I learned a valuable lesson. It does not like a loose spool. On my Lews and Abu reels the spool is super lose, but the Shimano, even with more braking liked to lash with a loose spool so I tightened it tighter than I would feel comfortable with, and gained casting distance. It spooled out so smooth. It took me by surprise!!

I have 30 pound power pro braid on mine and run the spool with some side to side play like all my other reels. It's set with 2 brakes on and external is set to 5, no back lashes even with light Texas rigs (1/8 oz weight)

10 minutes ago, BobbyBudnick said:

I have 30 pound power pro braid on mine and run the spool with some side to side play like all my other reels. It's set with 2 brakes on and external is set to 5, no back lashes even with light Texas rigs (1/8 oz weight)

I have 60lb Sunline braid and 2 brakes set and external on 3 with my spool just barely moving side to side and it casts a half ounce frog like crazy. 

For the price of the SLX XT, the bearings are of a really high quality and you need a bit more control to get distance and precision.

Y'all make me want to try an SLX XT even though lately I've been disappointed by Shimano's more recent <$200 offerings. 

I just got my SLX XT this past Friday and went out with a 6' 6" rod and had used it to pitch to some light stuff... pitched like a dream. 2 Brakes on and set on just one click lighter than 5. I had spooled it with some 12# Suffix Advance mono i had laying around.  Will probably change it.. but was anxious to try it the reel... glad I made the purchase.

1 hour ago, Fishnski48 said:

I just got my SLX XT this past Friday and went out with a 6' 6" rod and had used it to pitch to some light stuff... pitched like a dream. 2 Brakes on and set on just one click lighter than 5. I had spooled it with some 12# Suffix Advance mono i had laying around.  Will probably change it.. but was anxious to try it the reel... glad I made the purchase.

I'm running 2 brakes too and will probably play with going to 1 with the spool tighter, but it cast a frog further than ive ever casted before. So far I love it!

I have 2 regular SLXs, do you guys really like the XT better?

7 minutes ago, zell_pop1 said:

I have 2 regular SLXs, do you guys really like the XT better?

In all honesty, no...I don’t...

 

I’m a vbs fan and I like to fiddle with my brakes as little as humanly possible. IMO, at ~$80, the original SLX is one of the better deals out there. Not only that but mine is still smooth as silk and I ordered it on launch day. 

53 minutes ago, Manifestgtr said:

In all honesty, no...I don’t...

 

I’m a vbs fan and I like to fiddle with my brakes as little as humanly possible. IMO, at ~$80, the original SLX is one of the better deals out there. Not only that but mine is still smooth as silk and I ordered it on launch day. 

I haven't used the XT, but I've not been a big fan of the SVS Infinity system thus far. High maintenance and finicky on every reel I've owned. The vbs system was as close as it gets to set and forget. 

9 hours ago, zell_pop1 said:

I have 2 regular SLXs, do you guys really like the XT better?

Ive never casted a regular SLX but i would like to, to compare. My other baitcasters have mag brakes so having the dial on the outside helped me fine tune the centrifugal brakes. 

 

Does anyone else notice that it does better with the spool more tight?

I had played with a friends SLX before I got my slx XT and I've only had it a few days, but having gone out with it and tuned it to my casing style.. I really like it better.  I can really fine tune the brakes without sacrificing casting distance.  I also like the finish on the reel better.

The deciding factor for me was the adjustment available on the brakes,  I think I can get it tuned so I can skip docks too without the dreaded backlash more often than not.

Both are excellent reels, but for $30 more i went with the XT.  Truth be told I never tried the DC, but this gets me close and I don't forget to use the old thumb control on my other reels.  ?  

I have the SLX, SLX XT, SLX MGL 70, SLX DC.

 

I like the SLX DC the best in some situations like windy conditions, even better than my Tatula SV TW103, but I don't like the weight of the DC.

 

In most situations, I like the SLX MGL 70 MGL the most, followed closely by the SLX XT. The MGL is lighter and looks better.

 

The regular SLX was okay, but just not a huge fan on internal only brakes and the bigger SLX logo on the side.

4 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

Ive never casted a regular SLX but i would like to, to compare. My other baitcasters have mag brakes so having the dial on the outside helped me fine tune the centrifugal brakes. 

 

Does anyone else notice that it does better with the spool more tight?

Shimano's brakes have a tapered friction surface. There's no benefit at all to having the spool's tension set for a little side to side play. It's actually a negative. Neutral spool tension set with side to side play eliminated, but no more, is where it should be set at a minimum. The spool will be as free as when the tension is set looser and the blocks will interact properly, and more consistently, with the tapered pipe/race. 

 

If you feel that you need a touch more spool tension to get you through the day, or your learning curve, don't sweat it. Once your're comfortable with your new rod, and how it loads and unloads with certain baits, you'll probably back off on the spool tension. If not don't worry about it and just enjoy yourself. Nothing's wrong and nothing's going to break.

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

Shimano's brakes have a tapered friction surface. There's no benefit at all to having the spool's tension set for a little side to side play. It's actually a negative. Neutral spool tension set with side to side play eliminated, but no more, is where it should be set at a minimum. The spool will be as free as when the tension is set looser and the blocks will interact properly, and more consistently, with the tapered pipe/race. 

 

If you feel that you need a touch more spool tension to get you through the day, or your learning curve, don't sweat it. Once your're comfortable with your new rod, and how it loads and unloads with certain baits, you'll probably back off on the spool tension. If not don't worry about it and just enjoy yourself. Nothing's wrong and nothing's going to break.

That's another thing is this is the first H rod ive ever had. A half ounce frog barely loaded it up so i felt like I really had to whip it. To me this rod is just as big of a learning curve as the reel. Roll casting was a breeze, but long overhead casts im still getting used to. 

 

Good advice on the spool tension. I will make sure to really pay attention to it. 

I have 2 brakes on and two off and with the external brake adjustment between 3 - 4. I'm throwing jerkbaits and topwaters from 3/8 to 5/8 oz. on it. I also find that I have the spool tension knob a little tighter on the SLX XT than my Chronarch 50E. For me, the extra $30 for the XT is well worth it. I had both the regular SLX and XT in hand and there was a big difference in the feel, precision, body construction and the aesthetics. I love the external brake adjustment. Definitely picking up the SLX Mgl in the near future. I have no interest in Shimano's DC reels but I'd like to try a Daiwa SV reel.

13 hours ago, Steelhead said:

I have 2 brakes on and two off and with the external brake adjustment between 3 - 4. I'm throwing jerkbaits and topwaters from 3/8 to 5/8 oz. on it. I also find that I have the spool tension knob a little tighter on the SLX XT than my Chronarch 50E. For me, the extra $30 for the XT is well worth it. I had both the regular SLX and XT in hand and there was a big difference in the feel, precision, body construction and the aesthetics. I love the external brake adjustment. Definitely picking up the SLX Mgl in the near future. I have no interest in Shimano's DC reels but I'd like to try a Daiwa SV reel.

I have absolutely no logical reason to get another baitcasting combo but I'm still itching to get one, and having recently purchased my first Shimano reel (a Sahara spinning) I'm really leaning toward the SLX (I don't have the budget for anything more expensive). This is good to know about the SLX vs the XT.