Legit Design StandOut SOC70H Product Review #legitdesignstandout #legitdesign #legitdesignrods

Rod Review

Another Standout Build from Legit Design, the SOC70H

Date:	9/18/22
Tackle Type:	Rod
Manufacturer:	Legit Design
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 8.00 - GREAT

Introduction: Encouraged by my experience with my first StandOut series rod from Legit Design, the SOC66L+ BFS stick, I wanted to see if that positive experience would translate to a more conventional specification. This curiosity coincided with my need for a stick to probe some weedbeds with some good ole fashioned, one ounce bullet weighted Texas rigged soft plastics. The StandOut stick for this task? How about their SOC70H. Let's see how it fared.

Legit Design StandOut SOC70H Specifications
Material	Blend of 24T, 30T & 40T graphite
Length	7'-0"
Line Wt.	14-20lb
Lure Wt.	10-42g (~3/8oz - 1 1/2oz)
Pieces	2
Guides	10+tip (Fuji SS/Alconite
Rear Handle Length	10.5"
Power Rating	Heavy
Taper	Moderate Fast
Rod Weight	4.2oz
Origin	Made in Taiwan
MSRP	$226

Introducing Legit Design's Stand Out SOC70H

Impressions: Like the S0C66L+ I fished earlier this year, the SOC70H is actually a two piece stick separating at the handle. This is a very common configuration in sticks designed and built for the JDM market and provided as a convenience making it easier to transport in a car. Once assembled, you could hardly tell you're fishing a two piece stick. The SO70H is a seven foot (7'-0") rod made from a blend of three grades of graphite and rated for baits from three eighths to one and a half ounces (3/8-1 1/2oz) in weight. It has a very nice weight to balance ratio.

Like the S0C66L+ I fished earlier this year, the SOC70H is actually a two piece stick separating at the handle

It is a prototypical "heavy powered" specification in today's tackle world yet is made with a moderate-fast taper, not fast or extra-fast, as one might normally expect. Guides are surprisingly name brand, Fuji with stainless steel frames and Alconite inserts. I say surprisingly because the rod's price point ($226) had me expecting something different.

Once assembled, you could hardly tell you're fishing a two piece stick

Real World Tests: I paired the SOC70H with my Abu Garcia Revo EXD and took advantage of that reel's two spools by filling one with SPRO's new 8x Finesse Braid in gau #2 (~14lb) and the other with Cortland's 16-strand Silent Flip braid in 50lb test. I topped each with a leader of ten pound (10lb) Sunline Maboroshi FC Leader using an Albright knot at the connection. While obviously needing to fish and test the SOC70H, I simultaneously wanted to check out some of these new-to-me fishing lines. The Revo EXD enabled me this luxury by coming with two spools, one shallow and one deep, and although I didn't use them on the same trip, at least i didn't have to waste one spool of line to fill with the other.

Guides are surprisingly name brand, Fuji with stainless steel frames and Alconite inserts

Casting: I didn't really do much casting per-se with the SOC70H. My presentation of choice was more of the pitching variety. To that, I can attest, the SOC70H makes a fine pitching stick. It is relatively stout with a responsive tip that loads very well in these softer, quieter presentations. Of course, I did manage a couple of roll casts here and a back handed cast there none of which revealed anything out of the ordinary when presenting jigs and Texas rigged plastics. If anything, the SOC70H handles more like a medium heavy powered rod the way that tip responds to the task of placing and presenting your baits.

A look at the subtle shaping of the EVA grip

Sensitivity: Whatever Legit Designs does with that blend of graphite that makes up the blank for this series of rods, they are doing it right. The SOC70H, like the SOC66L+ before it, has above average sensitivity for what I'd expect in this price range. I was able to feel and sense bites very reliably with this stick using my braid plus leader strategy. Moreover, I was able to discern the difference between soft takes and hungry weeds.

Next: Stand Out Power?