Taylor Revolution Fly Reel Review

Jan 31, 2018 · 3 min read

Orange anodized aluminum fly reel spool with black knurled drag knob and embossed logo, Taylor Revolution

Please remember that there are no ads on this page and 100% of our funding comes from your purchases, so if you find this review to be informative, please help us keep the reviews coming by purchasing your next fly reel from us. There are those out there who believe that we don’t like reels made overseas (from smaller brands) with a good value proposition. I’m talking of course about Taylor, Cheeky, Allen, and other similar brands. It couldn’t be farther from the truth! We test each and every reel exactly the same way, and the Taylor Revolution is a great example of a well-made reel that offers some serious saltwater performance.

8-Weight Shootout Full Results

Weight

While not quite as light as the 7 ounces claimed by Taylor, at 7.6oz, it’s still really light for a serious saltwater reel. It’s in the top 3^rd of all reels tested.

Drag

Orange anodized CNC aluminum Taylor Revolution fly reel with vented spool and metal drag assembly

The Revolution has a lot of good things going for it in the drag department. 10lbs of max drag (and probably more if we had a drag knob that was good enough to turn it all the way), reached in 2 full turns from a minimum of .28 lbs – enough to stop a free spool. Like most of the reels in this test, we saw a huge drop off between max drag and effective drag (the usable amount), but it’s still got quite a bit of power. The only area that the Revolution doesn’t do really well in is half drag, where it drops off to 1.32 lbs – a mere 13% of total drag.

Drag Test Graph

Taylor Revolution fly reel drag force graph: blue line rises to ~10 lbs then remains steady across distance on grid.

Sound

Don’t expect the satisfying hum of a Tibor. It’s very muted in both directions.

Spool & Retrieval Rate

At 9.8 inches per turn, the Revolution ranks in the top 10 in line pickup. It gobbles up a 100’ of fly line in a mere 122 turns. It’s also got plenty of capacity with enough backing for the 8 or 9 weight line of your choice.

Looks & Ergonomics

The Taylor Revolution is a great looking reel (though the colors aren't as vivid in real life as they are in our photos). It's fully ported, it's got a great color scheme. The only thing it's lacking some some of that made-in-the-USA machining goodness that would have put it over the top. What kept the Revolution off the podium? Ergonomics. It’s got one of the worst drag knobs in the test. There’s not nearly enough surface area to firmly grasp it let alone dial in some serious drag pressure. It also has a handle that's a little too short.

Finish and durability

Orange anodized Taylor Revolution fly reel with white backing line, aluminum spool and screw details for fly fishing

Yet again, the Revolution delivers. It’s finish and durability are almost as good as Lamson’s. There's little in the way of damage to speak of.

Warranty

Lifetime to the original owner + $50 fee. Price: $380

Conclusion

Orange anodized Taylor Revolution fly reel with vented machined aluminum spool and gray drag knob

The Taylor Revolution is a fantastic fly reel, and an even more fantastic reel at under $400. I can't help but wonder if Taylor had worked with some guides and done just a bit more R&D if this reel wouldn't have won the test. It's just missing a few things that could have made it truly epic. There's always version 2!

Pros

Great drag
Lighter weight
Quick retrieve

Cons

Horrible ergonomics
Pricey warranty

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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