Atlas Vise & Traveler 2200 Gear Review
With our new line-up of fly tying vises slowly trickling into the shop, my days are filled with excited ohhhs and ahhhs. Since we are in the midst of fly tying season, I can't help but demo every vise on the shelf. Two vises that have gained a lot of attention in Sandpoint are the Atlas Vise by Wolff Indiana and the Traveler 2200 by Renzetti. Two reliable vises with a similar "tying on the go" look. After tying a couple dozen flies on each vise, I have noticed a few pros and cons I feel the common tier should be aware of. First, let's look at the simple facts.
Wolff Indiana Atlas Vise - $159.99
- Lifetime Warranty
- Full Rotary
- 7/0-32 hook range
- Comes with base and clamp
- Made in USA
Renzetti Traveler 2200Â - $189.99
- Lifetime Warranty
- Full Rotary
- 4/0-28 hook range
- Comes with base or clamp
- Comes with bobbin cradle
- Made in USA
Here are 5 categories where I found some notable differences.
Jaws
In my opinion, the jaw is the most important part of the vise. I found the Traveler to excel in this category. I tested the jaws with hooks ranging from 3/0- 18, and the Traveler held each hook with authority requiring minimal adjusting. The Atlas needed an adjustment with almost every new hook size. Also, if you don't set the bend of the hook perfectly in the Atlas's grooved jaws, the hook tends to slip as soon as you tie on. Not once did a hook slip from the jaws of the Traveler.
Base
I found the Atlas to have the superior base. It is a much heavier base, and is a comparable size to the Traveler. The Traveler still has a great base, but the Atlas's is better. Not to mention the Atlas comes with a base and a C clamp included in the price. With the Renzetti Traveler, you have to choose between the two.
Convenience
Once I got a couple flies into each vise, it was easy to see the Traveler was a better fit for me. Wrapping thread onto the hook was easy with the Traveler. I occasionally bumped into the jaw's handle of the Atlas, leading me to re-route certain thread wraps.
Usage
There is definitely a learning curve when operating the Traveler. Finding the perfect rotating tension between the two knobs took some trial and error. The Atlas has one knob, making finding the perfect tension as easy as possible. The Traveler and Atlas both held their tension very well over the use of several flies.
True Rotary
The Atlas comes out slightly ahead on this category. The jaw length on the Atlas is adjusted by a single easy-to-use knob. The Traveler however requires a flat head screw driver, and can only be adjusted to 3 lengths. I liked the Atlas better in this category because of its simplicity. I can adjust the Atlas to the desired rotation in seconds, while the Traveler takes a couple minutes. Once adjusted, both vise's rotary are very true.
The Atlas and Traveler are two excellent vises that any fly tier would be happy tying with. If you are interested in either of these two dependable vises, stop by a North40 Flyshop and tie a couple flies. I would love to hear your preference of the two.