Curado MGL 70 vs. SLX MGL

[Brett's_daddy]

Is the Curado MGL 70 that much better than the SLX MGL that it's worth the extra $$$? I'm contemplating one but at $229 for the Curado I can get an SLX MGL rod & reel combo at ALF for $199. Is it the micromodule gearing that's the main difference?

[DomQ]

Go for the slx. It's really a great reel. Nice and smooth, looks great and palms nicely. I really like how the slx reels feel, the flat part up front is perfect if you like to rest your finger under your line while fishing as well. 

[Michigander]

I've got both but haven't fished the Curado yet. Holding them both, I don't feel the price difference. I'll have a more informed opinion at the end of the season though. Side to side balance on the Curado is better though.

[Bandersnatch]

24 minutes ago, Michigander said:

I've got both but haven't fished the Curado yet. Holding them both, I don't feel the price difference. I'll have a more informed opinion at the end of the season though. Side to side balance on the Curado is better though.

How does one reel balance better than the other? This doesn't make sense 

[Michigander]

5 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

How does one reel balance better than the other? This doesn't make sense 

Side to side balance. Some reels feel almost tippy toward the handle, others feel balanced.

[Brett's_daddy]

17 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Side to side balance. Some reels feel almost tippy toward the handle, others feel balanced.

So does the SLX MGL feel unbalanced? I'm sure both reels are great, I mean they're Shimano's and just about everything Shimano makes is quality.

[Michigander]

1 minute ago, Brett's_daddy said:

So does the SLX MGL feel unbalanced? I'm sure both reels are great, I mean they're Shimano's and just about everything Shimano makes is quality.

No, just that the Curado is more balanced. We're getting into the minutiae now because these reels are very similar. ?

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Is the Curado MGL 70 that much better than the SLX MGL that it's worth another $80+?

 

   Depends.

   What are you going to use it for? (I would expect the Curado is superior for flipping or pitching.)

   Is long casting distance necessary for you? (The Curado seems to cast further)

   Which size line do you intend to use? (The SLX is 150-size spool, the Curado is 70-size spool. The SLX will therefore store larger diameter line.)

   Do you intend to use many light lures? (The Curado would be a better choice there.)

 

   The SLX might be a hot coupe, but the Curado is a real sports car. How fast do you need to go?                    jj

[Bandersnatch]

Let's not confuse the fact that you can't compare reels to reels on balance without factoring in the rod. An slx vs curado having better balance than the other is ridiculous. It makes zero sense...

37 minutes ago, Michigander said:

No, just that the Curado is more balanced. We're getting into the minutiae now because these reels are very similar. ?

How can a reel be more "balanced" than another? 

[Michigander]

44 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Let's not confuse the fact that you can't compare reels to reels on balance without factoring in the rod. An slx vs curado having better balance than the other is ridiculous. It makes zero sense...

How can a reel be more "balanced" than another? 

The weight on the handle side of the reel being significantly greater than the weight on the non-handle side of the reel is what I'm talking about. The weight pulls perpendicular to the axis of the rod. I'm not talking about the balance of a rod with a reel on it.

[Boomstick]

I have no experience with the Curado MGL 70, but the SLX MGL 70 is a pretty sweet reel for bomb casting light baits. I would give it the edge over the Curado K for whatever that is worth.

[GreenPig]

Never touched a SLX MGL. I've been fishing a Curado MGL 70 for a month and a half and already ordered another. It'll flat out launch a weightless Super Fluke and the new one will be a dedicated jerkbait reel. I do own and fish a SLX and the Curado is a more refined reel IMO.

[CrankFate]

They are basically the same reels, with different bearings, colors and .2 grams worth of lighter/heavier material. The Curado adds X-Ship and micro module gears. 

[NOC 1]

12 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Is the Curado MGL 70 that much better than the SLX MGL that it's worth the extra $$$? I'm contemplating one but at $229 for the Curado I can get an SLX MGL rod & reel combo at ALF for $199. Is it the micromodule gearing that's the main difference?

I wouldn't pay $229 for a Curado 70 when I can buy an Aldebaran BFS, 50, or 30 for around $290 or a Scorpion 70 for $175 ordering from Japan with free shipping to my door in 3-4 days.. Of course right now everything is pretty hit and miss to catch in stock.

1 hour ago, CrankFate said:

They are basically the same reels, with different bearings, colors and .2 grams worth of lighter/heavier material. The Curado adds X-Ship and micro module gears. 

