GearTrust GT13 Rod Holder Review
Our verdict
At $19.99, the GearTrust GT13 Rod Holder posts a 4.9-star average, the highest in its class, though it rests on only 18 reviews. It's a light aluminum-and-plastic mount at 0.32 kilograms that undercuts the Scotty 230-BK by five dollars while matching its single-piece, black-finish design.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers who want a budget-friendly single rod holder for a kayak, dock rail, or boat gunwale and don't need the deep review history of an established brand like Scotty before committing to a purchase.
Skip if
Skip this if you want a holder with a long track record behind it. Eighteen reviews is thin next to the Scotty 0280-BK's 702 or the Scotty 230-BK's 1,500, so the rating pattern here is less proven.
- Material Aluminum, Plastic
- Weight 0.32 Kilograms
- Color Black
- Pieces 1
- Priced 20% below the category median ($24.97 across 84 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.9/5
4.9 average across 18 owner ratings
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Popularity0.2/5
18 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
A rod holder lives or dies on how well it locks a rod in place while you're re-rigging, netting a fish, or just idling between bites. The GearTrust GT13 is built from a mix of aluminum and plastic, weighs a modest 0.32 kilograms, and ships as a single black unit for $19.99. That price sits comfortably between the Sea 27-2P at $15.99 and the Scotty 230-BK at $24.95, putting it squarely in the mid-budget bracket for this category.
What stands out on the spec sheet is the 4.9-star rating, which edges out every alternative here, including the well-established Scotty line. Both Scotty models sit at 4.7 stars, and the Sea 27-2P comes in at 4.6. On paper, GearTrust's rating is the strongest of the four, though the sample size of 18 reviews is far smaller than the hundreds or thousands backing the competition.
Bought-last-month data shows 200+ units moving, matching the Scotty 0280-BK's pace and trailing only the Scotty 230-BK's 400+. That's a reasonable demand signal for a newer entrant. The aluminum-plastic hybrid construction suggests a focus on keeping weight down without going full lightweight plastic, which tracks with the moderate 0.32 kilogram spec.
Pros
- 4.9-star rating is the highest among the four rod holders compared here
- Priced at $19.99, five dollars less than the Scotty 230-BK
- Aluminum and plastic build balances weight against durability
- Weighs just 0.32 kilograms, light enough for kayak or dock mounts
- 200+ bought last month ties the established Scotty 0280-BK's pace
- Currently in stock with no availability delays
Cons
- Only 18 reviews back that 4.9-star average, a small sample next to Scotty's hundreds
- No stated included hardware feature, unlike the Sea 27-2P's shelf design
- Single piece per purchase, so multi-rod setups need multiple units
- Less established brand history compared to Scotty's decades in the marine accessory space
Specifications
| Material | Aluminum, Plastic |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.32 Kilograms |
| Color | Black |
| Pieces | 1 |
Performance notes
The 0.32 kilogram weight puts the GT13 on the lighter end of the rod holders in this set, which matters most when it's mounted somewhere with limited load tolerance, like a kayak track or a thin aluminum rail. The mixed aluminum-plastic material likely means a metal core or clamp with plastic housing around the rod cradle, a common approach for keeping cost down while still offering some corrosion resistance near saltwater. At $19.99, it's priced for anglers who want a single reliable holder without paying Scotty prices, and the one-piece packaging keeps things simple for a single rod setup rather than a paired rack. Buyers considering this for a boat gunwale or dock rail should weigh the 0.32 kilogram spec against how much flex or vibration the mount point sees, since lighter builds can transmit more movement than heavier aluminum-only holders.
What buyers say
A 4.9-star average is the standout number here, but with only 18 reviews, it's a small enough sample that a handful of enthusiastic buyers can push the average up quickly. That's different from the Scotty models, where 702 and 1,500 reviews respectively make their 4.7-star averages harder to move. The 200+ bought-last-month figure suggests steady, ongoing demand rather than a one-time spike, and it puts the GT13 on par with the Scotty 0280-BK's purchase volume despite far fewer total reviews. Read together, the pattern points to a newer product that's earning strong early feedback and building momentum, though buyers who weigh review count heavily may still lean toward the more established options.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the GearTrust GT13 Rod Holder good for saltwater use?
The aluminum-plastic construction offers some corrosion resistance, which is common in rod holders marketed for boat and dock use. Compare its 0.32 kilogram weight and material mix against the all-aluminum Sea 27-2P if saltwater exposure is a daily concern.
How does the GT13 compare in price to Scotty rod holders?
At $19.99, it costs about a dollar more than the Scotty 0280-BK at $18.95, but five dollars less than the Scotty 230-BK at $24.95. It sits in the middle of the pricing range covered here.
Does 18 reviews mean the rating is unreliable?
Not unreliable, but less proven than alternatives. A 4.9-star average from 18 reviews carries more statistical noise than the Scotty 230-BK's 4.7 stars from 1,500 reviews, so treat the top rating as an early signal rather than a settled verdict.