Big difference in 200 vs 400 dollar reels?

[Swinghead]

So most of my reels are in the 100 to 150 dollar range. I was thinking of moving up to some in the 200 + range. Was wondering what makes the 400 dollar ones better than say the 200 dollar ones.  Is it weight or lack of backlashing? What’s y’all’s favorites. 

[CFDoc]

I buy them because of all the beautiful women in scantily clad bathing attire that flock to my boat when I put them out on the front deck.

[jimmyjoe]

   Weight and specialized design. If they caused women to flock to your boat the way @CFDoc says, they could charge a lot more than $400, believe you me!   ??    jj

[brophog]

For practical purposes, don’t ignore the $250-$300 range. Most companies put some really good reels in that range.

 

In general, what you’re going to get as you move up in price is difference in materials, weight reduction, tighter tolerances, more (and better) bearings, cosmetics and general smoothness. Sometimes a company will debut a new premium feature only on high end reels.

 

Whether these things are worth it is greatly subjective, just know that there is heavy diminishing returns as you move up in price. 

 

[bulldog1935]

In the case of Shimano, $200 reels come from a line in Malaysia, and I'm betting a $400 reel is made in Japan.  I know in the case of Japan-made spinning reels, technicians at the bench match parts to improve smoothness and reduce inertia.  The extra effort should also reduce wear in the long run.  

 

Asian Portal - $320 against a weak JPY

 

[Bankc]

The law of diminishing returns.  

 

My theory on fishing gear is there's a minimum price of entry.  It's around $30 to get you in the water on something that will reliably catch fish (though it will have flaws).  If you double that, you get double the reel.  So a $60 reel is twice as good as a $30 reel.  The next step up, going to a $120 reel, only gets you around a one and a half times better reel.  The next step, up to $250, gets you one that is one and a quarter times better than the $120 reel.  A $500 reel is about one and one eight, so very comparable to a $250 reel.  But if you want or need the difference between a $500 reel and a $250 reel, you'll have to pay for it.  Rods are much the same way.

 

Now, that's just a gross generalization.  There are a ton of factors that can skew those numbers around one way or the other.  It's anything but scientific.  But the over-arching principle that the higher you climb up the price ladder, the less of a difference you experience between products, generally holds true.  

 

So I would expect a lot less of a difference between a $200 reel and a $400 reel, than between a $100 reel and a $200 reel, even though on the former, we're talking about a difference of $200 versus the $100 difference on the later.  Still, if you want or need the best, you're not going to find it in a $200 reel.  

[garroyo130]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

In the case of Shimano, $200 reels come from a line in Malaysia, and I'm betting a $400 reel is made in Japan.  I know in the case of Japan-made spinning reels, technicians at the bench match parts to improve smoothness and reduce inertia.  The extra effort should also reduce wear in the long run.  

 

 

 

At over $400 is the chrome still chrome-plated plastic?

[Angry John]

The quality of components and service ability comes into play for me.  How easy do the spool bearings come out.  Are parts easy to get.... more than just shiny for me.

[Columbia Craw]

Now that design technology, materials and machining have reached parody among and within manufactures, the difference or gap in performance and longevity between those price points had narrowed and will most likely continue to narrow. 

[roadwarrior]

12 minutes ago, Columbia Craw said:

Now that design technology, materials and machining have reached parody among and within manufactures, the difference or gap in performance and longevity between those price points had narrowed and will most likely continue to narrow. 

 

Are you kidding?

[Columbia Craw]

23 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

Are you kidding?

Not at all.

[roadwarrior]

39 minutes ago, Columbia Craw said:

Now that design technology, materials and machining have reached parody among and within manufactures...

Diawa and Shimano represent cutting edge technology, materials and machining, but within

these two brands there are significant differences at the various pricing points. Both companies 

have flagship models in both spinning and baitcasting models representing the best of the

best, but at lower pricing points the competition has not achieved "parody". 

