What do people like about shimano reels so much?

[beginningfisherman]

I've noticed lots of people seem to be in love with shimano reels. Why is that? Looking at the specs it seems like they are more expensive for what you get. I have used lews and abu Garcia baitcasting reels and got along fine with them without spending an arm and a leg. Why are people so set on shimano?

[A-Jay]

You may get a lot of different answers here but my version for the mid to upper price point Shimano gear revolves around quality.

 And quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.  

The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.

Incidentally, I do fish a few different brands of tackle besides Shimano.

These as well as others, are solid performers.  

A-Jay

[deep]

...

[HookRz]

A-Jay nailed it. There are other good ones, and some other real good ones like Daiwa. 

But the to tell the truth other than maybe the top grade Lews and Abus  most other casting reel are all the same. Over time, Junk. 

[fishnkamp]

For decades Shimano and Daiwa have consistently built some of the best quality reels that have been on the market. The fans of such reels as the Shimano Curado and Chronarch series reels are huge.  The Daiwa fans love many of the sv and Steeve version reels. Now the Tatula line has been making fans quickly since much of the great technology developed in the upper end reels has been brought down to the Tatula line. If you go way back the Bantams had lots of fans back then too.

[Master Bait'r]

Can you point to another company with digital cast control?  Yeah, nope.

 

Look, Shimano is basically NASA.  Everybody else is just waiting for patents to expire.  #fightinwords

[OCdockskipper]

I prefer Shimano spinning reels, specifically the current Spirex series, for three reasons.

 

First, I really like the Quik Fire system, both for the pickup lever and the reel only stopping at TDC.  I know the current trend is for spinning reels to stop at any point, but for me, all that does is take time to get the bail set right to pick up the line.  Quik Fire allows me to cast without ever having to look down at the reel.

 

Second, the necks on Shimano spinning reels are shorter, allowing my index finger to feather the spool in the same manner my thumb does for casting reels.  

 

Third, I prefer double paddle handles and the Spirex has them.

 

The quality of the reel, the drag system and everything else is great, I kind of take that for granted.  If Shimano offered those features on their top of the line models, I'd buy them.

[CroakHunter]

I have lews, daiwa, shimano, and cabelas reels. The attention to detail in the shimano and daiwa are amazing. That being said. Different strokes for different folks. I purchased a while no to get out of my comfort zone of daiwa. Was not disappointed 1 but. And is still a main stay in my arsenal on my second favorite combo. But if I had the chance to trade my curado for a tatula ct in the same gear ratio id do it in a heart beat. Not because I don't like the reel or because it isn't as "good" of a reel, i just simply prefer my daiwas.

[NHBull]

While there is a lot of we'll warranted love for shimano on this board, there are others boards that feel the same direction Daiwa.  Shimano also has the luxury of being known for making tons or other top quality products in various other sports including cycling and alike.  This reputation follows the product.  

[iabass8]

Because Starbursts > Jelly beans.

[3crows]

1 hour ago, beginningfisherman said:

I've noticed lots of people seem to be in love with shimano reels. Why is that? Looking at the specs it seems like they are more expensive for what you get. I have used lews and abu Garcia baitcasting reels and got along fine with them without spending an arm and a leg. Why are people so set on shimano?

 

I think you should use what you like and let others use what they like and enjoy. I like Shimano because for decades I have ridden their equipment as an avid and competitive cyclist and it is top notch. I like that Japan is a US allies and a democracy and that even their Malaysia employees are just that, employees. 

 

I like the quality, I like the look, I like the function, I like that when I get a Shimano it is generally a known quantity and quality that I can trust  and that parts will be around for a least a little service life. Not always the very best but far from the worst, I trust the name and the product. 

 

I seriously avoid made in China products as much as practical. I cannot completely avoid them but I can reduce my China Inc. consumerism to a bare minimum. 

[LOZSteve]

It comes down to what are you willing to spend your hard earned money on? For me it has always been Shimano because I know the product I am buying will last. I will say I bought a Diawa last year, Zillion reel, which I have been impressed with but longevity remains to be seen. 

