Daiwa Ardito JITTE Telescopic Rods - Not Just Another Travel Rod

If you're an angler looking for a travel rod for your next adventure, you'll find plenty of options online or in big-box stores. However, these rods are generally as gimmicky as they look and come at a discounted price point because of it. A travel rod, especially a telescopic travel rod, provides abundant opportunities for use when space is tight, whether camping, backpacking, flying, or driving to your next destination.

Self-Containing Rod Storage

The Daiwa Ardito JITTE Telescopic Travel Rods redefine what many people think when they hear "telescopic fishing rod." Simply put, there is no other like the Daiwa Ardito JITTE. Utilizing a self-contained rod storage, this is the first travel rod that uses its handle to fully encompass the rod blanks and guides, creating a baton-like tube for the most compact travel rod built. Collapsed, the Ardito JITTE measures only 18.5" in length.

This name is not insignificant either, as JITTE translates to a blunt melee weapon used in Japan many centuries ago, much like its collapsed baton design.

Construction

Daiwa provides an excellent all-around size construction for multiple techniques and baits. This lineup includes a spinning and a casting rod, each measuring 6'7" with a medium power blank. So whether you're pursuing a stream for trout, climbing around rocks on a river for smallmouth, or pond hopping around town, these rods are designed to handle just about anything.

The Ardito JITTE is constructed from a sensitive, lightweight graphite blank that features Daiwa's V-Flex Ferrule Joint System, which strategically places each ferrule, allowing for the smoothest bend and powerful action. This system ensures that every hookset and fish caught feels just as if you're fishing with a one-piece rod.

As you extend each section of the telescopic rod, you will notice the free-floating guide system. Noticeably, these free-floating guides are something you don't see often, but this design allows you to collapse this rod as compactly as possible, which is unachievable with fixed guides.

Assembly/Disassembly

The most important aspect of the Daiwa Ardito JITTE is its assembly and disassembly. To correctly assemble this rod, you unscrew the cover and secure it to the bottom section, which now becomes the rod's handle. From there, you will extend each rod section individually, starting at the tip. As you come down the rod's blank, you will pull each section out and perform a slight twist to lock the blank in place securely. As you meet the free-floating guides, slide them down the blank until they are snug.

Note: The anatomy of the Daiwa Ardito JITTE features eight guides in total, with the spinning model featuring one collapsible stripper guide.

As you finish your outing and disassemble the rod, you will repeat this process in reverse, starting at the bottom of the rod. With a simple twist, you will loosen each section and collapse it into itself. As you meet each free-floating guide, lightly tap each guide to unseat them. When the rod is fully collapsed, unscrew the rod handle and screw that cover over the rod blanks and guides, forming your baton-like tube.

It is important to note that with a rod of this design, there is very little room between each collapsible section, meaning you do not want any debris on the blank while disassembling. Always remove as much debris as possible, whether sand, mud, grass, or water, from the rod to eliminate any binding or constricting during the assembly or disassembly process.

Watch and learn more about this process from Daiwa directly here!

Conclusion

The Daiwa Ardito JITTE Telescopic Travel Rods are quality travel rods that retail for $199.99. To some, this may seem steep for a travel rod, but consider the quality of construction and design. You will not find a more compact, durable, and intuitive design in any other travel rod.

With the ability to easily store this rod in a backpack, duffle bag, kayak, boat, car, or RV, there is no shortage of opportunities. If you're an angler, who doesn't want to sacrifice quality for a compact rod while on the move, these rods are for you. Don't settle for less; make the most of your adventure with the Daiwa Ardito JITTE Telescopic Travel Rods.

Check out our full selection of Daiwa rods and reels here!