Fly Fishing Tippet Rings: 7 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks

A tippet ring is a small metal ring tied between a tapered leader and the tippet. The Fly Fishing Insider Podcast’s guide to tippet rings explains the appeal: “Because every tippet change happens at the ring instead of on the leader, the leader never gets shorter.” Rings are not all alike, though. Ring diameter, the breaking strength each brand prints (when it prints one), the number of rings in the pack and the material all differ, and the figures sources give for the same diameter do not agree. This guide compares seven rings sold for fly fishing by the numbers their makers, listings or sellers publish, each source named, and each ring is linked to one size and pack variant.

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Price tier: $ = entry level, $$ = mid-range, relative to the pack prices in this guide. Live Amazon prices are in the comparison table.

How Tippet Rings Are Sized, and What the Numbers Mean

Rings are sold by diameter in millimetres. Scientific Anglers (SA) lists two: “Small (2mm, 17lb test) and Medium (2.5mm, 26lb test)”. Trident, a shop that sells Cortland’s rings, lists Cortland in 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm. Dark Skies Fly Fishing, a magazine-blog with an affiliate link on the page, writes: “2mm is the most common trout size and has a breaking strength of 25 pounds. 3mm is used for steelhead and even salmon and has a breaking strength of 45 pounds.” The Fly Fishing Insider Podcast guide, from a site with its own shop, gives a rule of thumb “not a manufacturer chart, just what has worked for me and the folks I fish with”: a 2 mm ring covers “most trout fishing from 3X to 6X tippet”, and its advice is: “Go down to a 1mm ring for very light tippet and small dries, and step up to 2.5mm or 3mm for heavy tippet, streamers, and bigger fish.” Our guide to what tippet is covers the X numbers.

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Breaking strength is where the sources part. For a 2 mm ring, SA lists 17 lb, SF’s listing says “Test:25lb”, and Dark Skies says 25 lb. For a 3 mm ring, Moonlit Fly Fishing, a shop that sells the Nirvana rings, lists 24 lb, against Dark Skies’ 45 lb. None of these pages says how the figure was measured, so this guide prints each figure as published and names its source; it does not rank the rings by strength.

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Finish matters as much as the number to some anglers. Dark Skies writes: “I used to think that all tippet rings were the same, but that’s not necessarily true. There can be discrepancies in the machining, and some brands are definitely smoother than others.” Its advice: “Before purchasing a package, examine them closely and look for any bumps or ridges on the tippet rings.” In an r/flyfishing thread, one poster put it as “How the ring is pressed and formed is key.”

Packaging differs too. Orvis sells its rings “threaded onto a snap swivel for convenience”, the Nirvana rings come on a clip, and SF says it sells its rings “strung on a wire swivel”. Dark Skies writes that “they are small and can be hard to handle” and that “The best way I’ve found to offset this is to feed them into a swivel snap.” The Insider guide says the knot for a ring is a clinch, the one used to tie on a fly; our guides to how to tie a fly on and how to tie leader to fly line cover tying on a fly and the leader a ring sits on.

Picks: the 2 mm rings are the SA Small, Cortland and SF; the 2.5 mm rings are the SA Medium, Nirvana 2.5 mm and Dr.Fish; the 3 mm ring is the Nirvana 3 mm.

Compare the picks

Compare the Tippet Rings

Every row is the exact Amazon variant we link. Figures are the maker’s own unless the cell names another source: “(Amazon title)” and “(Amazon listing)” mark figures taken from the Amazon listing, and a seller’s figure names the seller; “not published” means no figure on any page we could read. The “Best for” cells go by ring size only, using the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast guide’s rule of thumb, plus the pack count where a pack holds 20 or more rings.

How These Seven Rings Were Chosen

What each ring had to clear

• Sold for fly fishing, in one diameter and pack that the Amazon listing identifies for the exact ASIN we link (SA’s rings by SA’s own Small and Medium names).
• Diameter, breaking strength, count and material copied as the maker prints them; where a seller’s page is the only source, the cell says so; where nothing is published, it says “not published”.
• A named source for how the ring performs, graded by who wrote it.

