Daiwa SS Air

[FishTank]

Any thoughts on this reel? Do you own one? How does it compare to Shimano Aldebaren BFS?

 

I found a good deal on a new one and I am thinking of getting this and going a different route with Daiwa Silver Wolf. 

[msgf91]

I have one from the first batch earlier in the year. I don't have an Aldebaren to compare it with......yet. (after using the SLX BFS the bait monkey wants an Aldebaren) But so far it's been good. It's got the buttery smooth Daiwa retrieve. But because of the material it's made from (magnesium and zaion) it can get noisy like a revo MGX after cleaning all the grease out. It's essentially a Steez Ct/Air detuned with less bearings and a different braking system.  Once you figure out the brakes for the weight you want to throw it does the thumbing for you. Like in some of my recent posts, I'm zipping out a 1/32nd roadrunner like I've been using casting gear for a long time with those kinds of weights. 

If you do get one I would recommend oiling and greasing first. Mine was dry when I opened mine up. Also a YouTuber that upgraded the bearings had the same issue. The gears were dry. But it's one of my favorite parts, it uses 2.5 mm hex instead of Philips so it's easier to get the side plate screws out. 

 

Edit: normally I don't beat on my reels hard and need to do a tear down so soon. But this fall was on fire. I was catching so many crappie and bass. Only after a 40 slab fest did I notice it start feeling like it needed a cleaning. 

 

Edit: I should clarify, it's not geary sounding noise, it's more noisy when you cast. It sounds plastic like during cast sometimes. Not all the time. I didn't like that plastic feeling until after I used it during the slab fest, broke off and tried picking up my revros and Sahara spinning reels. It was like I could feel every tooth on the gear, and all the play in the knobs. It just showed how smooth it was. 

[FishTank]

44 minutes ago, msgf91 said:

I have one from the first batch earlier in the year. I don't have an Aldebaren to compare it with......yet. (after using the SLX BFS the bait monkey wants an Aldebaren) But so far it's been good. It's got the buttery smooth Daiwa retrieve. But because of the material it's made from (magnesium and zaion) it can get noisy like a revo MGX after cleaning all the grease out. It's essentially a Steez Ct/Air detuned with less bearings and a different braking system.  Once you figure out the brakes for the weight you want to throw it does the thumbing for you. Like in some of my recent posts, I'm zipping out a 1/32nd roadrunner like I've been using casting gear for a long time with those kinds of weights. 

If you do get one I would recommend oiling and greasing first. Mine was dry when I opened mine up. Also a YouTuber that upgraded the bearings had the same issue. The gears were dry. But it's one of my favorite parts, it uses 2.5 mm hex instead of Philips so it's easier to get the side plate screws out. 

 

Edit: normally I don't beat on my reels hard and need to do a tear down so soon. But this fall was on fire. I was catching so many crappie and bass. Only after a 40 slab fest did I notice it start feeling like it needed a cleaning. 

 

Edit: I should clarify, it's not geary sounding noise, it's more noisy when you cast. It sounds plastic like during cast sometimes. Not all the time. I didn't like that plastic feeling until after I used it during the slab fest, broke off and tried picking up my revros and Sahara spinning reels. It was like I could feel every tooth on the gear, and all the play in the knobs. It just showed how smooth it was. 

 

Good info.

 

What rod do you have it in? What line? I will probably go braid to leader.

[msgf91]

The main rod is a ALX Enox Aura 6'10 Light Ex fast. 4lb Sniper. The guides are tiny so I don't want to deal with Leader knots. It works great with bottom contact. But I tried it with the 1/16th ounce roadrunner and fryZ combo and it was great. I could feel when crappie would hold on and swim with it. 

The 1/32nd ounce roadrunner rod is an Old 18 Authentic 6'6 UUL. (now I want to try out the other series UL and L rods). I figured that the SS Air was the only reel I have I could cast that light. So I switched out the line for 2 lb mono to practice with. Then when I'm confident I won't blow up the reel as much I'll switch to 2 lb Daiwa samurai FC.  

