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More for the money...the redesigned Cardinal 502ALB spinning
reel (continued)
 Ergonomics:
Abu Garcia sticks to
proven designs and tradition more than just about any other tackle manufacturer
in the business. Their conventional round baitcast reels are immediately
recognizable no matter what color and size variation they are offered in. The
company even pioneered a new look with their EON series, true the design
polarized most anglers, but kudos to Abu for sticking to their guns. On the
other hand the spinning reels have really evolved over time, and while you can
see elements of past reels in the new Cardinal 500’s the majority of the reel’s
cosmetics have been altered.
More aluminum armor
The Cardinal 502 weighs in at
9.7oz which is really right within the norm for a reel this size. While fishing
the reel it didn’t feel too heavy and balanced out our drop shot rod rather
nicely. I think the design of the reel actually appears heavier than it really
is due to the use of the metallic plating. The Cardinal reels seems to put a
renewed emphasis on clean design with this model, and the 100, 300, and 500 all
ship with a similar rubber knob. This small rubber knob is more ergonomic than a
wooden barrel knob, and is quite comfortable when sandwiched between your thumb
and index finger. The free switch is located right behind the rotor on the
underbelly of the frame on all three levels of Cardinal reels, and we found it
easy to engage and disengage on the fly. When traveling the machined handle on
our test reel was easy to break down by simply rotating the knob which is
attractively adorned with the familiar Abu Garcia seal.
The machined aluminum handle is very
impressive for a reel in this price range
Price& Applications:
If there is one category that
the Cardinal 500’s would enter and be the favorite to medal it would be in the
“price” competition. Regardless of size each of the three 500 series reels only
retails for 64.95. This is only twenty dollars more than a Cardinal 300, and
thirty dollars more than a Cardinal 100 reel. The C502ALB we tested can be used
for bass fishing, Steelhead, Stripers, Redfish, and even some inshore species.
Overall for the price the Abu is a terrific deal for the amount of reel you are
getting, even when you figure in the graphite spool. While not the most refined
reel, it is hard to complain about a 10 bearing spinning reel for under 65
dollars. In fact I purchased the reel in this test for only 59.99 at a local
retail store.
The Cardinal 502ALB's 5.5:1 gear ratio
recover 25.5 inches of line per crank with authority
The Cardinal's rubber knob is comfortable and
easy to grip even when wet
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No Abu would be complete without the seal |
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Overall the new Cardinal 502ALB proved to
be a quality reel at a great price, and while the reel could use a tad bit
more refinement its certainly worth what we paid for it |
Ratings:
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Abu Garcia
Cardinal (C502ALB) Ratings (?/10) |
|
Construction/Quality |
Overall construction quality is quite good. The metal finish feels as solid
as it looks. There is no plastic to be found on this reel. Only downside to
the total package is the cheap graphite spare spool. |
8 |
|
Performance |
Overall very strong in all categories. Lacks some refinement in both the
retrieve and drag adjustment categories, but normal operation is quite good. |
8.5 |
|
Price |
A
very good
price for a 10 bearing all metal reel. Priced in the mainstream range this
reel is a good deal when you consider the features and performance the
Cardinal offers |
9 |
|
Features |
There
are a number of new features in this reel like the accu-balanced rotor and
advanced oscillation, making this the most advanced Cardinal to date |
8.5 |
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Design (Ergonomics) |
Overall ergonomics are good. There are lighter reels out there, but most
have plastic knobs and switches while the Cardinal focuses on all metal
construction for superior durability. |
8.5 |
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Application |
The
502 size is great for bass, stripers, redfish, and even some inshore
species. The all metal construction held up well in our tests and should be
fine for light salt as long as the reel is rinsed after each outing |
8.5 |
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Total Score |
8.50 |
Pluses and Minuses:
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Plus Minus |
|
J
Plenty of reel for the money |
L Needs
more refinement when it comes to the retrieve |
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J
Quality materials and construction |
L Drag
adjustment could be more precise |
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J Feels
powerful, very good line lay during both fast and slow retrieves |
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J
Modern appearance |
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J
Reasonable price |
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Conclusion:
The new Cardinal reels are
certainly a departure in design from the more traditional look and feel of
Cardinals of seasons past. The new metallic finish modernizes the look of the
reel, while the new gearing and bearing count help bring up the performance.
Rating this reel was a bit of a challenge. While the reel looks the part, the
refinement still leaves a little to be desired. What most stands out about this
reel is how much product you are getting for the money. For 65 dollars this reel
is certainly worthy of consideration by any angler looking for a mainstream reel
with all the features that make sense, and not a lot of the fluff you can do
without. When you look at the entire new lineup of Cardinals the 300 series
might actually be the sweet spot rather than the 500‘s however. Costing only 45
dollars the 300 series reels rival the 500 in features, offers the same retrieve
ratio, actually weighs a tad bit less, and gives you the same basic ergonomics
and contemporary design.
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