Where the evidence comes from

Where the evidence comes from

We found no independent hands-on test of these rings. The evidence is owner reports from r/flyfishing and a shop’s customer review, one retailer label (Trident, which sells the Cortland ring) and maker pages. Dark Skies and the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast wrote the general guidance; neither reviews these exact rings. Moonlit Fly Fishing sells the Nirvana rings, so its figures and its customers’ reviews are labelled as a seller’s. The r/flyfishing threads “Tippet rings, do you use them?” and “Tippet Ring preference” are split on whether rings are worth using, and the comments about specific rings are quoted in the reviews below. Cortland’s own product page could not be read when this guide was researched, so its figures come from the Amazon listing title and Trident. Amazon listing text was readable in full only for the SF ring; for the others the identity check rests on the full Amazon title.

Detailed Reviews of the 7 Rings

Scientific Anglers Tippet Rings Small, 2 mm and 17 lb Listed

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/flyfishing commenter: variant not stated.

Scientific Anglers lists “Stainless steel rings for rigging leader and tippet” with a “Black Nickel finish” and “10 to a package”, in two sizes. The Small is item 135856: 2 mm (0.078 in) and “17LB/7,7KG”. SA does not say how the 17 lb was measured; its page says only “17lb test”. The Amazon listing we link is sold by The Kingfisher, a fly shop.

No independent test turned up. In the r/flyfishing “Tippet Ring preference” thread, a commenter who had not found cheaper rings equal to the name brands wrote: “Stonfo and Scientific Angler rings have both worked well for me.” The comment does not say which SA size. Against the Medium (pick 2), the Small is the 2 mm size and prints the lower figure, 17 lb against 26 lb.

Specs (linked: Small, 2 mm, 10 rings)

• Ring size: 2 mm / 0.078 in (maker)
• Breaking strength: 17 lb / 7.7 kg (maker; test basis not stated)
• Rings per pack: 10 (maker)
• Material: stainless steel, black nickel finish (maker)
• Item number: 135856 (maker)

Scientific Anglers Tippet Rings Medium, 2.5 mm and 26 lb Listed

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/flyfishing commenter: variant not stated.

The Medium is SA item 135849: 2.5 mm (0.098 in), “26LB/11,8KG”, in the same stainless steel and black nickel finish and the same 10-ring pack as the Small. As with the Small, no test method is given. The listing we link is sold by The Kingfisher.

The Fly Fishing Insider Podcast guide, which is not a manufacturer chart, says to “step up to 2.5mm or 3mm for heavy tippet, streamers, and bigger fish”, and gives the trade-off: “The main reason to go smaller is weight and visibility on delicate dry fly setups, and the main reason to go bigger is to handle heavier tippet and bigger knots without crowding the ring.” The r/flyfishing commenter who wrote “Stonfo and Scientific Angler rings have both worked well for me” does not say which size.

Specs (linked: Medium, 2.5 mm, 10 rings)

• Ring size: 2.5 mm / 0.098 in (maker)
• Breaking strength: 26 lb / 11.8 kg (maker; test basis not stated)
• Rings per pack: 10 (maker)
• Material: stainless steel, black nickel finish (maker)
• Item number: 135849 (maker)

Cortland Tippet Rings 2 mm, 10-Pack

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Trident Fly Fishing (sells it): ring size not stated.

Cortland’s own product page could not be read, so these details come from the Amazon title (“Cortland Tippet Rings (10 Pk) 2 mm”) and from Trident, a shop that sells the ring: “stainless steel rings, finished in a stealthy nickel black coating”, sold in 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm with a “Pack of 10 rings”. No strength figure appears on either. The Amazon listing is sold by The Kingfisher, a fly shop.

The review we found is from a seller. In its tippet-ring quick picks, Trident writes: “Best All-Around: Cortland Tippet Rings – Great for anglers who want one simple upgrade that makes leader changes faster.” That label is Trident’s, covers the shop’s own range, and does not name a ring size. Against the SA Small, also a 2 mm 10-pack, Cortland publishes no strength figure where SA prints 17 lb; it sits in the $ price tier here against the SA Small’s $$, and Trident lists it in 1 mm and 3 mm as well, where SA sells 2 mm and 2.5 mm.

Specs (linked: 2 mm, 10 rings)

• Ring size: 2 mm (Amazon title)
• Breaking strength: not published
• Rings per pack: 10 (Amazon title; Trident)
• Material: stainless steel, nickel black finish (Trident, a seller)

Nirvana On The Fly Tippet Rings 2.5 mm, 25 on a Clip

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/flyfishing poster: variant not stated.

