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Ripple Fly Box Review

August 20, 201816 CommentsFly BoxesBy Jason Klass

Ripple Box Fly BoxWhen I was first getting into fly fishing, there were basically three ways fly boxes stored flies: compartments, clips, or foam. There were some other clever designs companies like Perrine experimented with such as coil springs or magnets, but those never really took off and the trinity above dominated.

Compartments were great for dry flies because they didn’t crush wings or hackle barbules, but meant you often had to do a little precarious excavation to find the right fly, and if you dropped the box while open, it spelled an epic loss of dozens or even hundreds of flies.

Clips held the flies securely, but really only worked best for wet flies and nymphs as they tended to “flatten” one side of the dry fly by crushing its hackle.

Foam seemed to be the most popular because it allowed for more flexible organization, was cheap, and (theoretically) held the flies securely enough to prevent loss if dropped. The problem was that foam (especially open-cell foam like that used in Scientific Anglers boxes) only held larger-sized hooks well and smaller sizes would eventually wriggle their way loose during transport. Plus, even closed-cell foam eventually wore out (even faster if using barbed hooks).

So, like many anglers, I employed different types of fly boxes for different types of flies: dries went into compartments, wets and nymphs went into clips, and larger nymphs and streamers went into foam boxes.

In recent years, there have been some innovative designs that have tried to solve some of the problems associated with the traditional ones. Among these, the most popular has become slotted foam. Rather than piercing the foam with the hook point, slotted foam allows you to slide the hook bend into a tight slit, thus reducing wear and tear. While in general, this does increase the lifespan of the foam, it still wears out because when compressed, the foam has “memory” and will eventually lose its ability to hold flies securely (especially smaller flies). And, in terms of organization, they’re a little limited. All of the slotted foam boxes I’ve ever seen have had evenly spaced rows–which is great if you’re storing flies of a uniform size. But not so great if you want to carry a variety of sizes. Anyone who’s ever tried to put a row of Wooly Buggers behind a row of Elk Hair Caddis knows what I’m talking about. Trying to make different sized flies accessible by not burying them in a shroud of maribou often means skipping a row, which just wastes space and limits the box’s capacity.

A company in the UK has set out to address some of these problems with their new Ripple Box and I think they’ve succeeded.

At first glance, the Ripple box doesn’t look all that impressive. But once you start using it, the genius of the design quickly becomes apparent.

Ripple Box Fly BoxRather than foam, the Ripple Box uses sheet of silicone that is folded into “ripples” which create slots that you slide the hook bend into the same way you would with a slotted foam box. But this design has several advantages.

Ripple Box Fly BoxFor one, the silicone isn’t being compressed–the ripples expand open when the hook is in and contract when it’s out. This means it doesn’t form a memory like foam and will never wear out. This plus the sturdy polycarbonate shell makes for an extremely durable box that (unless you run it over with your car) will probably last longer than you will.

But another advantage of the design (that I didn’t realize until I started loading it up) is that the 15 slots which run the entire length of the box give you carte blanche to organize your flies any way you want. There are no predetermined rows of slots so you can simply slide the flies closer together or further apart to accommodate varying sizes and maximize space. Also, you can organize your flies in either vertically or horizontally, giving you even more options.

Ergonomically, I really like the way this box feels in the hand (it won’t jump out and make a run for it like some boxes) and the tall, narrow design fits better into the tall, narrow pockets commonly found on many vests, chest packs and fishing shirts making a more efficient use of space and reducing bulk.

Ripple Box Fly BoxThere are other nice accoutrements on the Ripple box, including a sturdy locking latch that will not spring open if dropped with an integrated competition hook gauge …

Ripple Box Fly BoxDual lanyard rings (you can hang it around your neck!) …

Ripple Box Fly Box

The box isn’t 100% waterproof, but it is very water resistant and floats so even if you drop it in the river, chances are your flies will still be dry if you’re able to recover it.

Ripple Box Fly BoxYou might be wondering about fly size. While I use this box primarily with larger tenkara-specific flies (#12 – #10), I’ve tested it down to #18 and the ripples hold them, though not as well. I’d say it works best with nymphs and streamers size #14 and above.

Ripple Box Fly BoxHere are some specs from the manufacturer:

  • 15 full length silicone fly channels – holds up to 150 flies.
  • Twin front facing lanyards
  • Secure latch with integrated competition fly gauge – 5/8 and 15/16 measures
  • ‘Dunk proof’ seal – it floats!
  • Easy view clear lid
  • Stacking geometry
  • Pocket size – 165mm x 90mm x 25mm
  • Weight: 160g

Some might say the Ripple Box is a little on the heavy side at 5.6 oz. If you’re someone who carries 2,000 patterns with you, you probably won’t want to stuff ten of these in your vest. But it will easily hold enough flies for a day’s worth of fishing and as someone who typically only carries one or two boxes anyway, the trade off for durability and organization is a win. Overall, I like this box a lot and think others will too. It’s the most innovative design I’ve seen in years and I think has the potential to usurp the favoritism of slotted foam.

