Are the only differences between the st. Croix legend xtreme and st. Croix legend elite the price and handles? which one is more versatile and has a better feel?

The blanks are highly similar but different. Like you mentioned the handles & guides & price are different. The extreme has always been the better rod between the two but with the new elite model introduction it is almost a tie. The extreme line does offer moderate action blanks while the elite has only xtra fast, fast, & mod fast actions. 

According to their website the Extreme is listed as SC V and the Elite is SC VI for blank material.  I don't know that VI (6) is any better than V (5) or how much difference there is.  My guess is there probably isn't much performance difference between the 2. 

The differences are the guides and handle. The guides are much improved over the legend extreme and handle is personal preference.

they are the same blank , the factory rods differ with just components and blank color ..

On 11/20/2016 at 9:04 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

The blanks are highly similar but different. Like you mentioned the handles & guides & price are different. The extreme has always been the better rod between the two but with the new elite model introduction it is almost a tie. The extreme line does offer moderate action blanks while the elite has only xtra fast, fast, & mod fast actions. 

x2 The Elite is St. Croix's high end rod with the traditional style, while the Xtreme is a more radical design when it comes to handle and components. Either one is a great rod.

5 hours ago, WIGuide said:

x2 The Elite is St. Croix's high end rod with the traditional style, while the Xtreme is a more radical design when it comes to handle and components. Either one is a great rod.

Exactly! Love the traditional Elite more than the GLX or NRX.

Seems like it just comes down to preference. The rods perform equally well (according to the sales reps and reviews). Do you prefer new age design or traditional? I like the traditional style better but the new age handle would probably last longer. Even high end cork will lose any filler it has over time. In the end... I'd go full fan girl over either one!

Both are great rods.  I prefer the full handle of the Elites over the split grip of the Extremes, and the cork Extremes over the newer handle material.  On the other hand, I really like the recoil guides of the previous generation Extremes over those on the previous Elites.  Just picked up a new Elite with the Torzite guides, but haven't been able to fish it yet.

 

I've thought several times about having a custom built on a St Croix SCVI blank with a full cork handle and the recoil guides.  Just need to make it happen some day.

The new Elites have torzite guides which puts their pricetag a little higher than the Extreme. Pretty sure they are built on the same blank though.