btong

Hi, I'm new to this forum (and to the fishing hobby) but have been lurking for a few weeks. I'm looking to purchase a budget setup for freshwater and light inshore fishing. I'm based in Singapore, where the fish aren't all that big. For the rod, I have more or less settled on the Okuma Altera 6'6 ML. I've handled it in store, and it feels light (3.77oz) and reactive in my inexperienced hands. I can get this locally for about US$34. I'll be putting 12lb braid (Kastking Superpower) on it. There doesn't seem to be a line test rating on this rod, so please do let me know if this is a bad idea. I can also pick up the M size rod for minimal weight or price penalty, but then the lure rating is slightly higher (10-30g, instead of 7g to 22g). I presume this means I will have reduced sensitivity. However, I'm mainly stuck on my reel choice. Currently, I'm eyeing either the Daiwa Revros LT 2000XH (US$42), Okuma Ceymar 30 ($US$41) or Okuma Epixor XT 30 (US$46). Revros LT XH: - Lightest weight (7.6 oz) - Less ball bearings (if that matters) - Higher gear ratio (6.2:1) - Felt the least smooth/solid in my hands - Well known/respected brand suggests durability - Seems to have better warranty support in my area Ceymar: - Cheapest - Middle weight (8.2 oz) - Low gear ratio (5.0:1) - Has the most reviews on Amazon/Youtube, mostly attesting to the smoothness and durability - Felt better than the Revros but worse than the Epixor - smooth, but did not feel as solid, nor as satisfying in terms of drag sound or bail flip - Unsure of warranty support in my area Epixor XT: - Most expensive - Heaviest (8.8 oz) - Low gear ratio (5.0:1) - Fanciest features - slow oscillation, supposedly stronger frame than the Ceymar - Good reviews from i_fish and tackle advisor on youtube, but also reports of defects - Felt the most satisfying in store. However, they only had a large size in stock, which might have contribute to that positive feel - Unsure of warranty support in my area I'd love to get some opinions/suggestions. Do try to keep within these 2 brands (or Shimano), as I'm not sure if I can get other commonly suggested brands like Penn or Pflueger over here. Thanks!