[WRB]

There was a time made in Japan was considered poor quality, that time is long gone.

Top end Shinamo and Daiwa reels are premier products. Garcia Corp merged with Abu in Sweden years ago and the Ambassaduer reels made in Sweden were the premier reel for decades, until they started making inferior products in China.

Lew Childres put Shimano in the reel business making his Lew's BB1 reels. Shimano followed with their own Bantom 100 series reels and developed a great reputation for performance and quality. Daiwa followed Shimano lead, both companies today are considered top quality suppliers. Lew's is a name only, nothing to do with the original and made by a company who makes several brand labels. 

I was a Abu Ambassaduer reel users before my first Batom 100, followed by Calcutta's and then added Daiwa TD HTSA's in the 90's, retired all my legacy Ambassaduers in 2000 when they started making reels and parts in China. Today all my bass reels are either Shimano or Daiwa.

As A-Jay so accurately stated quality is a company hallmark achieved by customer dedication and attention to details. Lew's and Abu Garcia are product labels owned by holding companies with profit not quality their goal.

Tom

[Catt]

Calcutta: solid as an anvil, versatile as a pair of Channellocks®, & dependable as a 30/30

 

36 years old & still solid!

[Boomstick]

I'm more of a Daiwa guy myself but Shimano makes some dependable reels. I've also heard many people argue they have the best braking system, along with Daiwa as well.

[Wingman87]

I'm going to reiterate what others have said, I've got a lot of Lews reels and am switching all of them to shimanos this yea due to the fact that shimanos are so well made. The smoothness of Shimano reels is just unmatched, especially at the mid to higher end price range. I've got $250 Lews reels that feel like a pile of plastic and aren't even as smooth as a curado. 

[Hulkster]

for me, its about the quality of the mid to higher end reels. the smoothness is unmatched and the baitcasters like the curado are true work horses. I have the curado 200i PG and love it.

 

in the spinning department, their "propulsion spool lip" actually works and you can make rocket launcher casts with perfect line lay in reels like the stradic etc.

[38 Super Fan]

The Shimano hype has always puzzled me through the years. I'm not the brand loyal type myself, I own several different brands of casting reels, and I have likes and dislikes about each one. Comparably priced reels of different brands always seem to have pretty much comparable performance in my experience. Shimano builds good reels, I personally never thought they were anything special though.

[islandbass]

My initial knowledge about Shimano was from cycling. I am a huge fan of the mountain bike shifters. I used that as basic reference and combined with the testimony of so many it seemed reasonable to give them a go. First reel was the old greenie super free curado. A green symetre came next and then a 301a Cardiff for the salt. Somehow, some way, a 201 and a 101 gray curados found their way into my arsenal. I can tell you that they braking system spoils you. There is so much room for error that only the worst casts will produce an overrun.

 

i won't use something just because it's from Shimano. For example, I do not like their road bike shifters. I prefer campagnolo instead. 

 

We we could talk your ear off pro or con until the cows come home, but the best way to convince yourself is to try them. Wouldn't go any lower than a curado if I could help it. 

[Redlinerobert]

The Shimano Calcutta and Conquest reels are amazing. 

[Bluebasser86]

I like the older Shimano stuff, not so much with their newer offerings. Always been a Shimano guy until the last few years when I've switched to mostly Pfleger and Okuma and been very happy with them. 

[Catt]

My first tournament setup (below) which won me enough money to buy the second picture, then I added #3, & #4.

Well the red reel should be #4

[PatrickKnight]

This is coming from a spinning reel stand point so take that for what it is. No one has better gearing than Shimano and from my experiences they will out last all others by a good margin. That being said if you cant afford to go with at least a Stradic then you should probably look elsewhere.

[roadwarrior]

 Smooth, strong, silent and reliant...

 

[NYWayfarer]

Love my Shimano's. Great quality products from a company with a long standing reputation.