Amazon’s main photo for this listing shows the 2.0 mm packet; the title and the size we link are 2.5 mm.

The Amazon title calls them “Smooth, seamless alloy connection rings made in Japan” and says the pack “includes 25 rings on a clip for fast leader changes”. We found no Nirvana product page. Moonlit Fly Fishing, a shop that sells the rings, lists “2.5mm – 18lbs” under “Breaking Strength”, calls them “25 stainless steel” rings (the Amazon title says “alloy”), and says “Clip makes it easy to connect your line to the tippet ring while it is on the clip and then pull it off when it is done”. The Amazon listing is sold by Cub River Outfitters, a fly shop.

In the r/flyfishing “Tippet Ring preference” thread, a poster wrote: “100% the nirvana rings they sell have treated me much better than RIO.” The post does not say which size. A customer on Moonlit’s page, a seller’s page and so not independent, wrote: “These are rounded and have a dark finish.” Against the 2 mm picks, the trade-off is size: this is the larger ring, in the diameter the Insider guide associates with heavier tippet.

Specs (linked: 2.5 mm, 25 on a clip)

• Ring size: 2.5 mm (Amazon title)
• Breaking strength: 18 lb (Moonlit, a reseller; no maker figure found)
• Rings per pack: 25 on a clip (Amazon title)
• Material: alloy (Amazon title); stainless steel (Moonlit)
• Origin: made in Japan (Amazon title)

Nirvana On The Fly Tippet Rings 3 mm, 25 on a Clip

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/flyfishing poster: variant not stated.

This is the 3 mm ASIN of the same Nirvana listing family as pick 4, with the same Amazon title wording, “Smooth, seamless alloy connection rings made in Japan” and “25 rings on a clip”. Moonlit lists “3.0mm – 24lbs”. Dark Skies says 3 mm rings are “used for steelhead and even salmon” and puts a 3 mm ring’s breaking strength at 45 pounds; Moonlit’s 24 lb for the Nirvana 3 mm is a different number, and neither source says how it was measured. The listing is sold by Cub River Outfitters.

The same r/flyfishing poster praised “the nirvana rings they sell” without naming a size, so there is no report specific to the 3 mm. Moonlit’s own sentence names only “2.0mm or 2.5mm” rings, though its size menu also offers 3.0 mm.

Specs (linked: 3 mm, 25 on a clip)

• Ring size: 3 mm (Amazon title)
• Breaking strength: 24 lb (Moonlit, a reseller; no maker figure found)
• Rings per pack: 25 on a clip (Amazon title)
• Material: alloy (Amazon title); stainless steel (Moonlit)
• Origin: made in Japan (Amazon title)

SF Tippet Rings 2 mm, 20-Pack

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: SF Amazon listing (maker’s listing; no maker page found).

Amazon’s own variant list for the SF listing names this ASIN “2mm-20pack”, beside 10-packs and 2.5 mm options. The listing’s spec line reads “Materialanodized:Stainless Steel Test:25lb Diameter:2mm/0.08inch”, its overview says “Material: Stainless Steel”, its first bullet begins “These alloy rings are very small, smooth and seamless connectors”, and its text says “Because the rings are so small and easy to lose, we sell them strung on a wire swivel.” The finish wording is unclear, and the listing gives no test method for the 25 lb. It is sold by Sunshine Outdoor and shipped by Amazon.

We found no independent test or owner report for SF rings. Against the Cortland 10-pack, also 2 mm, the SF listing prints a strength figure (25 lb) and a pack of 20.

Specs (linked: 2 mm, 20-pack)

• Ring size: 2 mm / 0.08 in (Amazon listing)
• Breaking strength: 25 lb, labelled “Test” (Amazon listing; basis not stated)
• Rings per pack: 20 (Amazon listing)
• Material: “alloy rings” (listing bullet); “Stainless Steel” (spec line and overview)
• Packaging: strung on a wire swivel (Amazon listing)

Dr.Fish Tippet Rings 2.5 mm, 50-Pack

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Dr.Fish Amazon title (the brand’s listing, sold by Dr.fish; no maker page found).

