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Anything but Ordinary – Okuma’s Limited Edition Chroma
Spinning Reel
| Date: |
2/28/20 |
| Tackle type: |
Reel |
| Manufacturer: |
Okuma |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Introduction: When anglers think about enthusiast tackle Okuma
usually isn't one of the first brands that come to mind. The
company is looking to change that with the introduction of limited edition
products that are designed to showcase their technologies, willingness to break
away from convention, and to simply inspire anglers to have more fun. The
Limited Edition Chroma is the most visually stunning spinning reel that Okuma has created to
date, and draws inspiration from contemporary art.
|
Okuma Chroma
Limited Edition Spinning Reel
Specifications |
|
Line
Capacity (lbs / yds) |
12/145 |
|
Gear Ratio |
5.01 |
|
Measured Weight |
7.68 ounces |
|
Measured Max. Drag |
14.7 lbs measured
max drag (15.4lbs. published spec) |
|
Number of
Bearings |
7BB + 1RB |
|
Features |
Limited to 1000 pieces (each individually numbered), hand sanded and
painted components, machined brass pinion gear, graphite body and rotor,
machined aluminum anodized spool, corrosion resistant stainless steel
bail wire, specially designed handle, bundles with engraved LTD bottle
opener |
|
Origin |
China |
|
MSRP |
$79.99 |
A spinning reel that looks quite
unlike anything else on the market, meet the Okuma Chroma Limited Edition
Breaking away from
Convention: Okuma has always been better known for
their mainstream products which deliver great bang for the buck performance, and
yet many anglers may not know that they are one of only a handful of
manufacturers that develops their own technology and also possesses in-house
manufacturing capabilities. This vertical integration is an advantage as it
provides more control over what designs and technologies are able to make it to
production. In addition to this scale on the other end of the spectrum it also gives
the company additional flexibility to create limited edition pieces like the Chroma.
The Chroma shares parts with other
Okuma reels but each component was hand sanded and painted to achieve the unique
styling
The Chroma is not the
company’s first foray into extremely limited edition spinning reels, as the
luxury inspired L’amour was introduced two seasons ago. The L'amour featured a robin
egg blue color that is reminiscent of Tiffany’s jewelry and was
embellished with 13 crystals from Swarovski (12 in the spool, one on the handle
knob). This reel definitely took some chances, but also left many anglers
scratching their heads wondering just who the intended target market was for the
product. At the same time the fact that the L'amour was so difficult to procure
drove additional interest in this collectible, yet polarizing, piece.
No matter what rod you pair the
Chroma with it pretty much dominates the attention
Fast
forward to this season and Okuma surprised anglers with the stealthy release of
the Chroma, a reel inspired by modern art. The Chroma features a eclectic finish
that incorporates five different colors but it doesn’t stop there. While the L’amour focused primarily on aesthetics the Chroma takes things further with a
level of increased tuning and refinement.
Do you love or hate the design? I
have to admit I wasn't sure what to think about it at first but it has really grown on me
True colors:
The Chroma shares platform elements from the company's Jaw, Fuel, and Alaris
reels but internally it has a souped up machined cut brass pinion gear and 7BB + 1RB
configuration. The frame and rotor are still made out of graphite but the bright finishes on
the reel feature a very solid layer of bright paint. Each of these components
are
individually hand sanded and painted to give the reel a very unique, and custom
made, look and feel. The Chroma also features a new
handle design that is more angular and ported than what is normally found on most Okuma
reels. The aggressive style matches up nicely with the profile of the frame, and
like the body of the reel the handle is also painted matte black so that the
yellow cap on the EVA foam knob really pops.
One of the most subtle, and cool,
branding elements is the Chroma logo that is stealthily placed on the double
anodized matte black spool
Next Section: High Fun Factor and Extremely Limited...
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