Hardy Fortuna X Fly Reel Review

Mar 02, 2013 · 3 min read

Hardy Fortuna X4 gunmetal anodized aluminum fly reels with ventilated ported spool and machined silver accents

It was tough choosing a winner between the Hatch Finatic and the Hardy Fortuna X for the title of "best saltwater fly reel". If we were only scoring drag performance, the Fortuna would have won, hands down. 8-Weight Challenge Full Results

WEIGHT

8.35 ounces. Like our test winner, the Hatch, the Fortuna is a little heavy. It makes up for this with an awesome drag.

DRAG

Fully sealed disc drag. When my Hardy rep told me that the Fortuna had 32 lbs of drag, I (and I'm sure most of the fly fishing world) didn't believe it. It turns out he was lying - it only averaged a little over 30 lbs.... It had so much drag that we not only broke both 20 and 30 lb backing during the test, but we also had to turn it down to test it at a usable fishing weight. The drag is also incredibly well sealed. Hardy tested the drag by soaking it and then freezing it to prove that it was truly waterproof. Startup inertia was low as well.

DRAG TEST GRAPH(s)

Blue line drag test chart for Hardy Fortuna X fly reel showing force vs distance, peaks near 33 lbs on white grid background

Hardy Fortuna X fly reel drag test line graph showing blue trace rising to about 12-13 lbs then fluctuating across distance

SOUND

When I started reviewing fly reels, I was surprised at how much this mattered. As with most Hardy’s, this reel sounds great. Enough to know that you've got a great fish ripping off your drag, but definitely not overly loud. Click-pawl aficionados might be disappointed.

SPOOL & RETRIEVAL RATE

The good news: the Hardy Fortuna had plenty of volume for 8-9wt fly lines - at roughly 7 cubic inches, it was ahead of the pack. Unfortunately, the retrieval rate was below average, which is unfortunate because the reel was released so recently.

LOOK & FEEL

This is a Hardy reel. Those of you who have ever tried anything made by Hardy know that their work is some of the finest work in the world. The Fortuna X is no exception - it’s beautiful. The reel also comes with a great neoprene cover which is easily large enough to slip over a rod as well as the reel. Hardy beefed up the handle on the Fortuna, so there's no mistaking it for a trout reel. The spool is incredibly easy to remove and replace and the retrieve switches from left to right, easily.

WARRANTY

Lifetime to the original owner + $25 fee.

CONCLUSION

Dare I say it? If you're going "ultralight" (read: 8-wt) tarpon fishing, this is the reel for you. Pairing it with Hardy's nearly unbreakable Proaxis fly rod would make quite the outfit. I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing world records coming from this reel. The drag performance on the Hardy Fortuna X Fly Reel far exceeds anything else in this class. In fact, there are big game Marlin reels that have a similar amount of drag strength Help support more reviews by purchasing this reel here.

PROS

Amazing, industry-redefing drag strength
Low start-up inertia
Built for big-game

CONS

Arbor size was small for a modern reel

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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