One of the things that I don't like much about my G3 is the rod tubes in the rod lockers. I much prefer open locker space vs. rod tubes and racks.
I removed the racks from mine, but the tubes are another story and I don't think removing them would be a good idea.
So for the past 7 years I have basically just dealt with them and put up with them, getting frustrated with how much the tubes make it a pain in the butt to put rods in the locker and get them out of the locker, especially if I have two rods slid into the same tube. Getting only one rod out in this situation is exasperating and I almost always ended up pulling them both out, to avoid damaging one of them.
Last week I order a half dozen Stick Jacket rod sleeves to see if using them would make the feat any easier and make the rod tubes a little more acceptable to work with.
I got them in last week and it took me a couple of days before I had the time to get out into the garage to open the package and put them on some of my rods. But when I did, and I slid the rods back into the locker, it was like night and day having them on there.
Even putting two rods into one tube is effortless now
I tend to keep several rods on my front deck all the time and the rest stored in my lockers, so I don't need a jacket for each rod, but any of them going into the locker now have them on.
I will be ordering 5 or 6 more for the rods in the other locker too.
And here's the best part. I had ordered them directly from the manufacturer, figuring that would be the best place to get them. Shortly after placing my order, I got a phone call from them, telling me they were going to refund my money and refer me to one of their retailers where I could get them much cheaper
So I went to the website of the retailer and ordered them. They were shipped the same day and I had them within 3 days, max.
http://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/accessories/fishing-rod-reel-covers/stick-jacket-rod-cover.htmlSo if your rod locker has rod tubes and you're not using Stick Jacket covers, I would highly recommend them