XFISHMAN
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XFISHMAN Tungsten-Slot-Beads-Fly-Tying-Beads-Heads-Assortment Fly Tying Materials Nymph for Fly Fishing Slotted Review
Our verdict
At $18.99, the XFISHMAN slotted tungsten bead assortment ships 60 pieces at 5/32 inch and carries a 4.5-star average across 164 reviews, tying the Elk Hair for the top rating in this fly-tying material lineup while offering a larger bead size for bigger nymph patterns.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Nymph tiers who need slotted tungsten, brass, and lead beads at the larger 5/32 inch size for bigger fly patterns, and who want a 60-piece assortment covering multiple metal weights in one order.
Skip if
You tie smaller patterns that need a bead under 5/32 inch, or the $18.99 price is a stretch compared to the $16.99 similar-format assortment or the $3.95 Elk Hair in this comparison.
- Material Brass, Lead, Tungsten
- Weight 0.05 Kilograms
- Size 5/32"
- Pieces 60
- Priced 90% above the category median ($9.99 across 67 tracked models)
Our scorecard
4.4/5
overall
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Owner rating4.5/5
4.5 average across 164 owner ratings
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Popularity1.6/5
164 owner reviews, fewer than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
This XFISHMAN assortment mixes brass, lead, and tungsten slotted beads, 60 pieces total, at a 5/32 inch size for $18.99. The slotted format and larger diameter compared to the 3/32 inch assortment elsewhere in this lineup point it toward bigger nymph patterns that need a heavier, larger-diameter bead to sink properly in faster or deeper water.
At 4.5 stars across 164 reviews, it matches the Elk Hair's 4.5-star average exactly, and beats the CDC28's 4.0 stars and the NB377's 4.2 stars. The review count of 164 sits between the Elk Hair's 110 and the CDC28's 359, a moderate sample that still backs up a top-tier rating in this fly-tying material comparison rather than resting on a thin handful of early buyers.
Bought last month is listed at 0+, the same figure as the CDC28 and Elk Hair rather than the 50+ seen on the NB377 and the similarly formatted $16.99 tungsten assortment. At $18.99, it is the most expensive fly-tying material in this set, priced above the $18.49 Tigofly hank and the $18.06 NB377, though its larger 5/32 inch slotted bead size makes it a genuinely different product from either of those two.
Pros
- 4.5-star average across 164 reviews ties the Elk Hair for the top rating in this comparison
- 60 pieces across brass, lead, and tungsten covers multiple weights in one purchase
- 5/32 inch sizing suits larger nymph patterns that need a bigger, heavier bead
- Slotted format is built to seat directly behind the hook eye for weighted flies
- 164 reviews gives the top rating a more substantial base than the 110-review Elk Hair
Cons
- At $18.99, it is the priciest fly-tying material in this comparison
- Bought last month sits at 0+, the same low recent-demand figure as the CDC28 and Elk Hair
- Fixed 5/32 inch size will not suit smaller patterns needing a lighter bead
- 164 reviews is a smaller sample than the 359 for CDC28 or 550 for the NB377
Specifications
| Material | Brass, Lead, Tungsten |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.05 Kilograms |
| Size | 5/32" |
| Pieces | 60 |
Performance notes
A slotted bead seats close behind the hook eye, which keeps the fly's profile compact and helps it sink faster than an unweighted pattern, useful in faster or deeper water. At 5/32 inch, these beads are noticeably larger than the 3/32 inch size found in the other tungsten assortment in this lineup, sizing this pack toward bigger nymph hooks and heavier flies rather than small patterns. Mixing brass, lead, and tungsten across the 60 pieces means the pack covers a range of sink rates at that larger size, letting a tier match bead weight to water depth without changing bead diameter. At $18.99, the per-piece cost is higher than the smaller 3/32 inch assortment, reflecting the larger bead size rather than a difference in piece count, both packs ship 60 pieces.
What buyers say
Matching the Elk Hair's 4.5-star average but across 164 reviews rather than 110, this assortment has the strongest combination of rating and sample size at the top end of this comparison. That kind of consistency across a moderate review base suggests buyers who need a larger slotted bead are getting a reliable product rather than an inflated early rating. The 0+ bought-last-month figure, shared with the CDC28 and Elk Hair, indicates recent purchase activity has been quiet, which is plausible for a higher-priced, size-specific item that buyers may restock less often than a general-purpose material.
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Frequently asked questions
What size are the tungsten beads in this XFISHMAN assortment?
The beads measure 5/32 inch, larger than the 3/32 inch size found in similar bead assortments in this comparison, making this pack suited to bigger nymph patterns that need a heavier, larger-diameter bead to sink properly in deeper or faster water.
How does the 4.5-star rating compare to other fly tying materials?
It ties the Elk Hair's 4.5-star average exactly, but across 164 reviews rather than 110, giving it a broader review base behind the same top rating in this fly-tying material comparison and making the score harder to dismiss as a small sample.
Is this the most expensive option in this comparison?
Yes, at $18.99 it costs more than the $18.49 Tigofly hank and the $18.06 NB377, reflecting its larger 5/32 inch slotted bead size and 60-piece assorted brass, lead, and tungsten metal count rather than a difference in piece quantity between the packs.