Bro this reel sounds like it has the exact same or similar drag noise to the reel I just purchased. I got a Daiwa exceler 2500 and absolutely love it. Is this the same reel you’ve done recent videos about?
In terms of smoothness when reeling in a lure and the ease of reeling when fighting a fish, how does it compare to a stradic, vanford and a vanquish or even a Kastking Kestrel? Also, how is the initial drag initial and drag smoothness and what reel(s) would you compare it to (+/-)?
I've never used a Vanford, vanquish or Stradic but I have used another Daiwa spinning reel here in Australia which retails for around 210 USD (TD black MQ) so I can only compare it to that. In terms of the smoothness and drag it is on par. I also have the kestrel (that's the next video). I haven't used it as much yet so I can't honestly say. I have a feeling though the startup inertia is a little lower on the Lanius and perhaps it pays out line a bit better too. If they were the same price I would probably pick the Lanius but it's a coin flip. I prefer the drag sound and aesthetics of the kestrel more. I think it's really splitting hairs.
Stradic is on its league of its own. It's solid aluminum, it's durable, it's a tank, it doesn't compare to lightweight carbon reels. It will serve you 10+ years easily. If you're looking for a ultralight finesse reel, Stradic is not it.
Check my unboxing video. It doesn't have magseal type technology (like something that repels water) but you can see under the spool tension cap it has a gasket
It doesn't have mag seal or whatever the name of Shimano's version of that is. To me what doesn't justify paying 2x for. Also it's targetted to the freshwater market