ICAST Coverage Day 1 (Reels) - Better, Lighter, Faster, Cheaper (continued)
 

Abu Garcia - Revo Premier:

The Revo STX is an outstanding reel that's well built and high performing, being powerful, smooth, and has an incredible drag that'll stop a freight train. Though the STX did very well in most categories it did come in a weight of 8.75 ounces. This is where the new 2008 Revo Premier comes in. This new reel is only 6.35 ounces but has all the performance of the STX.

Here are some actual product shots of the Revo Premier

Here are the highlights of the Revo Premier. It's 27 percent lighter than the STX, it has a one piece aluminum frame and crank-side cover, six stainless steel HPCR™ bearings, STX's tough Carbon Matrix™ Drag system, aircraft grade aluminum spool with the Infinity II spool design, and a Linear Magnetic Brake™ system. The Premier reel, having a gear ratio of 6.4:1, will come in a right and a left hand retrieve model, and at the moment it is planned to bear a retail price of $259.

Revo Inshore

Revo Inshore: After our in-depth review last year on the Revo STX we really wanted to see a saltwater version of the Revo and so did many other anglers. We ask and Abu Garcia delivers with the Revo Inshore low profile baitcast reel based on the rugged Revo STX.

This reel comes with two handles

The Inshore reel is fabricated out of an exclusive one piece X-Craftic alloy frame and crank-side cover for enhanced corrosion resistance. Along with the saltwater-ready body design the reel incorporates seven stainless steel HPCR™ bearings, Duragear™ brass gears, Carbon Matrix™ Drag system, centrifugal brake system, and the Infinity II spool design. The reel also uses a stainless steel crankshaft for additional durability against the corrosive saltwater environment. The Inshore reel is 8.68 ounces  (9.1 ounces with the Power Handle) in weight, has a larger line capacity than the Revo STX - 12/175, and a gear ratio of 6.4:1. The reel, either left or right hand retrieve, will retail for about $229 and each reel will be packaged with a Power Handle and a Extended Throw Handle for different inshore applications.

Bob Hulme shows us the new reels

Pro Max: The Pro Max is the highest of the series. This reel is 7.86 ounces and sports eight bearings, a gear ratio of 6.2:1, precision machined Duragear™ brass gears, Power Disk Drag system, and Abu Garcia's MagTrax™ Brake System. The Pro Max will retail for $79 and at the moment only right hand retrieve is available.

Silver Max: Next in line is the Silver Max, having a silver appearance along with a red Wiffle spool, this reel has a gear ratio that's the same as the Pro Max along with the same features but has a total of six bearings instead of eight. The Silver Max will retail for $59.

Black Max: Retailing for only $49 the Black Max is the most affordable out of the Max series. This low profile reel from Abu Garcia looks pretty stunning with a black body design and a red spool. It has all the features of the other Max reels but features only five bearings.

Cardinal 700LX: Last season Abu Garcia introduced the Cardinal 800 and this year at ICAST they are releasing a Cardinal 700LX. The 700LX features a tough, light aluminum body and rotor, HPCR bearings (a 7 bearing system), waterproof carbon matrix drag and stainless steel mainshaft and hardware, and it comes in gear ratios of 5.1:1 and 4.8:1. There are five reels in this series ranging from a C701LX to as big as a C707LX.

Cameron Ivie shows us the drag test equipment