I've been considering one of these for a while but I have read some just dreadful reviews of it. Anyone have one and could share an opinion?

It's a bit finicky to set up and sometimes the line slips. It'll get you in the ball-park, but I wouldn't depend on it being totally accurate.

 

Yes, I have one and use it - it's close enough for my tastes.

Inside the  line slot is a little black plastic wheel with a concave surface.  The darn thing gets loose and moves in and out on its little spindle to the gears.  Look at it each time you use it and make sure it is out so the line will lay in the concave surface.  I think I am on my third one over the last several years, but i like them for spooling new line on and they are reasonably close.  Don't use it if you have reel magic on the line, or it will slip.  The line wheel has to be real dry.

If you have a few reels to spool then it might worth it. I have the exact one and use it all the time on some of my reels, mostly spinning and shallow spool baitcaster reels.
 

Is it common for people to spool reels using a line counter?

 

Ive never even considered it ...

23 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

Is it common for people to spool reels using a line counter?

 

Ive never even considered it ...

I use it to get a 'proper' amount of backing on the reel before putting on the mainline. I use the following website to calculate how much backing to get 60-70 yds of mainline on, then use the line-counter to get that amount of backing spooled up.

https://www.pattayafishing.net/fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I use it to get a 'proper' amount of backing on the reel before putting on the mainline. I use the following website to calculate how much backing to get 60-70 yds of mainline on, then use the line-counter to get that amount of backing spooled up.

https://www.pattayafishing.net/fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/

Thanks for sharing, man

2 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

Is it common for people to spool reels using a line counter?

 

Ive never even considered it ...

No you don’t need it with most of the circumstances.

I only use with shallow spool baitcaster (5 of them) and only for braid, to only get as much line need. More line more weight and more room for line to dig in. I don’t plan to cast 40 yds on this type reel (unless I use 1/8oz roadrunner or lipless crank) so 75yds (1/2 filler spool) is perfect.

I also use for spinning again 4-5 of them and only for braid which is not really necessarily. I just don’t like the idea of having  full 150 yds of braid. It just pain on my rear... when I need to add backing.
 

I’ve used one before mainly for trolling.  I found the one I had, don’t remember the brand, worked fine with mono over 15lbs but was inaccurate with braid due to the thinner diameter 

On 8/2/2020 at 1:35 PM, camman said:

I’ve used one before mainly for trolling.  I found the one I had, don’t remember the brand, worked fine with mono over 15lbs but was inaccurate with braid due to the thinner diameter 

Pretty much any of the mechanical line counter, including the ones built into line counter reels are set up for a specific diameter. From my experience usually the equivalent to either 14 or 15lb mono.