What are the best snake guides and finish? What brand do you prefer and why? Durability, easiness of wrapping?

Snake brand, snake guides are the best , they have 2 types one for the bamboo [ feet are flat ] an one for the glass / carbon, [ that one has the feet curved to fit the rod ]
on the lower section of rod not to important but on the upper section it makes a big difference , they curve to the rod , 2 colors, chrome & black , you don't have to prep the feet at all, ready to install out of the package , an the black ones are are the best I think , most Jobbers have them , Mud hole [ have to ask ] an Anglers work shop also have to ask ,
they also have TIP TOPS to fit the rod [ they are great I use them on all my FLY rods ]

William Sidney
AK

A tough question! As a practical matter the best snake guides for salt water may not be best for fresh water, and vice versa. Same goes for best guides for 10wt. rods vs. 3wt. rods. Then current styles and tastes further complicate things.

I have always used REC recoils - both snakes and single foot.
I decided to try Snakebrand Universals a few months ago.
Since i use size "00" for runners on a fly rod i was very disappointed with how the thread climbed the guide foot.
I had to prep them to a very fine point.
I didn't like the idea of filing off the chrome so i asked Mike if he would consider chroming preprepped guides for me.
He sent me 200 guides sans chrome that I prepped.
He chromed them for me and are quite satisfactory.
Chroming blunted the fine points but not too bad.
But it was such a PITA for mike he will not do it again.
Too bad because they are truly easier to wrap with "00" thread.
Herb

I still have a supply of Perfection Tip Co. snakes that will probably last me as long as I am still able to make rods. Never had one wear out.

Snake Brand for ease of guide foot prepping, virtually none. But I usually buy PacBay. They take more work to prep but they're cheaper and unfortunately, that's a criteria for me.

I've bought Snake Brand (before the Universals were released), PacBay and AmTak. I have never experienced any wear issues on any of them over the 10 years I have been wrapping for myself (though I don't fish my fresh water rivers as much as I would like).

eric
fresno, ca.