3M Company’s Powerlux™ Composites feature a revolutionary technology that transforms how carbon fiber materials perform. This breakthrough is enabled by 3M’s unique ability to formulate resin systems with high concentrations of spherical nano-sized silica particles. Because the particles are so small, they are able to flow between individual filaments of carbon fiber, providing a dense matrix of strength throughout the entire composite. The resulting material enables designers to develop rods that are not only incredibly strong and durable, but also lighter in weight and more sensitive.

Standard composite materials have lower resin stiffness and are prone to cracking or buckling under the stresses a rod sees during a good day of fishing. The more nanoparticles the resin contains, the higher the crack resistance and overall rod toughness. The Powerlux™ composite material contains an astonishing 40 percent of nanoparticles uniformly dispersed and densely packed throughout the resin.

While other companies have reported adding nano technology to their composite materials, none have been successful at adding more than single-digit percentages. Carbon nano tubes, for example, have a high length-to-width ratio of 15:1, so they are not able to disperse uniformly throughout the carbon fibers as shown in figure below.

3M™ Powerlux™ is truly a game changer that bends the rules of carbon fiber composites. The tiny, spherical nanoparticles create such a strong bond between the carbon fibers that rod stress is more evenly dissipated, leading to a significantly stronger, more durable and more flexible rod. By improving strength and sensitivity, 3M™ Powerlux™ gives you performance when it counts.

FIG. CAPTION: Other nano technologies, like carbon nano tubes, cannot filter between carbon fibers due to their higher length-to-width ratio of 15:1. 3M™ Powerlux™ spherical nanoparticles have a 1:1 length-to-width ratio, uniquely allowing for more than 40 percent of nanoparticles to be uniformly dispersed.

"My new Cross S1 9' - 5 wt. was performed superbly in B.C and Alberta. Accurate at all distances, it was perfect for the tough conditions encountered in the West. I could power casts through tough wind conditions while at the same time make delicate casts when required. Short or long casts from the drift boat were made with ease with the Cross S1.

The rod's light weight helped to offset tired muscles as we fished hard throughout the week. Although the rod is light it really has a strong backbone. This is a pleasant surprise as these two characteristics seldom go hand-in-hand. I quickly gained confidence when I discovered that this light rod could handle the big cutties and rainbows of the west. You can feel every pulse of the fish with the Cross S1 which makes fighting fish of all sizes extremely fun."

Stewart Jeffries

"Straight away I had a big grin on my face, this rod absolutely blew me away!  Casting as on the bank was effortless, the power of this 3 weight has to be experienced to be believed, I had to stop myself from putting out a longer and longer line, after all I was supposed to be fishing not casting…"

Read the whole story here.

"Thank you for involving me in the Cross S1 Flatsman Field Test. The Cross Series of Rods are the largest single step forward I have seen in Fly Rod Design in my career. I am proud to be a part of it. It was a pleasure to meet everyone in paradise, and to spend time with such a welcoming group. Thank you. Tight Lines and Happy Fishing."

Josh Frazier

Owner, Leland Flyfishing Outfitters

In Swedish only:

"Hej, Loop!
 
Ville bara gratulera till en fantastisk spöserie! Har nu fiskat intensivt i en månad med mitt Cross S1 9'6" #7 och måste säga att inget spö jag tidigare testat eller ägt har fungerat så ypperligt. Under de senaste 15 åren har jag ändå ägt de flesta toppmodeller av de största tillverkarna. 