 

Lew's is a very popular brand and may be a good "value", but I don't believe they have ever

produced a "proprietary product".  Abu Garcia made a comeback a decade ago, but have not

seemed to follow through in recent years. Other brands have good offering at certain pricing 

points, but not across the board.

[Columbia Craw]

I don’t disagree with you Kent.  The question was the degree of difference between two price points.  Is the degree of performance, longevity and serviceability really twice as good between reels where one costs  twice as much as another.

My point is the same or similar computer technology is applied in the production of a reel model, for example, a Tatula SV and a Zillion.  The materials applied are the same or very similar and in some applications, components may even be interchangeable.  Can I say that the Zillion is twice the reel.  No I can’t.

 

Shimano has applied the same or similar technology, example, the DC system to the SLX series which narrows the performance gap with in two price ranges.  That generates the question of performance being so far apart to justify double the retail?   
 

Is there a more distinguishable difference in performance between reel brands/manufactures at comparable price points?  I say yes but add what is the difference in design features? 
 

Finally, there are other companies that are closing the performance/longevity disparity with the “big two” .   It’s seems to be that major design differences construed major price differences.  My position is that factor is lessening as model years continue.

 

[Basseditor]

If I use a $500 reel and still don't catch fish, I can't blame my equipment. 

 

But it looks impressive to my 100 YouTube followers.  ? ?

[bulldog1935]

@roadwarrior and @Columbia Craw

I think the real point is the technology and manufacturing trickle down.  

If you look at entry level reels now compared to 30 years ago, they've made great strides and, especially in just the past 10 years, with explosion of computer design and manufacturing.  

Baitcasters are still a very simple mechanism - even their braking systems.  

Spinning reels are still the most complicated fishing reel mechanism, but they've really worked out the bugs with computer design.  

What you can't change is the cost of the materials of construction, the labor and investment to work them, and it's the performance and detail labor of those better materials that affect the cost of higher-end reels.  

 

Thirty years ago, we caught a lot of fish, 100 years ago, they caught a lot of fish.  

But 100 years ago, or even 50 years ago, it was unheard of for anyone except the wealthy or charter Captains to have a gang of rods and reels.  

[NYWayfarer]

3 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Diawa and Shimano represent cutting edge technology, materials and machining, but within

these two brands there are significant differences at the various pricing points. Both companies 

have flagship models in both spinning and baitcasting models representing the best of the

best, but at lower pricing points the competition has not achieved "parody". 

 

Lew's is a very popular brand and may be a good "value", but I don't believe they have ever

produced a "proprietary product".  Abu Garcia made a comeback a decade ago, but have not

seemed to follow through in recent years. Other brands have good offering at certain pricing 

points, but not across the board.

Lew’s is a good value. It’s hard to compare them to Shimano or Daiwa as Lew’s “flagship” reel, the Pro Ti is $350 a great reel that looks and performs way above its price point. That’s “value” to me.

 

Shimano are great reels but you are paying for x-ship, hagane, paladin, etc.
 

I read a lot about longevity on these forums. Guys that want a reel to last as long as they are alive. I like trying new things and new technologies. Sure my original Mitchell 300 still works but it’s not as light, smooth or silent as my newer model reels. There comes a time to put the old reel on the shelf and enjoy yourself with a newer model.

[king fisher]

The difference for me is a one hundred dollar real will catch fish, and a $500 will get me a divorce.

[MN Fisher]

20 minutes ago, king fisher said:

The difference for me is a one hundred dollar real will catch fish, and a $500 will get me a divorce.

This...one thousand times.

[Backroad Angler]

I feel like once you hit, lets say the 200 dollar and up reels, they start to max out at how efficient and great they can be. I feel there is a smaller difference between reels that are 200 bucks vs 400 bucks, not to say there aren't differences, but if you compare a 25 dollar reel to a 150 dollar reel, you are gonna see a huge difference, between a 200 and a 400 dollar reel, not as much of a difference. 

