Stradic FL vs Vanford

[MasterBaiter24]

Hi all,

Looking to upgrade my reel; any idea what the comparison between these two reels are?

cheers

[Sebb]

Vanford has one more ball bearing and lighter due to the ci4 material.
I'd say if you're gonna use to flick lures all day, vanford be more ideal as it's lighter.

[ducky]

I’ve got 2 x vanfords and whilst they are nice and smooth the bail arm is made out of the same steel as the trebles on the 60mm double clutches. More like ricotta cheese than steel.

No drops or mistreatment and I had a bent bail arm. Bent it back into shape way too easily.

[Sebb]

I’ve got 2 x vanfords and whilst they are nice and smooth the bail arm is made out of the same steel as the trebles on the 60mm double clutches. More like ricotta cheese than steel.

No drops or mistreatment and I had a bent bail arm. Bent it back into shape way too easily.

Didn't know it could happen.
But yeah, I think they're more suitable for finesse light application, need to be gentle, etc.
Stradic fl can hold more.

[cobby]

I’ve got 2 x vanfords and whilst they are nice and smooth the bail arm is made out of the same steel as the trebles on the 60mm double clutches. More like ricotta cheese than steel.

No drops or mistreatment and I had a bent bail arm. Bent it back into shape way too easily.

It's the same bail on all Shimano one piece bail reels of a given size. Atleast it only bends instead of snaps in 2 like Daiwas airbail has a tendency to sometimes do.

As for Vanford vs Stradic. Aside from the weight saving with the ci4 body and mgl rotor there's no other differences except that 1 bearing you're not going to notice and the colour. 2500 size is only a 30gm difference. If you can get a Stradic for under 250 compared to 300+ for the Vanford, unless you REALLY want the black/red colour scheme and your rod will be out of balance by that extra 30gm get the Stradic and put the 50+ saved into a good quality braid

[Kimtown]

Vanford has one more ball bearing and lighter due to the ci4 material.
I'd say if you're gonna use to flick lures all day, vanford be more ideal as it's lighter.

In them smaller reels, is the difference in weight really even that noticeable?

It’s not like we are talking kilo’s…

[Sebb]

Vanford has one more ball bearing and lighter due to the ci4 material.
I'd say if you're gonna use to flick lures all day, vanford be more ideal as it's lighter.

In them smaller reels, is the difference in weight really even that noticeable?

It’s not like we are talking kilo’s…

Depends on the rod and what you're casting. For me anyway.

If its for bream/trout using a 6ft rod that weighs only 80gm casting 2gm lures, a 30gm difference in the reel definitely noticeable. Not so much it's tiring or not, but affect the balance for sure. Better casting for those ultralight lures, etc. Especially if you're wrist casting, which is very common for light fishing.

Last time I had stradic fk 2500 (weighs about 250gm) paired with 8ft3 Solpara rod (weighs about 110gm), didn't notice anything, until I put on Freams LT (weighs about 190gm). I could still cast with the stradic fk but it was much easier to cast with the freams lt.

For bigger application casting heavy lures/weights, especially bait fishing and or arm casting, it doesn't matter much.

[MasterBaiter24]

cheers guys:)) might pick up the fl then as i generally do more rockwall bashing for pinkies over breaming