Skip to Content

Daiwa Exceler LT Spinning Reel Review

Daiwa Exceler LT Spinning Reel Review

In this Daiwa Exceler LT Spinning Reel review, we found that this lightweight carbon-constructed reel brings much to the table. You have a tough and durable reel that remains precise and smooth in performance and extremely lightweight.

This reel has an air rotor and bail with a machined aluminum handle. It’s all complemented with a buttery, smooth, long-lasting gear system. The Daiwa Exceler is an “every man’s” or woman’s reel. You get everything you want at an affordable price that fits every angler’s budget.

If you’re looking to match or even exceed the performance of a more expensive reel with the Daiwa Exceler LT, you’re in luck. They use their “light and tough” engineering principles to design a minimalist reel for people who enjoy lightweight and easy-to-use reels. 

The minimalist engineering results in a smaller, more lightweight reel that is stronger than the competition due to the carbon light composite material. The body of the Exceler is compact, with an upgraded Digigear drive offering the perfect combination of functionality and toughness. 

The reel provides a much more efficient strength-to-weight ratio than some other reels, allowing you to handle this one all day without fatigue.

The Bottom Line

  • This is an excellent freshwater spinning reel for well under $100
  • It is a very smooth reel with a significant drag
  • A high-quality reel that is easy to maintain
  • Very durable and light carbon light housing

The Daiwa Exceler LT reel is an all-around winner and is available here.

Features

Carbon Light Material Housing

The Daiwa Exceler LT stands strong by making their reels durable and incredibly lightweight. With all the models weighing 6.4 and 8.4 ounces, you’ll have no problem fishing all day and not feeling fatigued. 

LT Concept

The LT concept stands for Light and Tough, which is the trend that makes Daiwa’s new series of reels stand out from the competition. Daiwa has a knack for making reels that maximize comfort and weight while not sacrificing durability and strength. While this reel might feel light, it certainly doesn’t feel cheap. 

Machined Aluminum Screw-In Handle

The handle is often a neglected feature of the fishing reel, and many anglers don’t consider it. You’ll spend a lot of time holding onto this aluminum handle, so it must be smooth and comfortable. This screw-in handle has a soft rubber grip, connecting your fingertips and the gear seamlessly. 

Air Rotor and Airbail

The Daiwa Air Rotor design weighs much less than traditional rotor designs. The main benefit of this feature is less weight and better stress distribution throughout the reel. When you combine that with the airbail, you get maximum comfort, durability, smoothness, and reliability from the reel. These features combined offer a reel that operates as a top-of-the line offering without draining your wallet. 

1000D, 2500D, 3000D, and 4000D come in 5.2:1 gear ratios

You can find just the right size for your targeted species with four sizes and five models. Of course, as you increase in model size, you also raise the reel’s overall weight. The 2500 size comes in a second model – the 2500D-XH with a 6.2:1 gear ratio for faster retrieval.

Digigear Digital Gear Design

The Digigear design is unique to Daiwa reels. This process uses an incredibly precise CNC machine cut gear with many benefits. You get additional strength, noiseless rotation, and improved sensitivity. You want a reel that feels smooth when you crank it and strong when you want to set the hook.

 Features at a Glance

  • Carbon Light Material Housing
  • LT Concept
  • Machined Aluminum Screw-In Handle
  • Air Rotor and Airbail
  • 1000D, 2500D, 3000D, and 4000D come in 5.2: 1 gear ratios
  • 2500D XH comes in 6.2:1 gear ratio

The Daiwa Exceler LT spinning reel features an aluminum air spool that reduces weight while improving balance and feel. The machined aluminum handle maximizes comfort and gives you a secure connection to the gear. This results in complete comfort and control over the reel when battling a large bass or trout. 

The extraordinary Air Rotor and Air Bail designs continue to reduce the weight while spreading out the pressure of the line over the bail to the rest of the reel. The reel uses a 5+1 ball bearing system with a roller bearing for maximum performance and smoothness on retrievals.

I think the overall trend of this reel is maximum comfort for the lowest price and the lightest weight. If you typically find yourself fatigued after a long day of fishing, then switching to a lighter reel like the Exceler LT will make all the difference.

If we break down the Daiwa Exceler LT spinning reel and look at each of their models, they offer five different models, starting with the EXLT1000D and ending with the EXLT4000D-C. The 1000 size contains five ball bearings and one roller bearing.

It has a gear ratio of 5.2:1 and a retrieval rate of 25.5 inches. This reel weighs 6.4 ounces with 11 pounds of drag and is perfect for chasing those smaller trout and pan fish.

I like the 2500 size for my everyday freshwater reel targeting trout and bass.

The 2500D model has five ball bearings and one roller bearing. This reel has a gear ratio of 5.2:1 and a retrieval rate of 29.6 inches. The reel’s weight is 7.2 ounces, with a max drag of 22 pounds. 

