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Daiwa expands their brightly colored lineup with the new
Tierra spinning reel (continued)
 Ergonomics:
The Tierra features a
compact slim body, one that reminds me of the slightly more aggressively shaped
SOL. It is certainly more attractive than the older more expensive TD Advantage
reels. The lower priced Exceler shares the same profile, and is basically a cost
down version of the Tierra, one that features the same ergonomics but doesn’t
sport the Air-Bail, duplicate spare spool, or sealed drag.
That's right, the knob is painted
to match as well
In terms of user friendly
layout the Tierra is op notch. Daiwa’s easy to use drag system is quick to tune,
and the reel features a quality handle and ergonomically shaped rubber knob.
Let's see just how well that sealed drag
system works...
The smaller reels come
with a barrel knob, while the larger reels come armed with a full on power grip.
The handle is shaped nicely to fit between your fingers and the Tierra, like
most Daiwa spinning reels, features a rather low profile bail to minimize
accidental contact with your knuckles while fighting fish.
After being submerged the inside
of the adjustment cap is still dry
An easy takedown handle
makes the Tierra slightly more portable, and the duplicate spare aluminum spool
makes it easier to use this reel for a variety of applications and species. When
it comes to weight the Tierra falls within the average for a reel this size, if
reduced weight is a priority your best bet is a magnesium based reel. All in all
when it comes to ergonomics there really isn’t anything to complain about with
this reel.
The adjustment knob is coated in
grease
Durability: The Tierra
makes use of less plastic than the Capricorn, and is coated with a shield of
blue paint over all metallic surfaces. After weeks of use we didn’t observe any
boat rash or reason for concern regarding the finish.
A closer look
at the drag gasket (edge of knob)
The functional components
in the Tierra held up nicely and the reel continues to feel just as smooth as it
did the day it came out of the box. The reel’s bearing system makes use of both
traditional ball bearings and two corrosion resistant CRBB bearings.
The grooves on the drag cap serve as
micro-click adjustment notches
The one area where this
reel is vastly improved over the previous generation Daiwa spinning reels in
this price range is the sealed drag system. Though simple in design the
inclusion of a gasket makes this reel washable in between use. Though this
really isn’t a concern for the 1500 size, the larger reels will certainly
benefit from quick rinses in between saltwater use.
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The Tierra's
drag system makes use of metal and felt drag washers
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Next Section: Price,
Applications, and
Ratings
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