Loop Opti Speedrunner Fly Reel Review
Weight
9.1 ounces. On the heavy side.Drag
Drag Test Graph
Sound
Silent coming in, soft going out – not my favorite.Spool & Retrieval Rate
Ok, you probably just skipped to this part, because let’s face it, this is where it gets interesting. The insanely large spool on the Speedrunner is by far the biggest in the test. In fact, it has a larger diameter than the Hatch 11 Plus. To make things even better, they've added a V-shaped spool which effectively increases the size of the already large arbor. So that’s cool, but what does that mean to you as an angler? It means that it picks up line 20% faster than the next closest spool, and 30% faster than the Hatch 7 Plus. That’s insanity.Looks & Ergonomics
The looks are pretty similar to the Evotec (except for size of course) so I won’t go into it in much greater depth. From an ergonomics standpoint, they’ve made some improvements. It’s got a better handle but it’s not on the edge of the spool, so you lose some of the mechanical advantage gained by having such a large arbor. The drag knob is still puny and the spool release cap is still loseable L.Finish and durability
Warranty
Lifetime to the original owner + $30 fee. Price: $705Conclusion
The Loop Opti Speedrunner is like a race car. It’s expensive. It’s ridiculously fast. But… maybe not something you’d want to drive every day. When I imagine the perfect reel, I want something ridiculously fast, but is this maybe going overboard? Is there a way of making a reel pick up line faster without having a near 5” diameter? How does it affect the balance and MOI of a rod? These are just a few of the questions to which I have no answers. There are very likely angling scenarios where having a Speedrunner would convey a very distinct advantage over any other reel. If you need it, get one. If you didn’t look at the specs and instantly know that huge line pick up was your number one concern, there are probably better and more well-rounded options. Some minor ergonomic changes would make this reel a competitor for sure.Buy it with Free Shipping here.
Pros
- A ridiculously fast retrieve.
Cons
- Price
- Horrible drag knob and a spool cap that’s way too easy to lose.