For more information, reviews, and a great video, check out the Ripple Box here.

fly boxesfly boxes for tenkaratenkara
About the author

Jason Klass

Jason is an avid fly angler and backpacker. As a former fly fishing guide originally from Western New York, he moved to Colorado and became an early adopter of tenkara which perfectly suited the small, high altitude streams and lakes there. He has not fished a Western-style fly rod for trout since.

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16 Comments
  1. August 20, 2018 at 7:45 pm
    Michael Agneta

    Pretty cool box Jason. Guess it’s the natural evolution of what Tacky started by (I think first) introducing silicone.
    I could definitely find a use for that when it comes to finding a home for some of my streamers. Dig it.

  2. August 21, 2018 at 9:19 am
    Keira

    Hey Jason. Its great to see you! It looks like a great idea. Do you say it will hold 150 flies or do they? It is pictured with less than 50 and yes, there is space for more. With Tenkara I don’t often take that many. Just wondering.

  3. August 21, 2018 at 9:33 am
    Jason Klass

    Hi Keira! 150 is what the manufacturer says. You could fit 150 if you’re using smaller flies. But realistically, for tenkara flies (assuming something like a #12 sakasa kebari), I would say it’s more like 100. Imagine you go 15 across and 7 deep. That’s 105 which is plenty for me. I went fishing yesterday and only used 2 flies. YMMV though.

  4. August 21, 2018 at 2:26 pm
    Jim

    Jason
    Perhaps it is just me but $50.07 for a fly box seems a little extravagant. For that I could hire a caddy to carry the flies for me. I apologize if I got the exchange rate in correct?

  5. August 21, 2018 at 2:30 pm
    Jason Klass

    Hey Jim, that’s a valid comment. But I calculate the exchange as $38. At any rate, it all depends on what you’re looking for. If I find something I really like, I’m usually OK with paying for it. I have fly boxes that were over $100. Also, considering that it will last your lifetime rather than having to be replaced, you could consider it a long-term investment. But no piece of gear is right for everyone. I just like to put options out there.

  6. August 21, 2018 at 2:45 pm
    Eddie

    Wow box looks cool..caddis flies On 14s and 12s..could get maybe 10 doz.in them….

  7. August 22, 2018 at 9:02 am
    Eddie Fast

    These look really good. I calculate them at $38 also. Are they available anywhere in the US yet or just on line from Ripple. I would like to see a two sided box. One side shallow for small flies and nymphs and a deeper side for buggers, mice and larger flies to not mash hackles.

  8. August 25, 2018 at 8:51 am
    Daniel Podobed

    Is Deer Creek the manufacturer? Because they haven had an original product yet. They ripped off Clear Cure Goo/Solarez, the ripped off Renzetti with their fish heads, they have terrible 3d eyes, the ripped their vise design off of Predator Vise, now they rip off Tacky. I’ll never support that company.

  9. August 25, 2018 at 9:34 am
    Jason Klass

    Hi Daniel, I have no idea who the manufacturer is. But I will say that this is not a “rip off” of the Tacky fly box. It’s a different design. Just because it uses silicone as a material doesn’t make it a rip off. If it did, then all the hundreds of boxes out there that use foam as a material would also be rip offs.

  10. August 25, 2018 at 9:37 am
    Mark Sutton

    Just received mine
    Very pleased

  11. August 25, 2018 at 9:39 am
    Mark Sutton

    They r a very friendly English company

  12. August 26, 2018 at 1:28 pm
    Ian

    Hi Jason, prices in the UK (still in the EU) have to be shown gross with 20% VAT (sales tax) included, so the export price to a non-EU country should be GBP25 or about $32 plus shipping.

  13. August 28, 2018 at 4:09 am
    Josh Richards

    Hi All,

    Ripple Box is an independent UK company, our plastic components are manufactured in Newcastle, our silicone is produced in Sheffield and the rest of the fabrication and assembly is done in Brighton by me!
    Currently our boxes are only available via our online store, but we will soon be ready to start talks with retailers (internationally) and cant wait to see ripplebox on shelves, readily available for those anglers looking for something a little bit different.

    Cheers,
    Josh
    Fisherman + Ripplebox Founder

    @Eddie Fast – We have been playing with ideas for double sided, so watch this space!
    @ Mark Sutton – 🙂

  14. December 25, 2018 at 7:50 am
    dave

    great box but as said before think for £25 here in the UK its a bit OTO

    will wait sure it will come down in price around £10 then its a deal

  15. February 3, 2019 at 2:01 pm
    Yves

    Hé! Jason, I got mine and waiting for the for a Tacky Flydrophobic SD which has long slots like the Ripple. One thing I noticed with the Ripple, when pulling a fly out I sometimes get the point sticking in the silicone if I don’t pull it right because of the gap created by the folds. Mine has two colours white and grey silicon.

  16. February 3, 2019 at 6:22 pm
    Jason Klass

    Hey Yves, thanks for the heads up. I haven’t notice that. I wonder if the silicone is different on yours than mine since they’re different colors.

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About Me

Jason Klass is a former fly fishing guide & casting instructor based in Colorado. He was an early adopter of tenkara in the West and has been fishing the method for a variety of species since 2009. Read more >>

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