March Brown rods (of a similar quality to the others that you are considering) on sale for a while, haven't checked lately. But the Stowaway is a perfectly fine rod for the coin...
 
Dan

Thanks doubletaper, I did miss LL Bean's rod. Eight pieces, wow! That should fit in a shirt pocket! 

You are probably right, pghmarty. But my particular requirement stems from the fact that the rod will be used in conjuction with backpacking more often than not. Also, since so many rods for so long have been manufactured as multi-piece, I guess the industry has most of the bugs worked out to the point of making a decent rod that way. Another point, in my case, is that my level of expertise doesn't deserve a Helios or Z-axis class of rod.

tfo rods r ok good warranty
I got steve from midwest custom rods to build my last 4 rods
he does great work and he his prices are dam good you can check out his web page if u like
FC

every rod has a different action, even if they all say fast of med fast, they are diffeent.  cast all the rods you are considering, one may suite your style more than the others.  because at that level 1 road is not 'better' than another, they are just better for you.  each one of those rods makers and suppliers will take returns with no questions asked, so take advanage of it and buy all 4 or 5 rods and return the ones you don't want.

Thanks Lucky,  that deals is sounding too good to pass up! You make some excellent points and as I am just starting down this slippery slope, this setup is probably appropriate for me. Oh boy! Now I have to make a decision.

as far as fly rods, il see more and more fly rod makers are going to 4 piece rods even a complete line of them. first they are ok for carry ons on airplanes. they're easier to put in a car as a back up without getting in the way when you are not fishing. i  drive a van so i don't realy need a breakdown rod but i ride a cycle so in this respect the multpiece is the way to go. my friend got a multi piece because he fishes the yaugh. with his bycycle.
as far as them coming apart while fishing, like i wrote earlier there are ways to prevent it happening often but you still have to be aware when it starts to loosen. you don't want to wait untill the top section flies off in the water when you have a #20 midge on the end of the tippet.   

Hi JMZ82,
 
When I say backpacking, I don't mean a couple 100 feet from the car, through the brush; I'm talking out for days, treking in the backcountry.
 
The advantage of multi-piece rods when backpacking is that you can fit the rod into your backpack if it is about 20" long. Even if you attached that rod to the outside of the backpack, you don't want it protruding further than the backpack or else it is more vunerable to getting snagged on something.
 
When backpacking, the weight of your gear is of utmost importance. So your rod case will be those clear plastic florescent light tubes that you can find at Home Depot. There are some slightly heavier and slightly sturdier cellulose acetate butyrate tubes you can order from specialty suppliers. For reasonalbly careful adults the 1/16" wall thickness is fine (the 1/32" thickness is equivalent to the light protector tubes).
 
Also, for scouts, significantly heavier polycarbonate tubes can be used in case the fish aren't biting and they want to play stickball instead.
 
The butyrate tubes weigh only a few ounces, including end caps, for a 20" tube. They can be purchased here ...
 
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=usplastic&category%5Fname=78&product%5Fid=4905

I never tryed one.Yet have seen articles were the Cabellas Stowaway won big in vote comparision over rods costy twice as much.
I will have to buy one. Hope this helps??

I hate endorsing something I have never tryed. But everything I ever read was more then positive with the Stowayay..