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The Purist has been a staple in the Lamson fly reel lineup for many years, representing a lightweight, reliable click & pawl reel with a pleasing click. Today we’ll review the Purist II, the latest iteration of the legendary Purist reel that redefines what a performance clicker means. From its lightweight build to its insanely quick line pickup, the Purist II will find itself at home in the backcountry where every ounce matters but performance cannot be sacrificed. Check out the review below to learn more about the Lamson Purist II fly reel, and whether it is worth adding to your click & pawl collection in 2024.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Ultra-quick line pickup of 9” per turn in the 5+ size
• Extremely lightweight at only 3.17 ounces in the 5+ size
• Classic-sounding click - she sings!

Cons

• Quite expensive for a click & pawl fly reel
• Non-adjustable clicker tension

Who It’s For

There are a couple of niche groups who will love the Purist II. Die-hard Lamson fans will undoubtedly appreciate the Purist II’s shape and design which are fairly consistent with previous Purist models. Hardcore backcountry anglers and clicker junkies will also be keen on the Purist II’s lightweight build and quick line pickup.

For anglers who want the most bang for their buck, however, the Purist II may not be the most economical choice. They can opt for a cheaper clicker like the Redington Zero ($109.99) without sacrificing much in terms of performance. Conversely, the Lamson Speedster S ($399.99) offers similar performance PLUS a powerful Conical drag for roughly the same price as the Purist II.

Weight

Weighing in at 3.17 ounces in the 5+ size, the Purist II is very lightweight. It’s the perfect complement to a shorter, dedicated small-water rod like the 8’ 3” 4wt Winston Pure 2. If you need a bit more heft to help balance out a longer rod, consider upsizing the reel by one size to add a few tenths of an ounce.

Drag

The Purist II is a true click & pawl fly reel, meaning there are no complicated or hidden internal parts to create click tension. When you remove the spool you will see two plastic spokes which produce the tension and the sound. On one hand, it’s great peace of mind knowing that not much can really go wrong within the reel. On the other hand, some anglers like to adjust their clicker tension, but they’ll be stuck with the pre-set tension from the factory. After playing around with a few of the reels, I’d say the pre-set tension feels perfect for preventing bird’s nests and is very consistent from one reel to the next.

Sound

One of the most important aspects of a click-and-pawl reel is its sound, and the Purist II sounds fantastic. Its incoming click is softer and almost felt more than heard, and its outgoing is sharp and distinct - reminiscent of the original Purist fly reels which were known for their bright, lively clickers.

Spool & Cage Design

Lamson has always been at the forefront of large arbor designs, but lately they’ve taken this design ethos to another level with innovative releases like the Hyperspeed M8 and the Liquid Max. Fortunately, the concept of an ultra large arbor spool on a featherweight frame didn’t stop at their saltwater and big game reels, as this creeker companion sports impressive line pickup. The size 5+ Purist II features a maximum spool diameter of 3.6”, an arbor diameter of 2.66”, and a width of 0.8”. These measurements equate to a whopping 9 inches of line pickup per turn - a blistering fast retrieval rate for what many anglers will consider to be a “small fish reel”. As long as you’re comfortable palming your reel to add additional pressure, the Purist II could confidently handle bigger fish like chunky high alpine cutthroats and thick New England Brookies.

Looks & Ergonomics

Offered in two fully anodized colors, whiskey (gold) and tribute (gray), the Purist II maintains many aesthetic design features from the old version. It’s a sleek design that conveys cutting-edge minimalism. Its spool and frame are extremely ported to shave weight, and the clicker sprocket is on full display on the annulus of the spool. Ergonomically, we appreciate the comfortable metal handle which seems larger than your average click-and-pawl handle. The spool pops right off of the frame with a bit of pressure, meaning there is no spool release button. And since it’s a clicker, there is obviously no drag knob. Overall, its sleek and simple design is very functional and easy to use.

Warranty

Lamson Fly Reel Warranty

Value

Price: $389.99

There’s no denying the fact that $389 is a lot of money for a fly reel without a drag system. Like we mentioned above, you could buy a reel with very similar performance specs with a drag for roughly the same price. That being said, click-and-pawl reels are in their own category, so we should compare apples to apples when it comes to the Purist II’s value proposition. Compared to other premium clickers like the Ross Colorado ($375), Sage Click ($330), and the Galvan Brookie ($305), the Purist is the most expensive of the bunch. All are fairly lightweight at right about 3 ounces, although the Ross Colorado (3.5 ounces) is a smidge heavier. Retrieve rates are also quite similar across the board, which means the main differences are in aesthetics, ergonomics, clicker sound, and clicker tension. In other words, if you think the Lamson Purist II looks and sounds super cool and pairs well with your rod, then it might be worth the high price tag. All of the above-mentioned reels will offer solid performance, but whether or not the Purist II is worth the money comes down to more subjective features.

Conclusion

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Lamson fly reels here at Trident. We appreciate their cutting-edge designs which focus on performance and sleek style. We also like that many of their products are fairly priced for their high level of functionality and precision. And while the Lamson Purist II isn’t necessarily a value reel, it still checks the boxes of a premium click-and-pawl fly reel. Its lightweight design is ideal for backpackers, creekers, and anyone who enjoys an extremely lightweight fly reel. It also sports a simple click mechanism that sounds magical during a game of tug-o-war with a chunky trout. It is unfortunate that some anglers can’t justify spending nearly $400 for a clicker reel, but we believe die-hard Lamson fans and click-and-pawl aficionados will see the value in the new Purist. If you’re in the market for a simple, high-performance click-and-pawl fly reel that sounds amazing, the Lamson Purist II gets our stamp of approval.

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