ARK Fishing Gravity 2 Casting Reel Product Review

Reel Review

An Appeal That's Difficult to Resist : ARK Fishing International's Gravity 2 Casting Reel

Date:	9/18/25
Tackle Type:	Reel
Manufacturer:	ARK Fishing Intl.
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 7.92 + BEST VALUE AWARD

Introduction: If you've paid attention to ARK Fishing International's collection of casting reels, you'll know that from Gravity 5 and above, the reels are outfitted with the company's Gravity Control Braking System featuring something like sixty (60) different settings. Their more budget friendly reels, Gravity 1 and 3 are outfitted with a more straightforward, if not simple magnetic braking system commonly found in reels priced roughly around $120 or below. Gravity 5, the lowest price reel in ARK's lineup with their more advanced braking system, retails for $179.99. Not outrageous, but a little up there for anglers just starting out. Makes sense, you have to spend more money to get fancy features like a more dynamic braking system - until now. Introducing ARK Fishing International's sub $100 Gravity 2, a reel that features the company's more dynamic Gravity Control Braking System.

ARK Fishing Gravity 2 Casting Reel Specifications
Line Capacity - Rated	12/100
Line Capacity - Spool Volume	10.1 cm³
Retrieve Ratio	6.4:1	7.1:1
Inches Per Turn (IPT) - calculated	15-25	17-28
Weight	7.3 oz
Spool Weight	13 g
Handle Length	88 mm (center of post to center of post)
Bearings	8
Bearings per Knob	1 bearing
Levelwind Bearings	1 bushing
Rated Max Drag	~14lbs
Origin	Made in China
MSRP	$99.99

Introducing ARK Fishing International's Gravity 2 casting reel

Impressions: So how did ARK Fishing International do it? Well of course, there are some compromises made in the design and construction of their Gravity 2 (G2). The primarily difference between the G2 and G5 is the use of a graphite frame in the G2 instead of aluminum in the G5. Another is in the implementation of the reel's drag stack which has been simplified to a single washer of some type of hybrid carbon material.

The Gravity 2 features a graphite frame

However, the guts of the G2 remain, for a large part the same. Bearing count is close (8 instead of 9 in the G5), and the main gear is still a brass alloy. The reel's shape is mostly the same, but with some holes cut out of the top plate for a more interesting look. However, the G2's spool is ported to save weight and provide easier start up inertia (the G5's spool is not ported).

Loaded with Daiwa x8 JBraid, paired with a new ARK Commander stick, and ready for action

Real World Tests: I matched ARK's new G2 with their Commander series CMD-73MHXC Special Ops stick. This is a seven foot, three inch (7'-3") fishing rod built with a split rear grip of EVA foam presented in an almost monotone Army green. For line, I chose 40lb Daiwa x8 JBraid in Island Blue as my base and tied on a fluorocarbon leader of varying strength dependent upon my intended application though usually somewhere between twelve to fifteen pound test.

Removing the non-handle sideplate reveals ARK Fishing's Gravity Control Braking System

This braking system offers 20 points of adjustment on the external dial and 3 points of adjustment on the spool giving the user 60 different settings

Casting: As stated in the intro, the exciting news about ARK's new $99 reel is that the braking system. ARK's Gravity Control Braking system offers sixty (60) different settings - twelve on the ratcheted exterior dial times three rotor settings. That's a really wide range of adjustment allowing the end user the ability to cast baits down to a quarter of an ounce with proper line choice (i.e. thinner diameter lines). The upper range has similar limitations but more so with line capacity than diameter.

The Gravity 2 is available in 6.4:1 and 7.1:1 retrieve ratios - in both left and right hand retrieve

In the conventional range of three eighths of an ounce up to one and a half ounces (3/8 - 1 1/2oz), with proper brake setting, casting is effortless and virtually trouble free. I was already familiar with this system having fished it while evaluating the Gravity 5, 7, and 8 reels, and it was very pleased to find in the Gravity 2. Not only does this set the G2 apart from other $99 reels, but I feel it gives it a leg up on the slightly pricier Gravity 3. That's despite the use of graphite for Gravity 2's frame versus aluminum in the Gravity 3.

The reel's handle measures 88mm from center of knob to center of knob

Retrieve: Inside the Gravity 2 is a brass gear that delivers smooth performance. The graphite frame seems to hold up perfectly fine through many different techniques both in open water and close to cover and the feel on palming side of the reel is on par with that of other reels at its price point. This is in contrast to the reel's knobs that give the Gravity 2 a slightly elevated feel. This is due to their size and material. Some manufacturers, ARK included, use inferior knobs on their lower end reels. Sometimes it's material, other times it's shape, sometimes both. For the Gravity 2, ARK is using the same knobs found in their G5 and above reels. They're sleek, slender, and made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and constantly made me forget I was fishing a $99 reel.

A look inside reveals a brass gear

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