Essential Gear 2012

Quantum
Exo PT

The name of Quantum’s new line of reels, Exo, is shorthand for exoskeletal hybrid construction. The approach combines an ultra-rigid aluminum alloy in load-bearing areas with a lightweight composite that reduces weight by 50 percent in noncritical parts of the reel, yielding a build that’s as light as possible, with no sacrifice in strength. All Exo PT reels feature ported aluminum drive gears to shave excess weight. The 7.3:1 “burner” bait-cast gear set retrieves 31 inches of line per turn of the handle. The Exo PT spinning-reel rotor uses a polymer infused with long-strand carbon fiber, which results in a rotor that’s 2.6 times stronger than normal composites and has minimal flex under heavy drag. The reels are available in two spinning models (8- and 10-pound mono) and three bait-caster models with three different, levels of retrieve ratio up to 7.3:1. A range of rods is available, matched to each reel. www.quantumfishing.com