When it comes to reels everyone has their own favorites, and choosing fishing reels for beginners really isn't a huge point of controversy. But more advanced anglers take their reels very, very seriously. So, when we set out to pick the 10 best fishing reels you can buy we knew there's be some disagreement among our staff, much less among all the anglers out there. Is your number-one pick on the list? Maybe and maybe not, but remember, there are literally thousands of models made by hunderds of companies (not even Google can give you an exact number), so we're bound to miss a few awesome ones and we'll probably include one or two you might not like so much, too. Do any of your personal favs make the list? Let’s find out.
- Shimano Stradic
- Penn International
- Abu Garcia Revo SX Low Profile
- Penn Battle IV
- Daiwa Exist
- Shimano Talica II
- Shimano Baitrunner
- Pflueger President
- Shimano Sahara
- Avet HX
Shimano Stradic- The Shimano Stradic spinning reel has been around for years and has gone through several iterations, the latest being the FM introduced a couple of years ago. All the different iterations all share three things in common: they’re as tough as nails, they’re as smooth as many reels that are much more expensive, and they’re excellent at withstanding the corrosive saltwater atmosphere - even though these were originally developed as a freshwater bass reel. The Stradic currently comes in 1000 to 5000 sizes, appropriate for ultralight to medium-heavy lines with a range of two pound mono to 50 pound braid.
Price Range: $200 - $280.
Stand-out Feature: Their light weight (6.5 to 10.2 ounces) belies their rugged construction.
Weakest Link: The line rollers tends to give out after five to 10 years of use. They cost five or six bucks online and only take a minute to swap out, but until you do so they make a grindy noise nobody likes.
Penn International
You’ll be hard-pressed to find an offshore angler who hasn’t owned a Penn International – or a stack of ‘em – at some point in his or her life. The most modern version is the International VI. This reel is the workhorse of charter fleets, and the darling of tuna fishermen who don’t want to pay the price of a new car to outfit their boat with capable, competent equipment. This reel has been so successful, and its use so widespread, that even though it’s in its sixth generation you'll still find plenty of the original version in use today.
Price Range: $610 - $670 (single speed models); $650 - $1,470 (two-speed models)
Stand-out Feature: Take care of an International, and it will last a lifetime.
Weakest Link: Ratchet clickers on older models need replacement every five or 10 years; low gear ratios on some models are so low it can make keeping up with hot fish difficult.
Abu Garcia Revo
Light tackle anglers who like low-profile baitcasters often point to the Abu Garcia Revo (now in its sixth generation) as a classic reel that gets the job done without costing an arm and a leg. They’re quick to point out that this reel isn’t even close to the top of the line, but with nine ball bearings and C6 carbon side-plates it has some very nice features, a great feel, and a reasonable price-point.
Price Range: $150 - $250
Stand-out Feature: Many users feel these are easier to cast than most other low-profile baitcasters.
Weakest Link: Some users report anti-reverse problems with some models.
The Penn Battle II battles its way into the top 10 by providing a strong metal body spinning reel with saltwater-capable parts, for a lot less cost than many similar reels. Penn has always built tough reels, and with their modern infinite anti-reverse and HT-100 drag material, the Battle can get the job done for light-tackle anglers for years on end in the brine.
Price Range: $90 - $190
Stand-out Feature: Great longevity for the price-point.
Weakest Link: These reels are relatively heavy, ranging from 8.1 ounces for a 1000 size to 38.8 ounces for an 10000.
We’ll stipulate that with the way these reels are priced, they won’t be of interest to many anglers. But they’re so dang space-age cool we have to include them in this round-up. The Exist has a high-density carbon monocoque body requiring no screws, bringing weight down to a shocking 5.3 ounces for a 2000 and 7.5 ounces for a 5000. Meanwhile, the seal system utilizes magnetized oil. Magnets hold the oil in place, eliminating the need for a physical seal which causes friction, while still keeping out water and dust. It represents Diawa’s no-holds-barred absolute top effort at making the best spinning reel on the face of the planet, cost be damned.