[DaubsNU1]

I have a side gig as a picture guy (senior pictures, family, sports, headshots, occasional wedding). Started probably 15 years ago with just base level camera...then cousin loaned me her camera for a night....Ooooooooh, what a difference between her good camera / lens, and my entry-level stuff...it was over right there. Once you experience good "glass" it's pointless to go back to entry-level. So now, 15 years later I have about $10k worth of cameras and lenses in my bag, all pro-level stuff.

 

So when I dusted off my reels and rods (all purchased in the early to mid 1990's) I purposely did NOT get anything new. Won't even touch the new stuff when I'm at Cabela's or Scheels...cause I know...once I spin that $400 reel, it's coming home with me. 

 

That is all...

 

 

[islandbass]

6 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

I don’t disagree with you Kent.  The question was the degree of difference between two price points.  Is the degree of performance, longevity and serviceability really twice as good between reels where one costs  twice as much as another.

My point is the same or similar computer technology is applied in the production of a reel model, for example, a Tatula SV and a Zillion.  The materials applied are the same or very similar and in some applications, components may even be interchangeable.  Can I say that the Zillion is twice the reel.  No I can’t.

 

Shimano has applied the same or similar technology, example, the DC system to the SLX series which narrows the performance gap with in two price ranges.  That generates the question of performance being so far apart to justify double the retail?   
 

Is there a more distinguishable difference in performance between reel brands/manufactures at comparable price points?  I say yes but add what is the difference in design features? 
 

Finally, there are other companies that are closing the performance/longevity disparity with the “big two” .   It’s seems to be that major design differences construed major price differences.  My position is that factor is lessening as model years continue.

 

Columbia, I think Kent was ribbin’ because you used the word parody instead of parity. I could be wrong, and that would be a tragedy in the pacific nw. ?
 

 

[waymont]

10 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

I have a side gig as a picture guy (senior pictures, family, sports, headshots, occasional wedding). Started probably 15 years ago with just base level camera...then cousin loaned me her camera for a night....Ooooooooh, what a difference between her good camera / lens, and my entry-level stuff...it was over right there. Once you experience good "glass" it's pointless to go back to entry-level. So now, 15 years later I have about $10k worth of cameras and lenses in my bag, all pro-level stuff.

 

So when I dusted off my reels and rods (all purchased in the early to mid 1990's) I purposely did NOT get anything new. Won't even touch the new stuff when I'm at Cabela's or Scheels...cause I know...once I spin that $400 reel, it's coming home with me. 

 

That is all...

 

 

Sell off some camera gear, and buy all new fishing gear. That way you can have two slippery slopes to slide down.

[Columbia Craw]

18 hours ago, islandbass said:

Columbia, I think Kent was ribbin’ because you used the word parody instead of parity. I could be wrong, and that would be a tragedy in the pacific nw. ?
 

 

Thank you for bringing that to my attention.  I love auto spell check.  ?

[PhishLI]

20 hours ago, king fisher said:

a one hundred dollar real will catch fish, and a $500 will get me a divorce.

Not if you have it shipped to a secret P.O. box, silly boy.?

[Shimano_1]

I basically agree with the guys talking about diminishing returns.  I fish mostly 150-200 reels with a few 99 dollar reels mixed in. Are the 200 reels better? Yes I would say so, are they twice as good? I don't think so. Id love to justify to myself that I needed 10 shimano bantam mgl or metanium reels but I just can't. Not throwing shade at anyone as their are tons of people who obviously love those reels. I just dont feel like those reels would be anything close to twice as good as what I fish.  Couple buddies have metaniums and they are fantastic but not worth the $ for me personally.  I always tell guys asking to get in at the 100 dollar aluminum frame point and they should be good.  I respect shimano and daiwa for how they do things but I can't honestly say I think they are superior to any of the doyo reels. As has been stated already,  when you can get a dc shimano for less than 200 bucks and a daiwa sv reel for the same I don't see a reason to spend any more than that. As the technology improves it trickles down and guys like me reap the rewards.  Yes the 400 dollar reels will be a little lighter or a little smoother but not enough to justify the cost. As always tho just my humble opinion and if someone thinks its worth the cost then absolutely go for it.