12 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Is popping on a reel cover "extreme" care? I walk around lakes with 5-8 rods slung over my shoulder like a stack of 2X4s. None of my reels have paint damage, with some being around 7 years old. Alot of those are Daiwas. They still look new. I suppose one could say a fishing reel is a tool, but it's actually a machine with a paint job, not a chrome plated wrench. I don't give a shyte if a wrench slips out of my hand onto the concrete, but I'd puke if I dropped a reel onto the same though. No company's paint can deal with much abuse. I sold a bunch of reels to one particular guy. A Tranx 300, a Curado 300, and a few Tats. Every one of those was mint when I sold them, but now they look like they rolled down a mountain. He just chucks them into his truck bed without a bed liner or has them clattering against each other in the bottom of his yak. Disgracefully chewed up, all because he's too lazy to put on a 4$ reel cover in about 5 seconds. Whatever.

 

Well, I tried the reel cover thing, but being honest I didn't care for it.. I buy quality gear so it last, I (wrongly) assume that a reel that price should be able to handle it.. At the same time that's the reason I don't buy real high end gear.. I know i wont really take great care of it. 

Since I know myself I do not expect them to be in mint condition. Also, I own Daiwas and Shimanos about 50-50 so not a fanboy or hater of them. 

My point is, pain chips and peels on my Dawia worst than it does on my Shimanos while both being neglected the same way. At the same time Daiwa has better brakes so who cares about the pain job. 

People have different ideas what counts as good tackle handling.  A cover keeps dust off the reel when stored on a rod rack, and keeps the reel from getting marked when secured in a p/u bed (or on a kayak deck bungee on a trailer).  For the day launch, the LP baitcasters on each side are not covered (they were for the drive down), but the round  reel between them is covered, which protects all 3 reels from rubbing each other.  Rod lockers on bass boats must be terror for hull slap. 

My Zillion SV TW is 2 years and 3 months old in this photo.  

this was the fall before - but not a mark anywhere on the reel here or since.  

my kayak cockpit always gets filled with soft stuff before I handle a big fish and set the rod down (drift sock comes in well before the fish gets to the boat).  

Wouldn't hesitate to buy another '21 Zillion, but since I didn't need a spool and handle, bought the '22 SLPW-Zillion w/ its few upgrades, instead.  

 

I baby my reels so much that i'd prefer losing a PB than scratching my custom td ito🤭