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The Daiwa Steez is light in
Weight but not in Sophistication (continued)
 Ergonomics:
Both the Steez and the Core palm well, and when it comes down to which feels
better in the hand it will come down to a matter of preference. The Core has a
more naturally curved profile, while the Steez had a more angular design, but
both have areas that it is easy to rest your fingers around the reel. Where
there is no comparison is the sheer weight difference. Every ounce counts when
it comes to ultralight reels and the Steez weighs in at 5.5/5.6 oz. depending on
version and the Core weighs in at 6.1/6.7 depending on standard or flipping
switch models.
The Daiwa Steez has porting on
just about every component for weight reduction
So can
you really feel a difference in just .6oz? Absolutely. When you pick up the Core
you think “this is a light well balanced reel.” When you pick up the Steez you
don’t even need to think as it is hard to believe just how light it feels in the
palm of your hand. When it comes to controls the Steez also has the upper hand
as it has external cast controls, and a micro-click spool tension knob where the
Core does not. The Core Septon grips are definitely more “grippy” than the Daiwa
paddles, but again this is going to come down to preference for anglers. (Round
4: The Steez wins when it comes to ergonomics, proving that Daiwa still knows
how to pack in the features and still maintain a very light package.)
The Steez handles a variety of
line well, and we found it excellent for fluorocarbon
Durability:
From Clear Lake to the Delta we punished these reels with fish after fish,
submersion tests, and absolutely no service. In the end both reels not only
survived but exhibited no problems. Both reels feel pretty much like they did
straight out of the box, and the only area that we will likely service after
this test is complete will be basic cleaning and spot lubrication. As with all
magnesium reels there is the concern of corrosion with exposure to saltwater. We
fished both reels in brackish water at the mouth of the Delta and yet there was
no damage to either over the course of the year. We did observe some physical
damage on our Steez due to boat rash. These could have been avoided by using the
bundled Daiwa cover but we sat the Steez on the rod on our deck alongside all
the other reels we were testing. The Core did not have any boat rash thanks to
the gloss coating which also makes it more saltwater friendly than the Steez.
The Steez is matte in appearance and the Core is glossy due to this protective
layer. Regardless of the protective coating the Core should be wiped off every
time it is used in saltwater, and we recommend the same with the Steez after use
in a brackish environment. (Round 5: While neither reel showed any performance
robbing damage over time the Core did better when it came to cosmetics over the
long term with the saltwater protective coating, the same one used on the
Chronarch Mg. The Steez should not be used in saltwater, but can be saved from
boat rash with the bundled cover.)
The Steez may
look angular
from certain
angles but is
still
comfortable to
palm
Price &
Applications:
Finally we come
to price, the
great equalizer
among tackle.
The Steez is
Daiwa’s flagship
reel and while
the Core is
Shimano’s top
end magnesium
based baitcaster
it plays second
fiddle to the
Calais in terms
of positioning.
It is
interesting how
both companies
position their
products, and as
usual Daiwa puts
a premium on
refinement and
weight reduction
while Shimano
touts advanced
technology and
performance.
When you look at
the prices the
Calais 4x8 DC is
really in a
class of its
own, just as the
reel’s digital
circuit really
has no
comparison.
The spool
tension knob is
machined,
anodized, and
has a audible
click, just one
of the many
details that
make the Steez
such a
sophisticated
offering
When you compare the Steez
and the Core in terms of price and applications you have another fascinating
matchup. The Core wins bonus points for its more aggressive price but you really
can’t take away any points from the Steez for the $449.00 price tag. The Steez
is everything Daiwa makes it out to be, light, fully featured, and refined to
the utmost extreme. Is the Steez worth the extra 100 dollars over the Core? If
ultra light weight and refinement are on top of your list of priorities then
that answer is yes. The Core does have one more benefit, and that is the ability
to be fished in saltwater environments, making it a feasible choice among
anglers that pursue species like Redfish. (Round 6: Though the Core may be
slightly more rounded the Steez just manages to sneak in that last blow by doing
what no other reel in the world can, deliver premium performance in a package
that weighs only 5.5oz. The primary purpose of using magnesium in a reel’s
construction is for weight reduction and the Steez accomplishes this in spades
making it possible to command an extra hundred dollars.)
Ratings:
|
Daiwa Steez 103HA
(?/10)
|
| Construction/Quality |
The Steez
ranked
Excellent in
this
category,
and is built
with
extremely
tight
tolerances
and superior
all
magnesium
construction |
9 |
| Performance |
When it came
to
performance
the Steez
delivered
when it came
to casting
accuracy,
retrieve
feel, and
reasonable
drag
performance.
What is best
about this
reel is it
is able to
offer
excellent
performance
in a
surprisingly
light
overall
weight |
9 |
| Price |
The
Steez offers
excellent
performance
in most
categories
and as can
be expected
it carries a
price that
we rated
"fair" |
6 |
| Features |
The Steez
has plenty
of features
from a high
bearing
count to a
swept handle
and wet drag
system.
Overall the
Steez is
loaded with
top notch
features,
but the best
feature of
all is still
the
exceptional
low weight
magnesium
frame that
is
lightweight
and still
strong
enough o
feel solid
and refined |
9 |
| Design (Ergonomics) |
The Steez
may not be
as sculpted
as the Core
but it
actually
feels just
as ergonomic
in a unique
and
different
way. The
Steez makes
up for any
ergonomic
angle
shortcomings
with a
overall
lighter
weight. |
9 |
| Application |
The Steez is
rated
"great" in
this
category
because it
can be used
for so many
applications
that require
finesse
fishing, but
also because
the Steez is
able to step
up and be
used for
larger baits
as well. The
new large
spool sizes
will further
extend the
capabilities
of the
Steez. It
would have
been rated
excellent if
it could be
fished in
more
saltwater
environments
like the
Core. |
8 |
|
Total Score
|
8.33 |
Ratings Key:
1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus Minus
|
| J
Premium
performance,
and tuned
like a JDM
"supertuned"
reel right
out of the
box |
L
The Steez is
not a cheap
reel by any
means, and
more
expensive
than the
TD-Z was by
a
significant
percentage |
| J
The
definition
of
"lightweight"
performance |
L
Not as
powerful as
the Core in
terms of
gearing or
drag |
| J
Casting
accuracy
excellent,
great
finesse reel |
L
Freshwater
applications
only |
| J
Ultra
refined
retrieve
feel |
|
| J
Lightweight
but
surprisingly
reliable and
durable |
|
| J
New high
capacity
models
extend the
series range
of
applications |
|
| J
Did I say
light?...
yeah it is
that
light... |
|
One more delta bass
caught while finesse
fishing plastics
with the Steez
Conclusion: A
year after our initial
look at the Japanese
model our positive
opinion of the Steez has
not changed, in fact it
has only improved as we
were reassured by our
latest batch of tests
regarding the product’s
durability. The Shimano
Core proved to be a very
well balanced reel and
with the price delta
makes it a serious
competitor in the
lightweight magnesium
reel space, but when it
comes to ultralight
baitcasters the Steez
proves it has what it
takes to maintain the
crown. The sheer weight
advantage that the Steez
exhibits
over other reels on the
market is compelling in
a category where every
single fraction of an
ounce counts. The Steez
is a product of years of
expertise in magnesium
reel design,
supertuning, and
enthusiast styling, and
it shows. When it comes
to ultra premium
magnesium reels there is
a reason why the US
Steez wins an Editor’s
Choice, and the one word
that best sums it up is…
“Sophistication.”
Want to try the Steez?
Go to
Tackle Warehouse
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