In dealing with more than a few broken rods, I find that "durability" is pretty closely proportional to the amount of care the rods are given. I you never take a once ounce rod in a kayak, it is less likely to get broken than your "knock around" rod that anyone would expect to be more durable. Very, very few rods are broken by fish, but rather by inattention when putting on or taking off the line, trying to whip the rod to free a snag or setting the hook like a pro bass angler ("cross his eyes!") when it turns out to be a snag rather than a fish.