Is the XT worth the extra few bucks? because the XT is not in the retrieve i want and the rod size is not either... but in the SLX my retrieve is available and i can just get a 6’10 or 7’5 MH rod... does anyone know if the discount is year around or if i don’t get something soon i might miss out

Ive bought the slx xt combo from them at fathers day. I'm so glad I went with the XT. I cam easily change braking without popping the side cover off. Plus it comes with one more bearing which is always a plus. I dont know if they run the special price year round though. Might call them. 

thank you for the reply, i guess i’ll wait until it comes back in stock 

Definitely wort the extra $. I bought the SLX XT combo last winter. The rod I got is the 7' 2" M/XF which I use for top waters and jerkbaiits. I have #8 Yo-Zuri Hybrid on the reel. 

 

 

It is nice to have but not necessity. The SLX  is a good caster by itself just like any old Shimano VBS “set it and forget it” you don’t need a lot of adjustment. I see benefit of fine tune adjustment for those that change type of lure on same setup and in extreme. I have SLX but I bought this before the SLX XT come out. I use the reel mostly heavy type lure, 3/8 jig, 1/4-3/8oz Texas rig, weightless Senko/Fatika, chatterbait and 3/8-1oz top water lures. I don’t miss that fine tune adjustment at all. Worth is or not is up to your budget, 20-30 bucks is not really a big deal for some. Waiting to come back in stock might be a long while. But one thing to remember, The XT might be able to sell faster than regular if need upgrade.

 

That's why I went with the XT. Its my froggin reel and I throw everything from a 3/8 frog to big jigs in it. I can make the small adjustments without having to open it and mess with the pins.

I honestly don't think it matters much either way. I personally like the looks of the xt better.  I would buy another simply for that reason, other than that i don't think its 30 dollars better in performance.  Just gonna boil down to personal preference.  Either are fantastic reels at their price points 

I like the old VBS brakes, to me the regular SLX is a great reel for the money and the XT is not worth $30 extra.  I am thinking of getting another one and adding a MGL spool for finesse.

The SLX works great for me, set the breaks and forget about it.  Takes about 2 seconds.

Bought the basic SLX XG, swapped the spool bearings for Hedgehog half open SS ZR high speed bearings, swapped the drive shaft bushing for a bearing and swapped the drags with Curado 70 XG Carbon Tex drags and it is one sweet little very fast, very smooth reel.