Quantum PT Tour S3 Casting Reel Product Review

Reel Review

Headed in the Right Direction, Quantum's PT Tour S3 Casting Reel

Date:	12/3/17
Tackle Type:	Reel
Manufacturer:	Quantum
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 8.08 - GREAT

Introduction: If Quantum's Smoke series of reels are their workhorse, their PT Tour line of reels are their mainstream flagship casting reels. The Tour Mg costs more, but it's not as widely appreciated as the standard PT Tour and the EXO reels, it seems, have been discontinued. Our previous review of Quantum's re-engineered Smoke S3 casting reel went quite well, so we were quite excited to put the new PT Tour S3 through the paces as well.

Quantum PT Tour S3 Casting Reel Specifications
Line Capacity - Rated	14/150
Line Capacity - Spool Volume	17.3 cm³
Retrieve Ratio	6.1:1	7.3:1
Inches Per Turn (IPT) - calculated	8 - 26.5	10 - 31.5
Weight	6.4 oz
Spool Weight	15 g
Handle Length	93 mm
Bearings	10+1
Rated Max Drag	25 lbs
Origin	Made in China
MSRP	$199.99

Introducing Quantum's new PT Tour S3 casting reel.

Impressions: Quantum's PT Tour S3 reel features the same size, shape, frame, sideplate, spool size, handle length as the Smoke S3 reels. The only visual difference between the reels seems to be the color treatment and handle material. Where the Smoke S3 has a matte grey frame and glossy black sideplates, the PT Tour S3 features a matte black frame and a cool grey, almost desert storm khaki colored sideplates and front bar. The PT Tour S3's handle is also carbon fiber versus the Smoke S3's aluminum handle.

The PT Tour S3 makes a nice match with the camo EVA grip of Evergreen's Brett Hite Combat series of rods.

Real World Tests: A $200 reel deserves at least a $200 rod and given how we almost always have a new rod or reel - or both to review, I decided to take care of two products in one by fishing Quantum's PT Tour S3 matched up with an Evergreen Brett Hite Combat Series casting rod - the RCSC-71M. Given the Evergreen rod's camo EVA handle, the almost military colored PT Tour S3 actually matched the rod quite well! I spooled the PT Tour S3 with ten pound Sunline Super Natural nylon monofilament for these tests.

Viewed from behind, the "S3" etching in the handle knobs really stands out.

Casting: By Quantum's own admission, the PT Tour S3 is virtually the same reel as the Smoke S3 save for a couple of key upgrades.

One of the PT Tour's notable upgrades is a Sapphire jeweled washer located beneath the spool tension knob providing a harder, smoother surface for the spool's shaft to spin against when casting. The idea here is this smoother, harder surface will allow the spool shaft to spin more freely during a cast providing easier casting performance and possibly better distance.

I tested this theory out in the same manner in which I tested the casting capabilities of the Smoke S3 and that as to begin with some low speed pitching. I used the same, three eighths ounce Missile Ike Flip Out Jig and found out right away that the PT Tour S3 felt better in pitching applications. Now, a lot of what I felt could be attributed to the line and rod I had paired with the reel too, but everything seemed to peel off just a tad bit easier with this reel as compared to the Smoke S3.

As shown to us at ICAST 2017, the washer inside the cast control knob is made from polished, hardened sapphire for more friction free casting performance.

Next Section: Casting and Retrieve...