WUDIME 150LBS 2-Pack — Two Magnets for Eight Bucks

My buddy texted me asking what magnets to buy before a trip we had planned down at the dam on the Housatonic. He wanted something cheap — not because he's broke, just because he genuinely didn't know if he'd like it and didn't want to drop $30 on something he'd use once. I told him to grab these. Two magnets showed up two days later. He opened the box, held one, and said "huh, it's smaller than I thought." Which, yeah. 36mm is what it is.

But here's the thing — it grabbed. He pulled a rusted bolt, half a carabiner, and something that was either a very old door hinge or part of a fence from the 1970s. Nothing crazy. Nothing that would make the YouTube thumbnail. But he was absolutely hooked by the end of the afternoon, and his magnet held up the whole time without drama.

That's basically the whole story with these.

They're the same class as what most entry-level single magnets are — 36mm, 150lb rated pull, neodymium. You know what you're getting per magnet because it's the same spec you'd see from any budget pick at this size. The difference is you're getting two of them for the price of one. Which is either totally pointless if you're buying for yourself and already have a magnet, or genuinely useful if you're in one of a few specific situations.

Situation one: you're brand new and just want to try this before spending real money. Situation two: you fish with someone else and neither of you owns anything. Situation three: you want a backup that lives permanently in your bag — I've had magnets lose their thread insert from getting dropped on concrete and having a cheap spare has saved a couple trips.

The coating is fine. Not exceptional, not terrible. Fine.

I've seen budget magnets where the nickel plating starts flaking after a few outings in silt-heavy water — these aren't noticeably worse or better than the field average at this price. I wouldn't deliberately drag one along a rocky bottom for three hours expecting it to come back pristine. But normal use? Cast, drag, retrieve, repeat — they handle it.

The thread insert is the thing I'd watch. On cheap magnets at this size it's always the first thing to go, especially if you're tightening your rope down hard or using a double knot setup that puts lateral pressure on it. Just don't overtighten. Use a good knot — a Palomar or an improved clinch — and you'll probably be fine. Go full gorilla on the bolt and you're asking for problems, same as with any budget magnet.

There's no rope included, which is worth knowing going in. You're buying the magnets only. If your friend who wants to try it doesn't have rope, add a few bucks and grab 50 feet of paracord or a basic 8mm static line — otherwise you're handing them a magnet and nothing to throw it with, which is a weird afternoon.

For $7.99 total — not per magnet, total — it's hard to argue against this for what it is. Two beginners, one order, one afternoon at a bridge somewhere. That's the use case and it delivers on it.