Not sure if shipping speed is an issue, but this is a great price for the Nissin Pro Square

Generally though, I would second the recommendations here:

• Tenkarabum/Chris Stewart is a great retailer.

• 3.5 level line instead of furled. Sunline is best IMO

• Make sure you have the right (light enough) tippet. If the rod is on tenkarabum, it will be listed at the bottom with the length and other specs.

I tie my own flies, but Fly Shack has a good selection at < $1/per.

Last, I would look at the Daiwa Seiryu X and Daiwa Keiryu X rods. I backpack with both. They are short-ish (esp. Keiryu) and very light. The cork-handled rods are less pack-friendly IMO. Get the Keiryu if you are only going to have one rod. It is flexible enough to make small fish fun, but has plenty of backbone for your bigger fish.

As for protecting your rod when backpacking. You can get a hard-case, but that adds weight. You can also make a simple tube protector out of a flourescent light guard or cardboard tube. I usually have a few rods with me, so I put them in a trekking pole bag (my quiver too) in my pack's side pocket with my tent poles on the outside of them. I might regret this someday, but only if I take a hard fall straight over on the side of my pack.