“Lightweight, sealed drag, large arbor”

“I haven't used the reel yet but plan on pairing with a 6wt for smallmouth bass fishing. You can't beat the price. A replacement spool will cost you almost as much as this reel if you pick it up with the right coupon from STP (like I did!). The reel appears well constructed and is machined in the US from barstock aluminum. Type 3 Anodized finish on the "Guide" finish. The other colors STP offers are Type 2. Conical fully-sealed drag system is recognized as one of the best. The version I received is a pre-Nov 2006 LS2. Post-Nov 2006 Litespeeds are the same design but "Hard Alox" versions. The reel was then redesigned sometime in 2010 or 2011. My only concern is durability. So much of the aluminum has been machined away for weight savings that I could easily see damaging the real by dropping it. My other reels are Orvis BLAs. They feel more durable but I have no proof of the durability (or lack there of) for either model. Only time and use will tell.”