Shimano SLX

[cody_kowalski]

From your guy's experience do you think that the Shimano SLX casting reel is a durable reel that will last me 5+ years?

[jbsoonerfan]

Never held one, but yep, it will last you that long.

[matbellon3]

With regular care and maintenance i don't see why not. Got one near the end of last fall and used it quite often then and have been using it heavily this spring and it still feels like new.

[TBAG]

I have a couple and they're pretty nice for the $.

 

I'd say if you take care of them and maintain them properly they'll last you 5+ years.

[FishinBuck07]

Yeah I would say yes!  They are a very solid build for the money that is for sure.  Great reel so far for me.  I like it cause it feels solid and is small for my small hands

[MAN]

Since no one person can say they have one that has exceeded 5 years of use....I would say just accept the answer that "Its a Shimano...so it probably will with proper care and maintenance".  

[Fishingmickey]

     One of the things you have omitted is how much do you fish and how much will you be fishing that reel. If your fishing once a week and using only that reel. I suspect you'll be fine.

     If your chunking and fast winding DD22's, 6 & 8XD's, throwing a large double bladed spinner bait and making several thousands cast per outing with 3-4 outings per week. It might not last you five years... you might have to replace the pawl, handle bushings or the thumb bar return spring.

     I've got two SLX's and they perform beautifully and are very smooth. For a Benjamin Franklin they are hard to beat.

Good luck,

Fishingmickey

[Midgard]

I have two Shimano SLX reels and they're the best bang for the buck $100.  Incredibly good reels for $100.  I personally think the Shimano SLX is a $200-$300 reel killer.  It's just as good as any $200-$300 reel IMO.  As such, why spend $200-$300 when you can get the SLX for $100?

[Hower08]

Here's another way to look at it. It's probably as good or better than the best reels were 20 years ago. I've got some buddies with them they all love them. The slx rods are very nice too. My tournament partner bought one for dropshot and finesse fishing. I used it once. Very nice rod for the money

[johnD.]

Keep it clean , it will last many many years. Keeping your reels in a rod locker or having covers on them goes a long way when transporting your rods/reels.

I have the SLX XT. For $20 more it's worth having the SVS infinity and the extra bearing on the main shaft.

[Tizi]

I am super happy with my SLX reels and rods.  I had been getting the combo deal from American Legacy.  Can't beat the pricing - $139 less 10% off.  I just checked, they don't offer it anymore.

[Joshua van Wyk]

1 hour ago, johnD. said:

Keep it clean , it will last many many years. Keeping your reels in a rod locker or having covers on them goes a long way when transporting your rods/reels.

I have the SLX XT. For $20 more it's worth having the SVS infinity and the extra bearing on the main shaft.

Do you have the regular Slx to compare to? I’m curious as to wether or not the svs adds a noticeable amount of distance.

[Glaucus]

2 hours ago, Midgard said:

I have two Shimano SLX reels and they're the best bang for the buck $100.  

That's a strange way to spell Daiwa Fuego

[johnD.]

45 minutes ago, Joshua van Wyk said:

Do you have the regular Slx to compare to? I’m curious as to wether or not the svs adds a noticeable amount of distance.

I don't have a regular slx , I can tell you it cast farther or just as far as my curado k. On the same rod , with the same line and lure.

[Cahabafly]

The SLX has been extremely solid for me even through kayak fishing in the Gulf. Definitely a good, durable reel 

[OnthePotomac]

Just picked mine up and as usual, I had to get inside to look around.  No different than any other of my Shimano reels except a bushing on the drive shaft instead of a bearing, but I fished with a Citica for years with a  drive shaft bushing and no big deal and easy to swap for a bearing if so desired.  Putting 10 lb Invizx on it and cannot wait to give it a go.

[hwright38]

4 hours ago, Midgard said:

I have two Shimano SLX reels and they're the best bang for the buck $100.  Incredibly good reels for $100.  I personally think the Shimano SLX is a $200-$300 reel killer.  It's just as good as any $200-$300 reel IMO.  As such, why spend $200-$300 when you can get the SLX for $100?

Lol. I'd much rather have a Chronarch or a Curado DC than two or three SLXs. It's a decent little reel, but you're really going to contend it's just as good? No way no how is a reel half the cost going to punch in Chronarch/Curado weight class.

[PourMyOwn]

Today I used a Fuego, an SLX, and a Pro Qualifier. All were bought new in 2019. The Shimano acted like it needed oil, it was the noisiest of the three. The Fuego is my favorite,  the PQ a close second. 

[Joshua van Wyk]

1 hour ago, hwright38 said:

Lol. I'd much rather have a Chronarch or a Curado DC than two or three SLXs. It's a decent little reel, but you're really going to contend it's just as good? No way no how is a reel half the cost going to punch in Chronarch/Curado weight class.

Agreed. There is no comparison between my Slx and my dads Chronarch. The Chronarch blows the Slx out of the water in smoothness, distance, and performance.

 

 

[GeekOutdoors]

I would go with the SLX XT. I winded the SLX in different stores and I wasn't please with what I feel was a lack of smoothness... I know this is very subjective and far from real world test but that made me stay away from them. I also wasn't able to find the XG locally so it kind of put the last nail in the coffin. I might fall for an SLX XT XG in the near future though...

 

 

[newyorktoiowa57]

Agree that the Chronarch is way nicer then a few SLX's.  The first time I cast mine with decent fluoro and KVD Line and Lure , I realized why tackletour was in love with that reel. The line comes off the spool so easily and so smoothly. 

[MAN]

20 hours ago, hwright38 said:

Lol. I'd much rather have a Chronarch or a Curado DC than two or three SLXs. 

SLX DC will be released next month. Should put it on par with those wanting a DC but not wanting to spend that much.  

[EGbassing]

Yes. Any quality reel should if you take care of it.

[bwjay]

My SLX is a decent reel, though I can't seem to cast as far with it as I can with my Bantam. It also has a "knocking" sound when reeling fast, like the handle isn't perfectly joined to the cranking shaft or whatever it's called, but I've heard this in videos for more expensive reels, like I wanna say I heard it from a Chronarch. The SLX is quite light and small though and palms quite nicely as someone with medium sized hands. The Bantam is in another league completely though in terms of smoothness, sound of retrieve (there is none, no matter how fast you reel), play in the reel (there is none), and feel in the hand. The Bantam is definitely noticeably heavier but it is so so enjoyable to use.

 

That said, the SLX was my first baitcaster and I am still pretty pleased with it. I was using it for flipping the other day and it performed admirably. But it's hard not to think about how amazing the Bantam feels to fish, when using anything else... it makes even my Stradic Ci4+ feel meh.

 

But I digress...  the SLX should last you a while if you keep it clean and don't drop it. But it does seem like the SLX XT is a better option now for hardly any more money, with the SVS Infinity adjustable brake.

[TBAG]

2 hours ago, MAN said:

SLX DC will be released next month. Should put it on par with those wanting a DC but not wanting to spend that much.  

Really? First I've heard of this......any idea on price?