If I am fishing with spinnerbaits, jerk baits, swimming jigs, or topwater, I like a slightly faster retrieval rate, which I get with the 2500D-XH. The only difference is the higher gear ratio of 6.2:1 and a retrieval rate of 34.5 inches. This reel also weighs 7.2 ounces and has 22 pounds of drag. 

Next, we step it up to the 3000 model, which has five ball bearings and one roller bearing with a 5.2:1 gear ratio. This reel has a retrieval rate of 31.6 inches, slows down a little, and weighs a bit more at 7.5 ounces. It still has 22 maximum pounds of drag. 

Lastly, we have the 4000 model with five ball bearings and one roller bearing. This one has a gear ratio of 5.2:1 and a retrieval rate 32.5. This is the most enormous reel, weighing 8.4 ounces with 26.4 max pounds of drag. 

Field Test

At Salted Angler, we don’t discriminate against any style of fishing, and we understand that some reels are cut out for salt and some aren’t. I love hitting those small ponds where I’m the only one on the water. With my Daiwa Exceler LT, I recently took to the water with high expectations.

I set out early in the morning on one of my favorite farm ponds, right down the road from where I live in NW Florida. I love early mornings, as you often get that early morning mist that is so calm and peaceful.

I had the Daiwa Exceler LT 2500D paired with one of my favorite inshore rods, the G. Loomis E6X 842S MF. When it comes to rods, I tend to fish a lot of “saltwater” rods in freshwater just because I have them. 

Within just a few casts, I found myself with a nice two-pound bass on the end of the line.

The reel is sensitive enough to feel minor nibbles and strong enough to give a solid hook set, but I appreciate the smooth drag. I love fishing just beneath the surface with a noisy spinnerbait, and I succeed with this strategy in those small ponds that aren’t fished often.

After catching a half dozen bass in the 1-2 lb range, I decided that it was time to hand the rod and reel over to my wife while I enjoyed a nice warm cup of coffee. My wife does not fish as much as I do, so I was curious to see how she liked the feel of the reel. She cast a dozen times and reported that she liked it a lot better than the Penn Battle II she had been using. 

I asked her why, and she said the Daiwa was lighter and felt smoother, more like driving her Lexus vs my Toyota 4Runner. Oh, and of course, she caught the biggest bass of the morning. That is the last time I let her use my rod and reel :-).

Pros

  • Lightweight and Comfortable
  • Easy to use for anglers of all levels
  • Highly affordable considering all the features

Cons

  • None really
  • Not suitable for saltwater

Alternatives

It almost feels wrong to compare this reel because, at its price point, you can’t compare it with any reel on the market currently. I’ll go ahead and try anyway. 

Sticking with the Daiwa brand, we’ll first look at the Daiwa Fuego LT. This reel is priced around $20 more than the Exceler LT and contains many of the same features. You get the air rotor and air bail, the Digigear system, and a magsealed main shaft and buttery smooth seven-bearing system, which makes it better for saltwater applications. I would upgrade to the Fuego LT if you fish fresh and saltwater.

Both of these reels weigh the same and have the same drags. They both focus on a light and tough philosophy, so it’s almost like comparing apples to oranges.

Let’s switch gears and turn to Okuma. Here we have the Okuma Inspira. This reel is priced accordingly with the Daiwa Exceler, and it also uses a carbon fiber body for a lightweight and durable design. 

It has a cyclonic flow rotor, which differs from the Daiwa Exceler. This one offers improved airflow over the rotor, which reduces the chances of corrosion and helps with saltwater fishing. 

We would say to take the Okuma for saltwater applications but go with the Exceler LT for freshwater fishing and when you need more drag.

The last comparison we have is the Shimano NASCI. This is a high-quality reel priced a little more than the previous options. We still consider it highly affordable, given that it has features and retails for under $100.

It has the Shimano cold-forged gearing that offers smooth retrieval, and it comes with 360-degree weatherproofing to prevent rust and corrosion over time. One exciting feature that stands out about the Shimano NASCI is its “G Free Body.” They designed the reel to sit closer to the rod, which means you’ll have improved balance and comfort when fishing. 

Overall, the features of the Shimano NASCI don’t stand out far from the Daiwa Exceler LT; for the price, you’re better off with a Daiwa.

In Conclusion

If you’re looking for a reel that maximizes features while keeping the price low, this reel is a great option. The Daiwa Exceler LT gives you a lightweight reel that works well for beginners and experienced anglers alike. 

You get the Carbon Light housing, a lightweight and durable frame. The machined aluminum handle is comfortable even when you’re fishing all day. Plus, the air rotor and air bail are primarily responsible for the lightweight feel of this reel. You get maximum drag performance for a minimum weight and damage to your bank account. 

Unless you’re consistently fishing saltwater or planning to reel in ten-pound bass all day, this reel will do the trick for you.

Anri

Thursday 31st of August 2023

Hello Coty, Thank you for this amazing review! Planning to buy exceler 2500LT but I`d love to do some saltwater fishing, like 10 days a year. It`ll still be the best choice in this price range?