1. 1. Spöt är det mest lättkastade top-of-the-line-spöt på marknaden. Man har fullständig kontroll på laddningsfasen och dessutom har man gott om tid att drifta och sätta in en accelerande kraft. Det går ju utmärkt att trycka på bra i framkastet utan att spöt kollapsar. Så länge man har koll på sin tracking verkar spöts fina dampingegenskaper göra att man sällan bränner kast när man trycker till lite extra.
2. Spöt är oerhört lätt och välbalanserat med en otroligt smäcker klinga. Det är först svårt att tro att en så slank klinga kan innehålla så mycket kraft. Matt klinga, precis som det ska vara, och bra komponenter. Korken på mitt exemplar var inte direkt spektakulär men välsandad och mycket behaglig. Mycket fin passning i holkarna och ett smart rullfäste. Uppskattar den rejäla tuben!
3. Jag skulle utan tvekan kunna klassa detta spö som #6-8. Jag fiskade på skygg havsöring i en liten å på västkusten och använde en WF6 med kort klump. I andra änden av spektrat testade jag ett par skjutklumpar på 20-21 gram. Bägge situationerna och allt däremellan hanterade spöt med bravur. M.a.o. finns här oändliga möjligheter för den enskilde fiskaren att hitta sina favoritlinor till varje situation.
4. Drillningsegenskaperna är riktigt bra. Jag har drillat allt från små öringar på 25 cm till laxbesor uppåt metern och strömgäddor på 4 kg och i samtliga fall tröttar klingan snabbt ut fisken. Den djupa följsamma aktionen gör också att det är ett nöja att även drilla mindre fisk på spöt. Som guide och provfiskare av olika vatten där jag sätter tillbaka 99% av fisken uppskattar jag särskilt att man så snabbt kan trötta ut fisken och kroka av. Inga problem att sätta hård press med tunna tafsar!
5. Spöt framkallar oerhörda "vill ha"-känslor. Samtliga av mina fiskebröder planerar nu ett köp av ett S1. Jag hade verkligen inte planerat ytterligare ett spököp i klass 7 den här säsongen men när Peter på Top Fly satte spöt i händerna på mig kändes det direkt att detta var något i hästväg. Jag har testat andra klingor med nanoteknik men de har känts mer som kastspön. S1:an är ett makalöst fiskeverktyg för den som vill njuta av varje sekund av sitt fiske."
   

Anonym

"So you know how a lot of companies, over hype and under deliver?

Well yesterday I finally got my hands on a couple of the Cross S1 rods to play with. The biggest problem was that the backing kept getting tangled in the guides with casting the new Cross S1 Flatsman 890.... I was actually nervous before finally getting to cast one. I mean what if the action sucked, or they were heavy, or they seemed cheap, or anything else one could imagine before taking delivery. The talk has been flying around like crazy, and I've been getting hit from every angle about Loop new Cross S1 rods. Only before everyone was talking the talk, but now we can all walk the walk. Absolutely the best rods I have ever cast. They truly are "The Game Changer". So congratulations to all of you. Outstanding!!!!"

Tim Pask

"So far, these are the best ever rods I‘ve cast with…"

Read the whole story here.

"I managed to get out to play with them and can definitely say they are the lightest and most powerful rods I have ever used. The action is slightly softer than I am used to but with a little practice they cast like a dream throwing a full line with ease. They have a fast recovery and the rod does all the work I simply guided it. I can only congratulate you on producing such a quality rod that not only is a joy to cast but cosmetically looks superb."

Mark Patterson

AAPGAI instructor

I wanted to send you a line to thank you for the opportunity to test your new invention in double handed rods, the Cross S1, 12 foot line 7. Loop has made many great rods in the past, but with this one I believe you have raised the bar yet again! I fished with it on the Stora Laxa river which is a medium size salmon river in Iceland. The rod is extremely light and I found myself occasionally, almost by accident, using it as a single hand rod! The rod was very accurate on smaller and medium sized casts and had lots of power that I could not even use as I was not fishing a big enough river. So all in all I believe you have created a rod that is suitable for smaller and medium size rivers where you need to be very accurate and precise in your casting, as well as for long distance powerful casting as there is so much power and strength built in to this light rod. One thing I enjoyed very much as Iceland is all about technical fishing was using the 12 foot 7 rod for the riffling hitch. The rods low weight makes it super-easy to lift high and strip the line fast to create the v-shape of the water with the hitched fly. Having a light rod like this is an enormous help when fishing sensitive waters which require lots of technique. The rod really helps you to create power, which means you don’t have to work so hard yourself, so at the end of the day you don’t feel tired at all. This rod fights fish very well and tire them out quickly which is very important when you are practicing catch and release. I can’t wait to get my hands on some more models of these new Cross S1 rods!"

Arni Baldursson

Simon Frobisher
Las Buitreras
February 2012