Tackle Compare LabUS

Spinning reels compared by the numbers

Spinning reels of different sizes on a dock

Illustrative image, not the exact model.

Lineups from entry to flagship, every size's weight, drag and line capacity, model-code generations and Japan-market (JDM) differences for Shimano, Daiwa and PENN — built from manufacturer specifications, with sources on every page. We compare specs; we do not claim hands-on testing.

Brand lineups

Daiwa lineup

Daiwa Spinning Reels: How the LT, MQ and SW Families Stack Up

Every current Daiwa spinning reel sorted by MSRP, from the $24.99 Strikeforce-B to the Saltiga. How the LT, MQ and saltwater families differ, tier by tier.

PENN lineup

PENN Spinning Reels: The Saltwater-First Lineup, Tier by Tier

All 12 current PENN spinning reels sorted by price, from the $59.99 Wrath II to the $719.95 Authority, with what sealing, gearing and drag each step adds.

Shimano lineup

Shimano Spinning Reels, Ranked from Entry Level to Flagship

All current Shimano spinning reels ranked by MSRP, from the $17.99 IX to the Stella SW D. What each price step adds in gearing, body, bearings and weight.

Reel series

Daiwa

Daiwa BG (2026 BG LT / BG SW)

10 models · sizes LT2500D–20000

PENN

PENN Battle IV

12 models · sizes 1000–10000

PENN

PENN Slammer IV

12 models · sizes 2500–10500

PENN

PENN Spinfisher VII

11 models · sizes 2500–10500

Shimano

Shimano Nasci FD

6 models · sizes 500–C5000

Shimano

Shimano Saragosa SW A

8 models · sizes 5000–25000

Shimano

Shimano Sedona FJ

11 models · sizes 500–C5000

Shimano

Shimano Stradic FM

5 models · sizes 1000–C5000

Shimano

Shimano TwinPower FE

4 models · sizes 2500–C5000

Shimano

Shimano Vanford A

6 models · sizes 500–C5000

Size guide and JDM

Weight (oz) by size010203040505001000200025003000350040004500500055006000650075008000ShimanoDaiwaPENN
Each dot is one series covered on this site at that size number (manufacturer weights). Sizes are grouped by the number in the model name, so Shimano C3000 and Daiwa LT3000 sit on the same row.

JDM Reels Explained: Japanese Shimano and Daiwa Models vs US Versions

How to decode JDM reel names like 23 Stradic, find the US version of a Japanese Shimano or Daiwa reel, and what changes for warranty, parts and sizes.

Fishing Reel Size Chart: Spinning Reel Sizes by Brand

Spinning reel size chart for Shimano, Daiwa and PENN: what 1000, 2500, 3000 and 4000 mean, why C3000 and LT3000 differ, and which size fits bass or surf.

Head-to-head

Daiwa BG vs PENN Battle IV: Which Saltwater Workhorse?

PENN Battle IV vs Spinfisher VII vs Slammer IV

Shimano vs Daiwa Spinning Reels: A Spec-Sheet Comparison

Shimano Stradic FM vs Vanford A: Same Guts, Different Body