Looks like a Daiwa "Expride".  Lots of unique powers and tapers.  ~$300.  Supposedly a classic release

Link?

 

 

So it really is an Expride copy 🤣

Stee-pride?

Expeez?

 

 

Come on Daiwa.

If it's true they're a working man's steez

29 minutes ago, webertime said:

If it's true they're a working man's steez

Yeah I don’t get the hate. Just because it has a monocoque handle doesn’t mean it’s an expride. There are numerous JDM brands that use them and Jackal (or Shimano/jackal) werent the first. It’s cheaper than cork and makes the rod look modern. 

 

Also from what I’m seeing the blank is the same as the Steez, just without AGS guides. If that’s the case I’m buying at minimum the power pitch, the frog rod, and the punching stick. I own 3 Steez rods but for the same blanks and action I’m grabbing more. 

3 hours ago, webertime said:

If it's true they're a working man's steez

White collar working man. 

This is really bad, because I have enough rods, and I already like them a lot. But... the best reason for me to stay away from a steez was the AGS guides. I just break them too often. Problem solved!

 

And the daiwa "R" action is really really good. It's got plenty of give in the first third, stiffens up a lot in the middle but not too much, and solid in the bottom third. I'd prefer to not have to fish bottom contact with it, but it'd work fine.

 

The latest round of zillions gave daiwa a bunch of momentum for the name, looks like they are taking advantage of it. 

 

 

 

15 hours ago, TNBankFishing said:

Yeah I don’t get the hate. Just because it has a monocoque handle doesn’t mean it’s an expride. There are numerous JDM brands that use them and Jackal (or Shimano/jackal) werent the first. It’s cheaper than cork and makes the rod look modern. 

 

Also from what I’m seeing the blank is the same as the Steez, just without AGS guides. If that’s the case I’m buying at minimum the power pitch, the frog rod, and the punching stick. I own 3 Steez rods but for the same blanks and action I’m grabbing more. 

Good points.  They are obviously targeting the expride, and the Zillion may offer a better blank 

On 2/20/2024 at 9:14 AM, TNBankFishing said:

Also from what I’m seeing the blank is the same as the Steez, just without AGS guides. If that’s the case I’m buying at minimum the power pitch, the frog rod, and the punching stick. I own 3 Steez rods but for the same blanks and action I’m grabbing more.

Steez blank and no AGS guides is the dream. I would Immediately pick up a bottom contact rod. 

6 minutes ago, Gera said:

Steez blank and no AGS guides is the dream. I would Immediately pick up a bottom contact rod. 

Same.   

What guides again?

23 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

What guides again?

Fuji K, but no mention of frame or ring material.  Titanium sic would be a home run.

Nice. I’ll definitely get one when they are released. 

5 hours ago, KP Duty said:

Fuji K, but no mention of frame or ring material.  Titanium sic would be a home run.

Cast/melt forged ti is more brittle than steal.  Light yes but not terribly durable 

On 2/20/2024 at 8:41 AM, webertime said:

If it's true they're a working man's steez

They are doing the same thing with the reels. 99% of the top model's feature for a lot less. good for us!

There's no way they'd put titanium on there at that price point. Steez blanks and titanium guides would put too much hurt on everyone else's $400-$500 rod, and might dent their "AGS is best" position. It's hard to have true (non subjective) differences in rods like a unique guide.

 

 

 

On 2/21/2024 at 11:51 AM, KP Duty said:

Fuji K, but no mention of frame or ring material.  Titanium sic would be a home run.

Would be nice, but I really doubt you're going to see Ti frames, but Sic inserts are definitely possible.

On 2/21/2024 at 5:16 PM, webertime said:

Cast/melt forged ti is more brittle than steal.  Light yes but not terribly durable 

I've got a bunch of SC Avid Inshores that have beaten up on jetty's and boats on rough seas for years and they hold up great.  If you're really putting time in, they're worth the extra 100$ for the corrosion resistance. On those heavier 7'6 and longer rods with double foots, they cut a substantial amount of weight, about an ounce.  Theyre beautiful too, which helps lol.

On 2/20/2024 at 9:14 AM, TNBankFishing said:

Yeah I don’t get the hate. Just because it has a monocoque handle doesn’t mean it’s an expride. There are numerous JDM brands that use them and Jackal (or Shimano/jackal) werent the first. It’s cheaper than cork and makes the rod look modern. 

 

Also from what I’m seeing the blank is the same as the Steez, just without AGS guides. If that’s the case I’m buying at minimum the power pitch, the frog rod, and the punching stick. I own 3 Steez rods but for the same blanks and action I’m grabbing more. 

I don't get it either.  No one said Zodias ripped off M1 when the went to MQ.  Had they done it the year after mq expride came out, I could understand the feeling a little more, but MQ has been around some time and it's not exclusive to any 1 brand 

Now that they’ve released the specs and models, what are the thoughts? Same blank as Tatula Elite, minus AGS guide, added carbon handle for $30 more. Does that seem to make sense to anyone?

I see the same generic graphite and resin terms that daiwa uses (svf, nano, etc) but zillion has flex-lite blank like steez.  Tatula doesn't have the 75mhh model, steez does.  I don't think it's conclusive enough to say it's the same either way.

 

Update: mine will be here next week

5 hours ago, MNAngler10000 said:

Now that they’ve released the specs and models, what are the thoughts? Same blank as Tatula Elite, minus AGS guide, added carbon handle for $30 more. Does that seem to make sense to anyone?

$130 more than the non AGS Tatula elite rods which also use the Fuji alconite guides like the Zillion.