The Best Lightweight Reel On The Market? (New Product Review)
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
If you fish with artificial lures all day like I do, weight matters… shedding just a fraction of an ounce can make a big difference over 100+ casts while out on the water.
This new TD SOL MQ 2500 from Daiwa came out in 2024 with some very impressive specs so I made a point to seek it out at ICAST to get my hands on this reel.
It was the most impressive new product that I saw at the conference, so I decided to buy one to see how it handled out on the water.
And after 3 months of testing it on redfish, seatrout, and snook, I can confidently say it’s one of the best reels I’ve ever used.
Here’s a quick overview of my experience using this reel so far:
👉 Get Your Own Daiwa SOL MQ 2500 Here
Note: For the best inshore combo I’ve ever tested, pair this reel with the Slot Machine medium power rod (simply having them both in your cart will get you an extra $20 savings).
What Makes It Stand Out?
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Featherlight Build: At just 5.6oz, it’s lighter than many reels alone—even with a rod and line.
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Strong & Smooth: MQ design and MagSeal tech deliver strength and buttery drag.
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Built to Last: My BG MQs have lasted years… this one feels even better.
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Perfect Match: On a 4.4oz Slot Machine rod, the entire setup is only 10.26oz!
This combo is ideal for anglers who want to cast all day without fatigue—and still have the power to land solid fish. I originally picked it up due to elbow pain, but now I might never go back.
🎣 Get the reel in our store now—and if you bundle it with the Slot Machine Rod, we’ll knock $20 off your order!
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Do you know of a lighter 2500-size reel on the market?
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- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
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- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
I purchased the 2500 and 3000 size and love them. I got them when they were in the $350 range from Salt Strong. They are the smoothest reels i have ever used. They are worth the current price…
Thanks for sharing your findings Jeff!
Looks like a new Joshua setup!
Awesome reel
One thing I forgot to add is just how sensitive it is. I can feel when I’m going over a log or little snag on oyster that used to feel like a bite. It is incredible the amount of feedback you get with this combo. Literally feel a pinfish fart! lol. Yes it’s a lot of $$ for this combo but if it’s in the budget it’s a must for serious inshore angler. You can cast all day without getting tired and has pinpoint accuracy and casts a Mile
This is very much interesting to me gonna have to take very close look at four (4) of them with the slot machine rods …. How do you fill the reels and with what test or do we get our choice of braids for the reels ….. Such as two and two different sizes of braids …. ? Just thought I’d ask and it would be help for a real good answer… Thanks Luke
If I were to get 4 of them, I’d do the following (ordered by importance):
1: 2500 reel + medium slot machine + 10 lb braid (all purpose long cast setup)
2: 3000 reel + MH slot machine + 20 lb braid (big fish near structure setup)
3: 2500 reel + medium slot machine + 8 lb braid (finesse light lure setup)
4: 3000 reel + MH slot machine + 15 lb braid (my ideal setup for skipping lures under mangroves)
spooky timing i added this and slot machine to cart couple days ago and thought i was getting a “dont forget about your cart” type targeted emails at first glance lol
How funny! If you’re on the fence on the Slot Machine, I highly recommend moving forward soon because its price is going to be going up soon.
Nice, review. Short and to the point. Like it.
Glad to see that you enjoyed this reel review Paul
Is there a link to the combo you recommend with the extra $20 off?
Hey Guy, I just updated the post to make it more clear on how to save the extra $20… all you need to do is simply add each item to your cart (Sol MQ reel + Slot Machine rod), and the system will apply a $20 discount on the checkout page. Links to both products are now above.
So I purchased the exact combo Luke mentioned about a month ago and would say his review is spot on. My buddy picked it up to move it and could not believe how light it is. It feels solid, has far more drag then you could need given you probably don’t want to exceed 20 lb line, and feels nice. The knob is a bit smaller than I was expecting, and I was worried about it because I really like the larger sphere shaped ones, but once I started fishing I never noticed it again.
Thanks for sharing your experience using this new TD Sol MQ reel Robert. It sure is crazy how light that combo feels while fishing. And yes, anyone who picks it up will immediately feel a weight difference on it vs. whatever else they are using.
Looks like a great reel , but I bet a $180 reel light weight does the same thing .
Yes, the less expensive reels cover the core essential needs so getting an expensive reel is not needed to catch fish… the higher price mostly brings added comfort. I normally would not buy a reel this expensive, but a bat bout of tennis elbow became pain enough to give it a shot. And I’m very glad that I did because it helped me heal my elbow more quickly and it sure is fun to use.
I love mine!!!
I’m glad to see that you’re enjoying your reel. Thanks for sharing the feedback Jon!
What size line do you recommend?
I have 10 lb braid on mine (2500 size reel), and I absolutely love it for all purpose inshore fishing.
I have this set up. 10 lb braid. Casts a mile!