To me the added pinion bearing in X--Ship is a pretty big deal though I could live without the micro gearing I think, though they does make the reel feel very smooth..at least when they are new..I'm not sure how long that will last though.

[jbsoonerfan]

My opinion is worth what you pay for it, but here it is. I have the Curado 70 MGL XG, SLX MGL XG, and the Scorpion 70 XG. They are all GREAT reels. I have upgraded all the knobs and if I were blindfolded I might not be able to tell the difference. You absolutely cannot go wrong with any of them. 

[Brett's_daddy]

9 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

My opinion is worth what you pay for it, but here it is. I have the Curado 70 MGL XG, SLX MGL XG, and the Scorpion 70 XG. They are all GREAT reels. I have upgraded all the knobs and if I were blindfolded I might not be able to tell the difference. You absolutely cannot go wrong with any of them. 

Curious, what knobs did you upgrade to?

[CrankFate]

13 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

I wouldn't pay $229 for a Curado 70 when I can buy an Aldebaran BFS, 50, or 30 for around $290 or a Scorpion 70 for $175 ordering from Japan with free shipping to my door in 3-4 days.. Of course right now everything is pretty hit and miss to catch in stock.

To me the added pinion bearing in X--Ship is a pretty big deal though I could live without the micro gearing I think, though they does make the reel feel very smooth..at least when they are new..I'm not sure how long that will last though.

Neither would I, the Aldebaran is a much better reel. One of my favorites. There’s always something better around the price of the Curado. Hence why I never got a Curado in the past. I ordered a Curado BFS because it’s only 189.99, if not, I would’ve went with something else, too. The X-Ship makes a big difference to me, especially on a fish, it makes small reels feel more solid, IMO.

[jbsoonerfan]

5 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Curious, what knobs did you upgrade to?

I use the power grip II on all my reels. They are the ones that come on the Curado K

[Fishingmickey]

The Curado 70 MGL is a fine reel. I fished one for several years. It does well with whatever I tie on the end of the line. I haven't fished any of the SLX line of reels. 

FM

[Brett's_daddy]

17 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

I fished one for several years.

Isn't this a brand new reel that just came out in Fall 2020?

[jbsoonerfan]

5 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Isn't this a brand new reel that just came out in Fall 2020?

Yes, the MGL is new. I have a Curado 70 and it has been a fine reel as well, but the new MGL feels a lot better to me.

[Fishingmickey]

12 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Isn't this a brand new reel that just came out in Fall 2020?

Nope the Curado 70 has been around for several years or at least my Curado 70 has been.  I believe mine is the "I" model not the newer "K". I pretty sure it has X-ship. Now you've got me wondering. 

FM 

 

P.S. This is the one I have. Your correct Brett's Daddy.

 

[JustJames]

17 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Nope the Curado 70 MGL w X-ship has been around for several years or at least my Curado 70 has been.  I believe mine is the "I" model not the newer "K".

FM 

That known as 70 (first 70 reel from Shimano) or Curado 70i, what we are talking here is new different spool material, a lot of improvement Curado 70K MGL or know as 70 MGL.

Question for OP, do you need the rod? Do you want any more setups? What make you feel better, using more expensive gears or using good gear without breaking the bank? Of course if money is no object, then buy whatever you like. Just like other why spend 230 for Curado when 290 can get you Aldebaran but better yet why not get 2020 Metanium for a little bit more, or just add 100 bucks more and get Antares, let not stop there go all the way to Conquest, shall we?

My point is get whatever your budget around without cutting down your kids college fund.?

Both reel should fish very close to each other, casting distance shouldn’t be far apart, similar in size and weight. Of course Curado is smoother and might last a few more years longer ?. Ppl already mention MM gear that provide smoothness, infamous X-ship bearing that make the reel feel sturdy when load with big fish (but also these bearing are main cause of infamous geary in a lot of Shimano reel). I’ll add one more, this Curado MGL also come with mainshaft support bearing, this will definitely make the reel feel even sturdier and might help prolong the life of X-Ship bearing. All those worth the xtra 80 bucks?

 

Once is awhile we need to spoiled ourself with some nice gears just like the wife that buy all the purses and shoes. Of course kids come first. 
 

[The Bassman]

7 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

 

 

 

Once is awhile we need to spoiled ourself with some nice gears just like the wife that buy all the purses and shoes.  
 

I'll try using that excuse when the UPS truck shows up with my new Zodias tomorrow.

[CrankFate]

12 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

 

Of course kids come first. 
 

Don’t even get me started on kids. Even their Roblox guys get an allowance of $10 a month to buy virtual clothes with.