Components: The Steez rods make use of exotic components from the blank
level through the metal hardware. Every component was carefully selected, tested
by itself, re-tested on the rod, and then implemented. This rod is warranted for
a lifetime, and Daiwa wanted to make sure the components would stand the test of
time. In cases where Daiwa could not find a component on the market to meet
their strict requirements they went to the lab and engineered their own
solution. Daiwa affectionately calls this "no-compromise technology."
This is what the Air-Beam looks
like in the various stages of production. First the seat is molded, then
injected with flip-flop paint process inside the beam, then treated on the
outside
Air-Beam: Fancy names aside, the new
Air-Beam reel seat goes against most of what most anglers look for in a reel
seat. The lack of blank through is popular on many rods in Asia, but is
this a case of form over function? Daiwa doesn't think so. The Air-Beam reel
seat was built from the ground up and features a hollowed out design that is
intended to minimize any excess weight while providing the most ergonomic grip,
as well as enhancing vibration through the chamber. Daiwa is also able to use
their advanced "Flip-Flop" paint process to create a inimitable look that makes
the reel seat a work of art in itself.
Just the machined fore-nut is a
work of art in itself
Machined Fore-Nut: Designed to match
up perfectly with the Steez reel the fore-grip is machined to perfection. Excess
metal is removed while a ribbed surface makes it easy to tighten the nut. Daiwa
has eliminated the seldom used traditional fore grip to reduce weight, something
we are seeing more and more on custom rods. To protect the Air-Beam surface a special gasket
liner is used inside the fore-nut. This gasket also allows anglers to tighten
the machined nut on your premium reel without fear of scratching the foot. A big
plus when you are fishing with magnesium based reels....like the Steez
baitcaster.
To protect the paint on the
Air-Beam seat a special gasket is used on the inside of the fore-nut
To differentiate the Compile-X Trigger rod a
different fore-nut is used. This one has a small foam insert, and is highlighted
with anodized aluminum. The locking ring matches the rod's butt section.
The Compile-X version features a
unique locking fore-nut
Guides: Daiwa looked at many different
options but finally settled on premium Fuji Titanium framed SiC guides. These
guides are lightweight, very durable, highly corrosion resistant. The titanium
frames were very attractive because they save nearly 1 gram in weight versus
stainless steel hardware. This may not seem like a lot of baggage, but to the
Daiwa engineers every single gram counted.
To demonstrate the extent they
went through to minimize weight they chose special titanium guides over
stainless just to save .92g
Grips: Many premium Japanese rods make use
of foam versus cork. This is in stark comparison to what most US anglers are
used to in a premium rod. Cork is a fantastic material, but tends to age quickly
with use, and is susceptible to drying and discoloration just from the very oil
on
our hands. Foam grips are easy to maintain but often do not offer the same type
of sensitive feel. Daiwa was not happy with current EVA offerings and decided to
implement new "Air-Foam" grips which are noticeably lighter than cork and
conventional EVA grips. They are extremely light, yet dense so they don't have a
spongy feel. When I held the grips alone I was surprised how light they were,
yet they were able to hold their structure even when I tried to bend them with
no blank inside.
The end result...a serious rod
specifically introduced for the growing number of US tackle enthusiasts
Conclusion: Daiwa is sure to elevate their presence in the rod market with
the new Steez rods. My initial impressions were very positive and from what I
have seen the Steez rods certainly have the technology, build quality, and
certainly the style to match up with just about any bass rod out there. Prior to
this I am not sure how many anglers intending to buy the new Steez reels would
have planned to match up the reels with a Daiwa rod. What I am sure of is now
many of those anglers are not just thinking about a Steez reel, but rather an
entire Steez "rig." For those of you fanatics that wrote in over the last two
days and exclaimed "I want a Steez now!" .....your wait is almost over.
