# St. Croix Premier vs Shimano SLX: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the St. Croix Premier (St. Croix) and Shimano SLX (Shimano) among fishing rods. Shimano SLX is the cheaper of the two at $99.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | St. Croix Premier | Shimano SLX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $155 | $99.99 |
| Brand | St. Croix | Shimano |
| Configuration | spinning | casting |
| Length (ft) | 5.5 | — |
| Pieces | 1 | 1 |
| Power | medium | medium-heavy |
| Action | fast | extra-fast |
| Lure weight (oz) | 1/4-5/8 | 1/4-3/4 |
| Line weight (lb) | 6-12 | 10-20 |
| Rod weight (oz) | — | — |
| Blank material | carbon-fiber | carbon-fiber |
| Guide material | aluminum-oxide | — |
| Handle material | cork | EVA |

## Key differences

- Configuration: St. Croix Premier spinning vs Shimano SLX casting
- Power: St. Croix Premier medium vs Shimano SLX medium-heavy
- Action: St. Croix Premier fast vs Shimano SLX extra-fast
- Lure weight (oz): St. Croix Premier 1/4-5/8 vs Shimano SLX 1/4-3/4
- Line weight (lb): St. Croix Premier 6-12 vs Shimano SLX 10-20
- Handle material: St. Croix Premier cork vs Shimano SLX EVA

## Sources

- St. Croix Premier: https://stcroixrods.com/products/premier (stcroixrods.com, verified 2026-07-13)
- Shimano SLX: https://fish.shimano.com/en-US/product/rods/bass/slx_casting_a.html (fish.shimano.com, verified 2026-07-13)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/fishing-rods/st-croix-premier-vs-shimano-slx/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, St. Croix Premier ($155) vs Shimano SLX ($99.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/fishing-rods/st-croix-premier-vs-shimano-slx/
License: CC BY 4.0.