This looks to be a very strong contender in the $100-range. Okuma has really stepped up their game in the past 10 or so years, putting out some high-quality/high-value reels. These include the Makaira big game conventional reels and spinners and the very popular Komodo bait casters. What is often overlooked is that Okuma also offers top-flight repair service, should any of their products require factory repair intervention. They get universal acclaim for this, across many web boards.
The new ITX is built of long-strand reinforced graphite, which Okuma call "C-40X" - very analogous to my new Daiwa Ballistic's Zaion construction and Shimano's really new Vanford, with its Ci4+ material. What the ITX has over both of those $200+ reels is that the ITX's rotor also is made of the preferred long-strand material. Both my Ballistic and the Vanford do not include this higher-end upgrade.
Though Shimano calls their Vanford's rotor "MGL," I can't seem to determine exactly what that means, material-wise. I suspect it refers to the design and not the material. I would like to add a Daiwa factory Zaion rotor to my new Ballistic, if I can ever figure out exactly which JDM reels carry a compatible Zaion rotor. I can then order it from Plat or Japan Tackle, who regularly ship such parts out of Japan for me. Hey, hot-rodding reels to increase their performance is what I do. Way cheaper than the Corvette upgrades I used to use to feed my additive personality, anyways.
If you look through Daiwa and Shimano's offerings in the $100-class, though there are some decent offerings, like the Daiwa Fuego and Shimano SLX, those two reels feature a "graphite" body (aka: graphite powder added to a plastic material). Neither uses the better long-strand material, let alone a like-material rotor with the high strength/low flex strengthening long-strand reinforcement.
The result is significant reel stem flexing under load - which is something I and many others really do notice - and greatly dislike. Probably in FW, this is not an issue. But tie into a decent bluefish, bass or big fat tog, and you'll certainly feel the reel flexing in your hand. Yeah, not for me. Not when there's now a solid alternative in this price range.
The idea of using the better long-strand material is to stop that disconcerting stem flexing, as well as providing a body that keeps the gearing in perfect alignment - so to reduce gear wear and increase handle-generated torque while pulling on a good fish.
So, here's Tackle Tour's excellent write-up/review. Though they make something of the ITX weighing about an ounce more than the Ballistic or Vanford, I think they miss the point that shaving an ounce from those reels will cost an added $100+. Not a great "feature to dollars" trade-off. For your reading pleasure:
Okuma ITX Spinning Reel Product Review #okumaitx #okumaitxreel #okumaitxreelreview
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www.tackletour.com
Okuma's web page:
Buy ITX CARBON SPINNING REEL | Taiwan high-quality ITX CARBON SPINNING REEL manufacturer | OKUMA FISHING TACKLE CO., LTD.
OKUMA FISHING is Taiwan ITX CARBON SPINNING REEL manufacturer since 1986. AT OKUMA FISHING TACKLE WE DELIVER MORE THAN JUST FISHING GEAR. WE DELIVER THE MOTIVATION TO HIT THE WATER, THE ENERGY TO MAINTAIN FOCUS AND THE EXCITEMENT THAT INJECTS EVERY CAST WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
Lep
