Anyone heard of Banax reels?

[Feral]

I'm looking around for an elcheapo LH baitcaster (already got a pflueger from Mo Tackle, but I want a low profile one).

I came across these, the price is in the "who cares if it breaks on the first trip" range. Found very little about them on the web, some comments that one or two of the other models they have are chinese copies of Calcutta's - but thats about it.

This bloke normally only sells brand name reels, so I figure it probably "wont" break on the first trip, I'll probably pick one up and see what it is like - purely in the name of research for my fellow AFO members.......

Yeah the missus didn't believe that either.

http://www.knkfishing.com/html/zest_series.html

[kevinchen19870316]

they r quite popular in china for bait fishing. but well, they do break on the 1st trip.

[Shrimpo]

Who says? How do you know they WILL break, Any reel could break first trip, But Feral they do look good for $43 Whats postage?

[kevinchen19870316]

sorry shrimpo, my bad.

i was just joking and what i meant is that they r not in good quality so they cannot stand lure fishing. they r ok for bait fishing for sure.

[Shrimpo]

Ohh ok, So say an equivalent priced shimano ($75) would be much better?

[kevinchen19870316]

i bought some cheap reels before and i find shimanos way better. they really know where is the major parts that should be put in good parts and where to use cheap materials for economy reason.

the banax and ticas may look ok with metals all around the body but time will tell. shimanos always win.

but still, i'm not buying cheap reels anymore cuz i believe a good reel can only serves me better and lasts longer.

[shortie]

feral for that price it doesnt really matter.

As you primarily fresh water fish i cant see it being a problem.

Its bound to last a couple of trips if you wash it thoroughly after use.

Ive seen some of the cheapest gear last years.

[Nastymind]

The Banax spin reels are supposed to be alright

[Cowfish13]

There are always heaps of adds and reviews in Bush'n'Beach (or maybe QFM), they seem pretty good for the money.

[jeff f]

they have a good rep o.s

they make a sweet little 500 size spinning reel i'm going to try

and they are cheap enough that you dont have to worry if they dont last

you just get the pleasure of buying a new reel next year

[Feral]

Well I have not tried mine as yet, but Clawhammer took his out to North Pine on the weekend, and its dead already. Some small plastic screw in the guts has stripped, and the reel wont engage on the drag any more, so its kaput.

Wonder how long mine will last.

[Mack_attack]

thanks for the heads up feral, just another example of 'you get what you pay for' i guess. :dry:

[Mack_attack]

kevinchen19870316 wrote:

they r quite popular in china for bait fishing. but well, they do break on the 1st trip.

kev was right :laugh:

[Feral]

He sure was!

[Wilson]

I had a Banax Tova BC it caught a lot of nice fish and I gave it an absolute thrashing (in both fresh and salt) and it lasted 7 (with very little care) years I had it matched with a Daiwa pro-caster and once it was worn in it cast very well, I have only just replaced it 3 months ago with the same reel and so far it looks like a repeat of the last one. I think I paid around $100 for it, they sell a whole range of banax at Pro-Catch at Sunnybank.

[kevinchen19870316]

thanks feral. i've spent most of my time in china using tica and banax so i know what they r. if u try open them u'll find very rough made plastic parts filling the guts. i've even seen plastic maingear and pionion gear in their lower end products.

cheers