The Amazon title reads “Dr.Fish 50 Pack Fly Fishing Tippet Rings Stainless Steel Solid Lightweight Low Profile 2.5mm” and names trout, salmon, crappie, bluegill and steelhead. It states no breaking strength, and we found no maker page. The listing is sold by Dr.fish.

The one report that names the brand is critical. A customer reviewing the Nirvana rings on the page of Moonlit, a shop that sells them, wrote: “So many tippet rings have sharp edges such as from Dr Fish and even Bass Pro.” The comment does not say which size, or that the reviewer used Dr.Fish rings, and the shop selling the rival product is not an independent party. Dark Skies advises: “Before purchasing a package, examine them closely and look for any bumps or ridges on the tippet rings.” An r/flyfishing poster wrote “How the ring is pressed and formed is key.”

Specs (linked: 2.5 mm, 50-pack)

• Ring size: 2.5 mm (Amazon title)
• Breaking strength: not published
• Rings per pack: 50 (Amazon title)
• Material: stainless steel (Amazon title)

Which Ring for Which Rig

Trout leaders. Dark Skies calls 2 mm “the most common trout size”. The 2 mm picks, the SA Small, Cortland and SF, differ in what is published (strength, pack count, material), not in diameter.

Heavier tippet and streamer leaders. The Insider guide says to “step up to 2.5mm or 3mm for heavy tippet, streamers, and bigger fish”, and Dark Skies ties 3 mm to steelhead and salmon. Those sizes are the SA Medium, Nirvana 2.5 mm, Nirvana 3 mm and Dr.Fish.

Spares. Pack counts run from 10 (SA, Cortland) to 20 (SF), 25 on a clip (Nirvana) and 50 (Dr.Fish).

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the tippet and who you ask. The Fly Fishing Insider Podcast guide says a 2 mm ring covers “most trout fishing from 3X to 6X tippet” and to “step up to 2.5mm or 3mm for heavy tippet, streamers, and bigger fish”; it calls its table “not a manufacturer chart”. Dark Skies calls 2 mm “the most common trout size” and 1 mm suited to smaller dry flies. See what tippet is for the tippet sizes.

Sources disagree on drag and feel. The Insider guide says a ring is “a solid joint connecting two pieces of line” but that “with the ring at the 3X or 4X point of the leader and a reasonable tippet length after it, I’ve never been able to tell the difference in turnover with dries or nymphs.” Dark Skies writes: “I lengthen the tippet substantially to reduce the effect of any increased drag the ring might incur.” It also notes that “Some Euronymphers frown on using tippet rings because they have the potential to interrupt strike sensitivity”, and the author adds “I’m not sold on this argument.” One r/flyfishing poster says dry-fly drag from a sinking ring is a problem; another reports no issues with sinking dry flies.

No source here says you must. In the r/flyfishing thread, one poster wrote “I use them, tippet is cheap and tapered leaders are not”, while another suggested: “Micro perfection loop. Smaller and cheaper than a tippet ring.” The guide’s author skips the ring on very short, light leaders for spooky fish on flat water.

The Insider guide says: “The best knot for a tippet ring is the clinch knot or the improved clinch knot, and you use it on both sides of the ring.” It adds: “You already know the clinch knot because it’s the same knot you use to tie on a fly.” Our guides to how to tie a fly on and how to tie leader to fly line cover the knot and the leader.

The rings here come 10 (SA, Cortland), 20 (SF), 25 on a clip (Nirvana) or 50 (Dr.Fish) to a pack. Orvis, which also sells rings under its own name, packs 10 “threaded onto a snap swivel for convenience”.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For a 2 mm trout-leader ring where the maker prints the numbers, start with the Scientific Anglers Tippet Rings Small (check price): diameter, a 17 lb figure and a 10-ring pack are all on SA’s page, and an r/flyfishing commenter reports SA rings have worked well, without naming a size. For heavy tippet and streamers, the Scientific Anglers Tippet Rings Medium (check price) is SA’s 2.5 mm size, with a maker-listed 26 lb in the same 10-ring pack. For a clip of 25 in 2.5 mm, the Nirvana On The Fly Tippet Rings 2.5 mm (check price) has one poster’s favourable report, with its strength figure coming from a reseller. The Cortland Tippet Rings 2 mm (check price) is a 10-pack of 2 mm rings with no published strength, in the $ tier against the SA Small’s $$, and Trident lists it in 1 mm and 3 mm as well.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.