  Hopf solitons in the Skyrme-Faddeev model are string-like topological
solitons classified by the integer-valued Hopf charge. In this paper we
introduce an approximate description of Hopf solitons in terms of elastic rods.
The general form of the elastic rod energy is derived from the field theory
energy and is found to be an extension of the classical Kirchhoff rod energy.
Using a minimal extension of the Kirchhoff energy, it is shown that a simple
elastic rod model can reproduce many of the qualitative features of Hopf
solitons in the Skyrme-Faddeev model. Features that are captured by the model
include the buckling of the charge three solution, the formation of links at
charges five and six, and the minimal energy trefoil knot at charge seven.
