A little over a year ago, I posted about Hatch’s Tempest pliers, which are aluminum-bodied, corrosion resistance, premium priced, and designed for anglers and other fishing enthusiasts and pros. In a recent comment, baz made mention of the Tempest pliers’ $200 price tag.
It’s been a while since I wrote about the Tempest pliers, and so I checked to see if the price had changed. To my surprise, they were no longer available on Amazon, and the Hatch product page was taken down again. Digging further, I learned why – Hatch had come out with new pliers, the Nomad.
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Hatch Nomad pliers are similar to the Tempest pliers, but only in a general sense. Taking a closer look, just about every aspect is different.
These Nomad pliers are made from 6061 T6 aluminum, and finished with Type II anodizing. They’re available in blue, clear, and red colors.
The jaws are made from 1704 stainless steel, which Hatch says provides ultimate corrosion resistance. The closest alloy information I could find is for 17-4 PH stainless steel, which might be exactly or at least similar to what Hatch uses.
According to the 17-4 PH datasheet (PDF), the alloy provides excellent corrosion resistance and withstands corrosive attack better than any of the standard hardenable stainless steels. It’s also said to have good toughness and hardness.
I think it’s safe to assume that the hardware, mainly the machine screws, are stainless steel as well.
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The pliers also feature tungsten carbide cutter blades, which are abrasion resistant and capable of cutting all types of fishing line material.
It looks like the cutter blades and machines jaws are replaceable, if need be. What I find interesting is that the jaws on the Tempest pliers are cross-hatched, while the ones on these Nomad pliers have straight grooves. Both pliers have smooth tips.
What’s that in the handle? Looks like a bottle opener to me.
Length: 6.25″, Width: 2.0″, Weight: 3.9 oz.
Each of the pliers comes with a black leather sheath, and a bungee lanyard.
You can buy the sheath separately for $48, in case you need a replacement or want a matching sheath for some other pliers.
And the bungee cord is also available separately, for $12.
Price: $280
Buy Now(via Amazon)
More Info(via Hatch)
First Thoughts
While I’d like to say “ouch, $280 for fishing pliers?!,” here’s what I’m thinking: Hatch wouldn’t have come out with these Nomad pliers if their Tempest pliers didn’t sell well enough.
These Nomad pliers apparently won Field & Stream’s 2015 Best of the Best award. At $280, these better be the last pliers an angler or fisherperson will ever need.
I can’t help but drill at the streamlined design of these pliers. And with a price tag of $280, I’ll continue to just drool.
fred
I have an acquaintance down in Florida who is an avid fisherman – docks a very spiffy Belzona 325 – and uses a cheap pair of Mustad needle nose fishing pliers. I myself – use an ancient pair of well-oiled Sargent parallel jaw top cutters that came with a leather belt pouch. I’m more inclined to spend my fishing budget on quality rod and reels rather than pliers.
Chris
They look super nice. Too bad I’ll never get my hands on them. I just use regular needle nose and keep them lubed.
Karl
Fisherperson?
Stuart
What, it’s a real word!
I didn’t want to catch slack for saying fisherman and not fisherwoman.
SteveR
Stuart, et al–It’s not used very often (I guess it fell out of favor), but you can always refer to someone who fishes, whether male or female, as an “angler”.
fred
I’m pretty sure Izaak Walton did not consider pliers like these in his “Compleat Angler” – but the term angler was certainly in use when the book was penned in 1653
Stuart
Yes, I used the term twice in the post. But seeing as how I had to look up the definition, I included fisherperson as well.
Also, according to what I read angler refers to one who fishes with a line and rod. All anglers are fisherpeople, not all fisherpeople (that word does look ridiculous) are anglers. That’s the second reason I used both terms.
BikerDad
You’re correct, the word does look ridiculous. So don’t use it. Simply use “fisherman” and tell any Social Justice Warriors who happen to cruise by and take offense that they can put it somewhere that even those pliers can’t pry it loose.
