It was a big year for Okuma gear. The X-Series Casting Rod took home the Best Overall award in our casting rods test, and the X-Series Casting Reel was a top performer in our best reels test. But it was the Okuma Avenger spinning reel that really surprised us, taking home the Best Budget award. Priced at $47.50 (sometimes cheaper on Amazon), the Avenger is unmatched when it comes to budget spinning reels. It beat out other models from top brands like Abu Garcia, Shimano, and Daiwa. Though all those companies had great reels for under $100, I couldn’t find any that compared to the Avenger for $47.50. Here’s why.
Okuma Avenger Overview
Specs
Size tested: 2500
Gear ratio: 5:1
Weight: 7.8 ounces
Ball Bearings: 6+1
All sizes: 500, 1000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 6000, 8000, 10000
Pros
Affordable
Strong
Effective drag
Corrosion resistant
Cons
Limited adjustments on the drag
A touch heavier than premium reels
When I first opened the Okuma Avenger, I was surprised to find it in a plastic clamshell package rather than in its own cardboard box, as is typical for most reels. But as I assembled the reel and tightened the handle, I found that it was a fairly light, crisp, and high-quality-feeling spinning reel. However, there were some noticeable differences between this reel and some of the more expensive ones. For starters, although it may be light in comparison to other reels in the sub-$100 range, it is still heavier (7.8 ounces) than the premium reels we tested. But the Avenger only costs $47.50—about $125 to $150 per ounce cheaper than some of my favorites, like the Shimano Vanford A and Abu Garcia Zenon MG-X.
In addition to the weight differentiation, the drag is also less sensitive than most mid-level to high-end reels I tested. The Avenger has one click for every five or so that a more expensive spinning reel has. So you can't fine-tune the drag as much as you can with other models. Still, the Avenger offers a smooth drag, especially for the incredibly low price.
On the Water Performance
I tested the Avenger, in part, alongside nearly two dozen other spinning reels for our recent Best Spinning Reels test. My takeaway after pitting this reel against several others priced under $100 and against reels up to $470 is this: Although the Avenger is 10 to 20 percent the cost of many of these other reels, it is much closer in performance. I’d be confident fishing with the Avenger in almost any situation, whether just fun fishing or in a tournament.
If you’re a Great Lakes smallmouth guy, a straight scoper, or otherwise rely heavily on a spinning reel, you’ll want to go with something a little nicer, but you'll have to pay for it. The Avenger can’t compare to the Best Overall winner (the Abu Garcia Zenon MG-X) or the two honorable mentions in that category (the Okuma X-Series and Shimano Vanford). However, you can buy five to 10 Avenger reels for the same amount of money as one of those premium models.
As for what I found on the water, the reel casted great and the drag (though not as sensitive) still loosened and tightened on the fly efficiently during a fight. There was plenty of strength and rigidity in the reel to haul fish in without any play. Since I was going back and forth between this reel and some that cost five and 10 times as much, I could detect a little friction in the Avenger when I was reeling. It’s not butter-smooth like the high-end reels, but again, it only costs $47.50. For context, it’s as good as the Daiwa Regal LT, which came in as the runner-up in the Best Budget category. But for more than half the price, the Avenger can't be beat for what it brings to the table.
The bottom line is that when considering budget spinning reels, the Okuma Avenger can't be beat. I’d trust this reel to do with a wacky rig, shaky head, Ned rig, and a drop shot. The Avenger is strong, not too heavy, has a solid drag, and…costs under $50. What else can you ask for from an affordable spinning reel?
