Keeper Alu reel £99.99
THE Alu reel is really quite eye-catching with its matt black finish and metallic orange accent colours. It is a nice sized large arbor format with an open face design and the reel cage and spool are made from diecast alloy, while the drag knob, reel foot and retainer cover are made from machined alloy. Both the spool and cage have been heavily ventilated with a series of holes to keep weight down but without affecting the structural stability. There is virtually no movement between the spool and reel cage such are the high tolerances. The spool is removed by releasing a small lever in the centre of the spool which reveals the semi-sealed disc drag unit. The drag is smooth throughout its range and is adjusted in ‘click’ increments using the large drag knob on the back of the reel. The reel is silent when winding line in, and has an audible click when the fish is taking line out. The handle has a soft polyurethane grip so your fingers won’t slip in wet conditions. It comes set up for left hand wind, and if you need to switch it over just remove the spool, remove the e-clip that sits around the spindle with a screwdriver, flip the one-way bearing and reassemble. The Alu reel comes in two sizes, a 4/6 and a 7/9, both at £99.99, and is supplied with a black nylon drawstring pouch.
VERDICT:
A striking looking reel with its two-colour finish. A compact large arbor design and functions well. Only disappointment for me was that there were no spare spools.
The Keeper Alu has a distinctive design.
