Finally, an in-depth look at this baitcaster.  

Ardent XS 1000

Micro, it sounds like they had the same impression as we did a couple of weeks ago.

I don't see Ardent lasting long.

That isn't a review, that's a sales pitch.

That isn't a review, that's a sales pitch.

Well, coming in with a total score of 5.91 doesn't make it much of a pitch!

Pass...

:

You can polish a turd all you want and you 'll end up with a shiny turd.

You can polish a turd all you want and you 'll end up with a shiny turd.

LOL, now thats funny. Wow 5.91, i have never seen such a low score on Tackletour, they're usually pretty generous with the scores.

The pinwheel looking thing on the brake-side of the frame that is over the actual brake looked like it was made of plastic and could come off.  But if you look closely, it's part of the frame.  How completely bizarre.  Why the heck would they make it so you have to take the spool out from the handle side?  

The article makes a good point - they are going to have to do MUCH better to sell that reel at it's price.  But there is so much that needs to be done to it that I don't see how they can fix it.  It looks like a complete redesign is in order.  

TT changed their rating system everything is tougher now, but 5.91 is plain bad

The pinwheel looking thing on the brake-side of the frame that is over the actual brake looked like it was made of plastic and could come off. But if you look closely, it's part of the frame. How completely bizarre. Why the heck would they make it so you have to take the spool out from the handle side?

The article makes a good point - they are going to have to do MUCH better to sell that reel at it's price. But there is so much that needs to be done to it that I don't see how they can fix it. It looks like a complete redesign is in order.

The method of removing the spool from the handle side allows the spool support bearings to be mounted in the frame of the reel rather than in a movable side plate. The other spool support bearing(handle side) is mounted in the side plate that screws into the frame. This design seems as though it would eliminate much of the play in the support bearings. I'm not a mechanical engineer but this design looks good to me. How often do you really need to remove the spool?..................Al

Al that design is great to remove sideplay in the spool. However the practicality of the design is what's flawed. The frame makes it near impossible to adjust the brake settings without a special tool or removing the entire spool. They have tried to solve many of the problems anglers have with reels already. While doing so they seem to have forgot/overlooked many things anglers love about reels.

Last yr. one of our local tackle dealers had the previous version. We took it out in the parking lot and played with it. I was fairly impressed. If the price was about 100 bucks less, I might have one now. However, there was a calais 100 on ebay for $40 more than the ardent. That was a no brainer. Bottom line....at that price range, I went with a tried and true performer. Meantime, I keep a close watch on what ardent is doing and hope they continue to make positive improvements.

Al that design is great to remove sideplay in the spool. However the practicality of the design is what's flawed. The frame makes it near impossible to adjust the brake settings without a special tool or removing the entire spool. They have tried to solve many of the problems anglers have with reels already. While doing so they seem to have forgot/overlooked many things anglers love about reels.

I agree, adjustments are not made easily. I rarely, if ever, make that adjustment while on the water so that part of the design has little or no impact on me........................Al

The method of removing the spool from the handle side allows the spool support bearings to be mounted in the frame of the reel rather than in a movable side plate.

You mean they were trying to do this:

But instead they did this:

I dunno, but for 250 bones they could have done a much better job,  20 bones more and you get a Chronarch.

I dunno, but for 250 bones they could have done a much better job,  20 bones more and you get a Chronarch.

For the same price you get a Zillion with none of this to worry about.

I dunno, but for 250 bones they could have done a much better job, 20 bones more and you get a Chronarch.

For the same price you get a Zillion with none of this to worry about.

Better yet, a Revo STX and a few Lucky Crafts to go with it.   ;)

I dunno, but for 250 bones they could have done a much better job, 20 bones more and you get a Chronarch.

For the same price you get a Zillion with none of this to worry about.

Yup.

I dunno, but for 250 bones they could have done a much better job, 20 bones more and you get a Chronarch.

For the same price you get a Zillion with none of this to worry about.

But then you would have nothing but a Daiwa...

8-)

I think Ardent is depending on that Made in the USA label a bit too much  , tried one once and it didn't really wow me on first impressions like a high end reel should.

Give me my Pacific Basin reel any day over the Ardent and give Ardent a few more years of development if they last that long  

I dunno, but for 250 bones they could have done a much better job,  20 bones more and you get a Chronarch.

For the same price you get a Zillion with none of this to worry about.

But then you would have nothing but a Daiwa...

8-)

Hey now!  Some of us like tight tolerances