Daiwa
Daiwa BG
$149.99
Best Fishing Reels · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Lew's Speed Spool LFS is cheaper at $99.95. Every spec and price links to its source.
Daiwa
$149.99
Lew's
$99.95Cheaper
The Lew's Speed Spool LFS wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Lew's Speed Spool LFS is the cheaper at $99.95. The Lew's Speed Spool LFS both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $149.99 | $99.95 |
| Brand | Daiwa | Lew's |
| Released | — | — |
| Reel type | spinning | baitcasting |
| Reel size | 2500 | — |
| Gear ratio | 5.6:1 | 6.8:1 |
| Max drag (lb) | — | 15 |
| Line retrieve per turn (in) | 33.2 | — |
| Bearing count | — | — |
| Weight (oz) | 9.3 | 7.1 |
| Body material | aluminum | aluminum |
| Line capacity mono | 8/170 | 12/120 |
| Is saltwater rated | Yes | No |
Sources — Daiwa BG: daiwa.us (verified 2026-07-11). Lew's Speed Spool LFS: lews.com (verified 2026-07-11).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 10). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Two whitelisted testers — Outdoor Life's five-season hands-on review and Field & Stream's expert saltwater roundup (where the BG is the 'Best Value' pick) — rate the Daiwa BG a standout value saltwater spinning reel: smooth, strong and reliable at a price just over $100. Neither published benchmark numbers. Flaws are largely single-source: not fully waterproof, a small handle knob, a switchable anti-reverse the reviewer dislikes, and some added weight. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Excellent value that punches above its just-over-$100 price; Smooth operation (Outdoor Life: still smooth after five seasons, credits DIGIGEAR); Strong, tough and reliable across surf, inshore and offshore use.
Flagged: Not fully waterproof — not suited to hardcore surf or submersion; Small handle knob; benefits from an aftermarket upgrade; Heavier than some competing reels.
No sourced tester review yet.