Hardy DD Fly Reel Review

Jan 21, 2015 · 3 min read

Anodized purple aluminum Hardy DD fly reel with machined cutouts and gold drag knob, ventilated spool and single handle

Hardy has been building fly reels for nearly a century. Reels like the Hardy Perfect defined what a fly reel should be for generations. Over the years Hardy has changed ownership a few times and they've come out with some great new products, like the Hardy Zenith. Certainly Hardy's most talked about trout reel release in many years is the Hardy Ultralite DD. It's got a sleek modern design, and has won many awards. Dive in and see if its performance stands up. 5-Wt Challenge Full Results

WEIGHT

4.8 ounces. Heavier than we'd like, but not bad.

DRAG

We expected the Hardy to be a top contender in this shootout, so it was very surprising to find out that its drag wasn't up to par. It starts with substandard strength of only 1.8 lbs. While that number isn't impressing anyone, it's not enough to dismiss the reel all together. The true issue is its startup inertia, which we measured at a massive .8lbs - almost 50% of the reel's drag!

DRAG TEST GRAPH

SOUND

Sounds is definitely one part that Hardy gets right. The DD, like all Hardy reels, sounds great with a nice click on both the incoming and outgoing.

SPOOL & RETRIEVAL RATE

Best in the test! If there's one thing that we really like about the DD, it's the spool. It retrieve is a lightning fast 8.3 inches per turn. It's also fairly narrow so your line won't be piling up. The Hardy doubles down with a fairly large volume, so you could easily fit a 6-weight line on it.

LOOK & FEEL

The DD is a really good looking reel. It's modern and very well designed. There's just something that reels made in Korea lack in terms of feel that leaves us wishing for an English or US-made reel, but maybe that's just us.

Ergonimics

Handle: The handle is comfortable - one of the best! Drag Knob: It's not our favorite, but not bad, either. Spool Change: Quick change spool with a screw knob. It's really easy to use and works great!

THE DROP

Average. Major divoting, but little to no scratching. Having fished with the black version, I can tell you that you'll see every scratch, but we didn't test the black one. No Damage.

WARRANTY

Lifetime to the original owner + $25 fee. Price: $225

CONCLUSION

There's a lot to like about the DD 4000. It's got the best spool design in the test. It looks great. It's even affordably priced. All of which seems like a winning combination - and it would be if it came equipped with virtually any other drag in this test. Unfortunately, you're better off with a click pawl reel than the DD's drag, so we can't recommend it even though it scored in the middle of the pack. Help us review more gear! Buy it here.

PROS

Great spool design
Handsome appearance

CONS

One of the worst drags we tested
Why not make it in England?

Written by

Ben Freeman

Ben Freeman founded Trident Fly Fishing in 2012 to cut through the marketing fluff and provide anglers with the technical info they actually need. He’s built his reputation by putting gear to the ultimate test in the world’s most unforgiving fisheries. With fishing stamps from over 22 countries and 17+ states, Ben’s passport is a roadmap of bucket list angling—from landing a 25lb Golden Dorado in Bolivia and 150lb Arapaima in Guyana to sight-casting for Roosterfish off the beaches in Baja. Whether it’s battling 60+mph winds to land a 20lb Rainbow at Jurassic Lake or a full day of casting 8in streamers in Mongolia, Ben has spent decades ensuring his gear performs when a trip of a lifetime is on the line.

At Trident, Ben serves as the lead gear geek, specializing in the deep-dive mechanics of rods, reels, and lines. Over the past 15 years, he's reviewed 250+ fly rods and 150+ fly reels and is likely one of the most prolific rod reviewers in the world. But he doesn't just curate the catalog; he scrutinizes every taper and drag system through the lens of a traveling angler who knows what it's like to have gear fail a thousand miles from home. For Ben, the mission is simple: leverage his experience across nearly 100 species to ensure that when you head into the wild, you’re equipped with gear that has been vetted by someone who has actually been there.

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