Comparing fly rods

Last week I found both an Eagle Claw and a Hardy rod on sale. That means $55 down to $40 and $big down to about $300.

Holy crap does that Hardy cast like a dream. It's an 8w so you can really throw a fly even on the first cast with no false cast.

The Eagle is a POS with no feel and terrible quality control. I guess this shouldn't surprise me at $40 (5w, 8') but its bad enough I might just give it to the neighbor kid so he can learn fly casting on it.

I'd like to take a few more out at one time and try them, I just started a year ago and its such a great way to get out and slow down.