( I was going to say use “fisherman and fishwife”, but it’s cruel to bait a hook like that…)
As for the pliers, they do look wicked cool, especially in blue. I’m highly unlikely to ever get a pair, for the simple reason that I don’t fish…. Now, if I were flush and had a fisherfolk friend or family in need of a special gift, one of these would be high on the list.
RX9
Seconded. Just stick to “fisherman” and tell the SJW’s to take a hike.
tajparis
Aw. Poor poor manly mens gots a sad. 🙁
Heaven forbid! Being polite and considerate and inclusive of others is so much of a burden for modern folks.
RX9
Stuart,
A point I’d like to add is that “fisherman” in and of itself, is primarily a neuter term, which can change meaning depending on context. Its use is similar to terms like “human” and “mankind”, which despite containing the word “man”, can (and often do) refer to people of either gender. The vast majority of men and women find no issue with “fisherman” whatsoever, but sadly, there is a small and radicalized group of activists that does.
The argument here is that there is no need to substitute generally accepted terminology with Newspeak terms for fear of offending a tiny and vocal fraction of the population (SJWs) who perceive grave insults in the most innocuous of actions and speech. Furthermore, by trying to placate and follow the wishes of a small group with an agenda, we are bit by bit, ceding our power of expression to them, ultimately allowing them to dictate what we can and cannot say.
I am all for polite and respectful discourse, but a line must be drawn when someone attempts to impose an unnecessary and restrictive set of proscriptions, regardless of what noble justifications they attach to them. Yes, regulation of discourse can provide structure, decorum and order. However, too much regulation creates a stifling, dull, and counterproductive forum.
I know it can be tough at times, but you have done an excellent job of maintaining the balance between freedom of expression and civility thus far. Just please keep in mind the aforementioned points.
Stuart
RX9,
If your comment came first, I would have changed it from fisherperson back to fisherman.
While I do try to be respectful of ToolGuyd’s female readers, I’m rather neutral about the term. I included it because my dictionary search confirmed that fisherperson was a real word. I then left it in b/c it seemed silly to buckle to PC boohooing.
There’s pressure to be politically correct, and pressure to not give in to political correctness pressure.
I try to be respectful, but I try not to make it obvious, and certainly not obnoxious either way.
I’ll keep in mind what you said, and might change terminology later on.
For now, I’m just glad the digression isn’t about country of origin.
schill
This isn’t really a comment on these pliers, and I know everybody’s needs are different, but I get kind of tired of “everything” having a bottle opener on it (if that’s what this is).
I know it wouldn’t hurt my use of these pliers if I needed them and I’ll never say something shouldn’t have a feature just because I wouldn’t use it, but I never use bottle openers. (OK, I’ll admit that my EDC Swiss army knife can open bottles and I’ve probably use an opener a few times in the 30+ years I’ve been carrying a knife.)
Wayne R.
I concur, though it’d be cool to get a magnifying glass and compass added to a good opener – but one without the other would be a waste. Maybe a whistle too.
Nathan
who fishes without a cooler that has a bottle opener on it somewhere?
or at least screwed one to some surface on their boat. I mean really guys.
oh and I know more than one guy that uses a leatherman wave tool to get the job done.
the few times I go – I carry my wave with me. the people that take me – all have slightly rusted something or anothers they use.
Nate 818
The 20$ rapala stainless steel needle nose work good for me.
RX9
14 sets of Rapala pliers is a much better deal. Moreover, it appears these $280 pliers don’t float. I would venture most fishing pliers are lost by being dropped overboard rather than rusting out.
Stuart
Isn’t that what the lanyard is for?
RX9
Arguably, yes, but a lanyard can be somewhat awkward and cumbersome to deal with. Moreover, a lanyard requires clipping on to work, a step that people are prone to overlook.
I feel like a simple set of 316 (A4) stainless pliers with some buoyant handle of some sort would be a more elegant solution.
Mark MacDonald
How can I purchase just the Sheath and Bungee Cord