Travel fly tying kit

[Brutha]

Hi All,

Due to my job I have to spend a fair bit of time away from home and in hotels.... It occurred to me that I might spend some of that time tying flies to be used when I am back at home.

Now, I have seen the rather impressive C&F travel kit http://www.sportfish.co.uk/c-f-marco-polo-fly-tying-system.html?gclid=CJzyquHT-8UCFdHMtAodyW0AUw - but as sexy as it looks, it would be a bit of an extravagant purchase for me, given that I can hardly tie the simplest of flies yet!

So, does anyone have any recommendations for something along the same lines, but for a much lower price?

Cheers!

Brutha

[rannoch raider]

Veniard are doing a package of tools and materials called the Premium Fly tying Kit. it retails for about £50 to £60. They claim it has sufficient materials to tie thousands of flies.
There is no vice with this kit so you'd need to buy one. Whatever you choose, it would likely bring you a massive saving on what you were looking at.

[Highlander]

£500? & that is just for the tools.are you aff yer nut. Why do you not just buy a wee Stanley cantilever box & fill it yourself with materials you might actually use.

Tight Lines

[haresear]

Being possessed of limited fly tying skills I tend only to use the following tools on a regular basis:

Vice (pedestal), scissors, bobbin holder, whip-finish tool, nail clippers.

How about a Snowbee travel vice for less than £40, http://www.tedcarter.co.uk/snowbee/snowbee-fly-mate-vices
Chuck the rest of your tools in a tupperware box and you have just saved yourself about £400

Alex

[claytonmcnie]

I tie most days when overseas, but I would not spend that kind of money on my permanent tying kit.
But as highlander says, small plastic toolbox from supermarket/b and q or something and throw in some stuff you might use.

[Robbie]

If your not flying and weight is not an issue you may be better with a standard pedestal vice. The Snowbee flymate is a good vice, but I have heard of people have issues with the ball joint version.

Unfortunately I cannot really comment on travel vices as I have never used one, the C&F tools I have used have been very well made and nice to use. The vice may be expensive but if you can afford it why the hell not. Cheaper alternatives may involve compromises which may well niggle when your using the vice, especially if you use it a lot.

[Fishtales]

I use an old plastic box that a an electric drill came in. Vice; bobbin holder; scissors; a small compartmented box for hooks, thread, tinsel and floss; another flat food storage box for feathers and capes. Remember though some countries will confiscate some feathers and furs if they find them.

[Brutha]

Thanks all! Yes, think the only option is to put something together myself.... The nice thing with the C&F kit was that it also includes a vice and it all packs down very small (indeed, I am generally flying, so weight is important). Still, it's not enough of a "nice thing" to justify that price, at least for me 

[Robbie]

I have never used one, but have heard some say good things about Regal Vices so this may be worth a look:

http://www.orvis.co.uk/p/regal-travel-vise/6c21

[corsican dave]

https://www.lifeventure.co.uk/product/washgear/wash-bags/wash-bags

this is a superb bag which'll do just what you need. the plastic wallet inside is ideal for your tools and is scissor proof. and here's a vice that won't break the bank and will take apart to fit flat in the bag : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIRCRAFT-GRADE-ALUMINIUM-FLY-TYING-VICE/291436316298?_trksid=p2141725.c100338.m3726&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20141212152715%26meid%3Dc1134beee7a249189511c8a9042e8f66%26pid%3D100338%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D30%26sd%3D391118407759
(tip: take the vice out of the g-clamp for packing)
your biggest problem will be deciding which materials to pack! I put my hooks in the mesh pocket on the outside, spools of thread in the inside pocket (shown with toothbrush in photo), my materials in the large "towel" compartment and my vice on top of that. a bottle of varnish and maybe some dubbing wax and you're good to go.
you're looking at around £20 for one of these, significantly less if you get a sale somewhere. I think the fishpond equivalent is about 4 times that......