[Joe]

After years of making my own tips by buying shooting heads, cutting them up and adding loops, I recently tried the Rio VersiTip system. Like you I found that the loops hand up in the guides constantly. After the second trip, I cut off the factory loops and added my own. I use 20 pound Cortland Cobra flat monofilament for the loops (I don't know if they make it any more). I just double the line and use a nail knot with the doubled line. The resulting knot is much less bulky than the factory loops, and the doubled monofilament is quite stiff, minimzing the hinge effect. Another benefit of this system is that I can add a loop to the line while fishing in just a minute or two.