Galvan Torque T-5 Fly Reel Review
When we published our 8-weight shootout, the two comments we got most of all was "why did you test [Galvan and Nautilus]." So naturally, we tested them both this time. The Galvan Torque is their top-of-the-line reel. While not excactly new to the market, the Torque is beautifully machined and comes from a great family-run business in California. We're excited to see how it does against the big boys!
PS - We liked it so much, that we now carry it. Buy your Galvan Torque here.
5-Weight Challenge Full Results
WEIGHT
4.8 ounces. While not the lightest reel out there, it's actually one of the lighter reels in the test.
DRAG
Unquestionably, the best feature about the T-5 is its drag, which simply dominated our test. It's got a bonefish stopping 7.3 lbs of drag and no detectable startup inertia.
Sealed?
Not sealed.
DRAG TEST GRAPH
SOUND
The incoming click is great, but the outgoing drag sound is a little too muted for our tastes. I want to hear that brown trout run!
SPOOL & RETRIEVAL RATE
While the spool on the Torque was quite narrow, the rest of the specs on the spool were fairly average. Retrieve was a fast, but not lightning fast, 7.16 inches per turn. and it holds about 130 yards of backing.
LOOK & FEEL
The Torque looks great, and it's a great blend of modern styling and tradition. You can definitely tell that it's well designed and machined in a quality US shop. Better still, it's fully ported to shave weight and so your backing will dry well if it gets wet.
Ergonimics
Handle: If there's one thing I would change on the Torque, it's the handle. It's way too short. The handle on the Rush is much better.
Drag Knob: The drag knob is great - comfy and easy to adjust.
Spool Change: The one-button release works really well.
The Drop
Above Average. While you can definitely tell that the reel has been abused, neither the dragging or the dropping made any significant dents (ha ha). It's particularly impressive since it was a dark colored reel. No Damage.
WARRANTY
Lifetime to the original owner + $0!
Price: $360
CONCLUSION
Third place!
Let me start this conclusion by saying that at the time this test was published, we didn't carry Galvan reels (we do now). Clearly, that needs to change, but what I'm really saying is that when a company makes a great product and sends it to us to test, we test it fairly, and it does well in our tests.
We like pretty much everything about the Galvan Torque. It had the best drag in the test with both huge strength numbers and virtually no startup intertia. It looks and feels great, and is very well machined. The only thing that kept it out of the #1 spot is its slightly slower retrieve and heavier weight. Best of all, it's made in the USA.
PROS
- Best drag in the test!
- Great looks
- Made in the USA quality
CONS
- Why not make the drag sealed for saltwater use?
If you examine the books and catalogs of those early days you will discover that manufacturers and fishermen-writers discussed very learnedly and extensively such things as "fulcrum point," "counterpoise," "balancing the fly rod," and "letting the rod do the work," none of which has any merit whatsoever. Not until very recently has there been an awareness of this valid principle. It is evidenced by the availability of numerous fine, very lightweight reels on the market today. In view of this trend I should not be discussing this subject at all, except for the fact that I am frequently surprised by the comments of writers and the recommendations of suppliers or manufacturers prescribing a specific size and weight of reel to balance a particular rod. There can be no such thing as balance in a fly rod. There can never be a fixed "fulcrum point." Every inch that the cast is lengthened or shortened changes the alleged balance and every unnecessary ounce in an unnecessarily heavy reel dampens and degrades the cast. If you wish to explore this a little further, you can try an experiment as I did some years ago. If you have or can borrow enough reels, let us say in two-ounce increments, all the way from the lightest, about two ounces, to something about eight or nine ounces, you will have enough to make the experiment. Use the same weight of line on the same rod for all trials. With the lightest reels the casts are sharply and cleanly delivered flat out with enough velocity to turn over the leaders. You also get a tighter front bow if you want it. As the reels get heavier there is a noticeable lagging in the forward loop until finally with the heaviest reel there is decided dropping of the loop, and probably a failure to turn over the leader properly. This effect is most pronounced on long casts. And consider how much worse it could be with those reels that were manufactured with a hollow arbor into which the purchaser was urged to pour lead pellets through a little trapdoor in order to correct the balance of his fly rod!
You can suit yourself about these matters but for me there is only one sound system and that is: Use the lightest possible reel of good quality and adequate capacity no matter how long or heavy the rod may be....
~ Vincent C. Marinaro, "In the Ring of the Rise," Crown Publishers, Inc., New York, copyright 1976, pp. 39-41.