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Last but not least from Hardy is the Ultralite MTX 7000. Like a sports car, Hardy has added a little extra carbon fiber, a few extra letters after the name and raised the price in the name of performance. Yes, the MTX is like the souped up version of the Ultralite series. But do these enhancements mean that it’s also… better?

 

8-Weight Shootout Full Results

 

Weight

5.8 ounces. Great!

 

Drag

 

 

Like the other Hardy reels we tested, the MTX suffers from a single turn drag. What’s worse, is that the MTX can only really be turned about ¾ of the way. This means that you’re only going to get about 1.5lbs of usable drag. If you really crank it down, you can get up to 4.5lbs, but it’s really tough to do, particularly with the small drag knob. All the way down, you’ll be free spooling.

 

Drag Test Graphs

 

 

Sound

Certainly my favorite thing about this reel is the sound. It’s got a nice incoming click and a louder, more satisfying outgoing. If you catch a bonefish on this reel, you’re going to know it!

 

Spool & Retrieval Rate

So Hardy does know how to make a large arbor reel. The MTX has some wicked fast line pickup at over 10” per turn! It’s second only to the Loop. Beware though. If you’re using Airflo’s Tropical Punch, it won’t hold much backing.

 

Looks & Ergonomics

The MTX is a little too modern looking for me. At the risk of being called a traditionalist, I’ll say that it also doesn’t have the same high quality feel to its finish as the Fortuna. But on to more pressing issues: the drag knob and handle are really bad. The handle is tiny. The drag knob is too, but it’s got a grippy surface so it’s slightly better than the really, really bad knobs out there.

 

Finish and durability

 

 

I don’t know if it’s the light weight or the carbon, but the MTX held up really well! It’s definitely one of the better reels in terms of all-around durability.

 

Warranty

Lifetime to the original owner + $35.

 

Price: $499

 

Conclusion

Rather than tell you how there are way better reels out there for the money, I’m going to focus on the interesting. The Ultralite MTX is the first reel that I’m aware of (I’ve qualified it so please don’t e-mail me saying that I'm wrong and such and such reel company did it first) to employ a carbon fiber structural element. To me, this is a no-brainer. It’s lighter, stronger, and apparently more durable. This is the future, and it’s just a matter of time.

 

 

Buy it with Free Shipping here.

 

Pros

  • Weight
  • Sound

 

Cons

  • Poor ergonomics
  • Designed for freshwater