Price Range: $1000
Stand-out Feature: Unbelievably light weight and high-tech.
Weakest Link: The pricing – you could buy a set of four very nice reels for about the same cost.
Those who have cranked everything from tuna to billfish with a Talica will be hard-pressed to find a better all-around bluewater reel. Yes, it’s pricy, but the Talica (today's line ranges from an 8 to a 16 with the Talica II in 8, 10, and 50) is light, puts out a ton of power with max drag ratings from 20 to 60 pounds, cranks up hordes of line with 3.8:1 to 6.2:1 gear ratios (plus 1.7/4.1 in two-speeds), and is bulletproof through year after year in the brine.
Price Range: $525 - $1120
Stand-out Feature: Designed specifically for low diameter, high pound-test braid, these reels are so compact and light they eliminate the clunky feel of most offshore gear.
Weakest Link: High pricing will deter many buyers.
The Baitrunner (now in its fifth generation as the Baitrunner OC) is one of those rare reels that actually changed the way we fish. Adding a lever to a spinning reel to release the drag was ground-breaking, and has since been copied by almost every other reel manufacturer out there. People argue about which “baitrunner reel” is the best on the market, but they all use the term Baitrunner because Shimano quite simply invented this type of reel.
Price Range: $179 - $200
Stand-out Feature: Rear lever and drag are easy to use but don’t get in the way.
Weakest Link: They’re fairly heavy for their size; a 4000 is 13.4 ounces.
Pflueger President
While any number of reels may be smoother, lighter, and tougher, the Pflueger President has earned a dedicated following because it delivers a lot of bang for the buck. No, we wouldn’t argue that the President is among the “nicest” reels around. But they’re competent, and so dang inexpensive that they allow a lot of people an affordable option for light to medium-light spinning reels that gets them into the game. Note that President XT models are upgraded quite a bit (and cost almost twice as much as the standard President).
Price Range: $59 - $120 (XT)
Stand-out Feature: Low cost without a complete sacrifice of quality.
Weakest Link: Metal parts will start turning green after a few seasons of use in brackish or salt waters.
We like the Sahara’s smooth drag and fast retrieve (26 to 41 inches per crank) but this is another reel that quite frankly makes our Top 10 in no small measure because of its price-point. Though it’s not high in the manufacturer’s line it’s benefitted from a lot of trickle-down technology coming from more advanced Shimanos, including their robust Hagane cold-forged gears and X Ship pinion gear bearings. Today Shimano offers it in front drag (the FJ Clam) and a rare rear-drag version.
Price Range: $105 - $120
Stand-out Feature: Uber-smooth cranking and an uber-smooth drag, in a low-cost reel.
Weakest Link: Not quite as light nor as smooth as higher-cost reels in the line.
Avet HX
The Avet HX conventional reel rounds out our list, because these compact power-houses simply feel right in your hands – almost like an extension of your body. But don’t let the size fool you. Even the smallest can put out 28 pounds of drag pressure, and more potent models can hit 50. Plus, several models of these reels are available in up to three speeds, quite an unusual perk.
Price Range: $289 - $599
Stand-out Feature: The one-piece 6061 T-6 aluminum body is exceptionally strong, and you can special-order them in anodized camo – redneck anglers, rejoice!
Weakest Link: The clickers have a pitch and volume some might call annoying. Very annoying.
Wait a sec – why aren’t there any fly reels on this list? The fly fishing sharpies we spoke with felt that most fly reels are little more than line-holding devices, and with the exception of some very specialized big-game reels (which don’t hold broad appeal to the average angler), most fly fishermen are best served by focusing more on the rod and line than on the reel. Yes, we know some of you will disagree. Don’t worry, you can yell at us when this article goes up on Facebook. (That's what Facebook is for anyway, right?)
Check out these reels from ICAST 2023
Editor's note: This article was last updated in May of 2026. Please note that due to ever-changing pricing, by the time you see this the numbers quoted here could be off a bit.