KastKing KRLCSTRL2-72RBK Spinning Reel Review
Our verdict
The KastKing KRLCSTRL2-72RBK baitcasting reel sells for $41.39 and has racked up 5,400 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, with 800 or more units bought last month, the highest sales volume in this comparison. That dwarfs the 128 to 1,700 review range held by the three alternatives here, making it one of the stronger value picks despite landing just below the Shimano SC2500FG on price.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers who want a baitcasting reel built from a mix of aluminum, carbon, graphite, and stainless steel, at a compact 0.45-pound weight, and who are drawn to an adjustable braking system without paying premium reel prices.
Skip if
Skip this one if you specifically need a true spinning reel rather than a baitcasting setup, since the listed technique here is baitcasting, or if 0.45 pounds feels too light for the heavier line and lure weights you typically fish.
- Material Aluminum, Carbon, Graphite, Stainless Steel
- Weight 0.45 Pounds
- Technique Baitcasting
- Size compact
- Color 7.2:1-right
- Pieces 1
Our scorecard
-
Owner rating4.5/5
4.5 average across 5,400 owner ratings
-
Popularity4.8/5
5,400 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Picture loading up a baitcasting setup for a day chasing bass and wanting gear that will not fall apart after a season of hard use. The KastKing KRLCSTRL2-72RBK is built from a mix of aluminum, carbon, graphite and stainless steel, weighs a compact 0.45 pounds, and adds an adjustable braking system, all for $41.39.
The review data backs up that pitch. This reel has pulled in 5,400 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, by far the largest sample size of any reel in this lineup, and 800 or more units were bought last month, also the highest volume here. That scale of feedback makes the 4.5 average harder to dismiss as a fluke or a small batch of enthusiastic early buyers.
Against the field, the KastKing sits just below the Shimano SC2500FG's $44.99 on price while carrying a full tenth of a point less on rating, 4.5 stars against 4.6. It also beats the IX reel's 1,700 reviews and the Blakemore 86's 128 reviews by a wide margin on sheer volume, with 5,400 reviews of its own. For anyone weighing price against proven demand, this reel's numbers make a strong case, especially given it moved more units last month than any of the three alternatives compared here.
Pros
- A 4.5 star average across 5,400 reviews, the largest review sample of any reel in this comparison.
- 800 or more units bought last month, the highest monthly sales volume among all the alternatives listed.
- Built from a combination of aluminum, carbon, graphite and stainless steel rather than a single material.
- A compact 0.45-pound weight that keeps the reel light without dropping the price above $50.
- An adjustable braking system, a feature not listed on any of the lower-priced alternatives here.
- Priced close to the Shimano SC2500FG's $44.99, yet backed by nearly four times as many reviews.
Cons
- The 4.5 star average is a tenth of a point lower than the 4.6 stars posted by both the Shimano SC2500FG and the IX reel.
- Listed as a baitcasting reel by technique, which may not suit anglers set on a true spinning setup.
- At $41.39 it costs more than double the Blakemore 86's $15.00 and the IX reel's $19.99.
- The color field lists '7.2:1-right' rather than a standard color name, which can make the listing confusing to scan quickly.
Specifications
| Material | Aluminum, Carbon, Graphite, Stainless Steel |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.45 Pounds |
| Technique | Baitcasting |
| Size | compact |
| Color | 7.2:1-right |
| Pieces | 1 |
| Feature | Adjustable Braking System |
Performance notes
The mix of aluminum, carbon, graphite and stainless steel in the KRLCSTRL2-72RBK spreads the load across materials suited to different jobs, metal parts typically handle the gears and stress points, while carbon and graphite components cut weight where strength is less critical. That balance shows up in the compact 0.45-pound total weight, light enough for long days casting without the reel feeling flimsy. The listed technique is baitcasting, and the adjustable braking system is the feature most tied to that use, letting anglers dial in resistance to cut down on backlash during casts, a common headache with baitcasting setups. The '7.2:1-right' entry in the color field most likely reflects a 7.2:1 gear ratio with a right-hand retrieve, a fast ratio that pulls in line quickly per crank, useful for techniques like moving lures over deep water rather than slow, methodical presentations.
What buyers say
5,400 reviews averaging 4.5 stars is the biggest review pool in this entire comparison, and pairing that with 800 or more units bought last month suggests a reel that is both well established and still actively selling, not a legacy listing coasting on old reviews. The 4.5 average sits a hair below the 4.6 stars held by the Shimano SC2500FG and the IX reel, but those two products have far smaller review counts, 1,418 and 1,700 respectively. A slightly lower average spread across more than three times as many reviews can indicate a rating that has been tested against a much wider range of buyers and use cases, rather than a smaller group that happened to be especially satisfied.
More from KastKing
Similar fishing gear and tackle to consider
Featured in
Frequently asked questions
Is the KastKing KRLCSTRL2-72RBK a spinning reel or a baitcasting reel?
The facts list its technique as baitcasting, even though it appears in a spinning reel comparison set. If you specifically need a baitcasting reel, the mix of aluminum, carbon, graphite and stainless steel plus the adjustable braking system at $41.39 make it a reasonable pick backed by 5,400 reviews.
How does the KRLCSTRL2-72RBK compare to the Shimano SC2500FG?
The Shimano SC2500FG costs $44.99 with a 4.6 star rating across 1,418 reviews, just slightly more expensive and a touch higher-rated than the KastKing's $41.39 and 4.5 stars. The KastKing makes up ground with nearly four times the review volume and the highest bought-last-month figure in this comparison.
What does the adjustable braking system on this reel do?
It lets anglers control how much resistance the spool applies during a cast, which is the main way baitcasting reels like this one help prevent backlash, the tangled line that happens when the spool spins faster than the line is paying out. Being able to adjust it means dialing in the setting for different lure weights.