[walleyecrazy]

I bought an SS Air when they first came out, and I really enjoy using it. I actually like it enough that I recently bought a second one. The reel is super smooth and light with a super controlled braking system. As far as how it compares to the Aldebaran I would say they are about equal in smoothness. The Aldebaran is definitely more finicky to get dialed in, but isn’t too bad to adjust once you get it dialed in. I will say though that my least favorite part of the Aldebaran is the brake adjustment dial. It’s very stiff, and the numbers are very hard to read. I have perfect vision and I still have an issue seeing them half the time. In my use I would say that the main difference between the two is in the casting. The SS Air is a much more controlled and forgiving braking system, and the Aldebaran offers slightly more casting distance. I really enjoy both reels, but if I had to choose just one I think my pick would be the SS Air. 

[msgf91]

11 hours ago, walleyecrazy said:

 The Aldebaran is definitely more finicky to get dialed in, but isn’t too bad to adjust once you get it dialed in. I will say though that my least favorite part of the Aldebaran is the brake adjustment dial. It’s very stiff, and the numbers are very hard to read. I have perfect vision and I still have an issue seeing them half the time. In my use I would say that the main difference between the two is in the casting. The SS Air is a much more controlled and forgiving braking system, and the Aldebaran offers slightly more casting distance. I really enjoy both reels, but if I had to choose just one I think my pick would be the SS Air. 

The SLX BFS has a similar FTB system. Too dim outside, can't see it. To bright, can't see it. The best way is when it's overcast. Realized that the previous trip I turned it down to 1 lol

[bulldog1935]

Daiwa's SS brake functions basically the same as MagForce Z and SV, but the new inductor geometry fits in a smaller space, and is 25% lighter - they also described a wider range of mag adjustment.  

All that makes for lower inertia and improved light end.  

It's probably noteworthy they're still coming out with new SV reels, so this brake is not replacing SV across the line.  

What you won't find is a big range of aftermarket spools for this reel (if any).  

[walleyecrazy]

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

What you won't find is a big range of aftermarket spools for this reel (if any).  

I believe Reset Reels is the only company that currently has an aftermarket spool for these. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of their prototype spools earlier this summer, and it performs amazingly well. I can bomb little 1.5-2g hair jigs quite a distance with their spool. 

[msgf91]

Thanks for the info on the spool, I'm going to have to check it out 

[msgf91]

Got my SS Air back together finally after cleaning and swapping out the bushings. It feels way better and is much quieter. I don't hear the plastic sound I would hear sometimes. I know I've heard bearings don't make that big of a difference so I figure the difference is it's not dry anymore.  

 

[FishTank]

On 1/12/2024 at 6:56 PM, msgf91 said:

Got my SS Air back together finally after cleaning and swapping out the bushings. It feels way better and is much quieter. I don't hear the plastic sound I would hear sometimes. I know I've heard bearings don't make that big of a difference so I figure the difference is it's not dry anymore.  

 

 

The more I looked into this reel, these are the kind of stories I am hearing. It's what stopped me from getting the Steez Air and the 1st Conquest BFS.  It seems there was some tinkering needed to get it just right, which isn't a big deal to me but I would like to not have to chase things, except for a clean and lube, when the reel is new.  

 

I decided to hold off on the bargain I found. A shop in Japan had (past tense) a few in stock new for $250 shipped. 

[Bass Rutten]

On 1/8/2024 at 11:39 AM, walleyecrazy said:

I believe Reset Reels is the only company that currently has an aftermarket spool for these. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of their prototype spools earlier this summer, and it performs amazingly well. I can bomb little 1.5-2g hair jigs quite a distance with their spool. 

Does it use the same spool as the steez air tw? I don't see a spool listing for the ss air tw on his site. Was there any mention mention of a release date?

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, Bass Rutten said:

Does it use the same spool as the steez air tw?

No. SS Magforce is quite different than SV found in the Steez Air.

 

[msgf91]

1 hour ago, Bass Rutten said:

Does it use the same spool as the steez air tw? I don't see a spool listing for the ss air tw on his site. Was there any mention mention of a release date?

I contacted him after reading the post. It's still in development, he wants to try and make it lighter with the same strength.  He uses BFS reels differently, for European catfish. I told him how I use 1/32nd ounce roadrunners with a micro swim bait and he said that's like the weight of just one of the snap rings he uses. 

 

I heard some people have tried out using the SS Air spool if they switch the Airs side plate to the Steez Ct. So maybe the spools are interchangeable if you move the side plate with it. 

[Bass Rutten]

Now I remember reading about that, they reversed the inductor to lighten it and shrink the reel a touch.