Comparing Fly Fishing Reels: The Lamson Remix Versus The Lamson Liquid
I have noticed that without fail we always get customers looking to buy last minute gifts right before birthdays, holidays, or anniversaries. Along with these customers come a ton of quickly asked questions in order to find the best fit for their significant other... or wallet. With Christmas around the corner I am often asked questions regarding fly fishing gear. Mostly between rods and reels.
The last instance I can remember is a woman looking to buy her husband a new reel. She had absolutely no idea what the difference between a $34 reel and a $500 reel was, other than one was "shinier." After I gave her a brief introduction of what the differences were, she pointed out two of our Lamson reels, the Lamson Liquid and Lamson Remix. These two reels in particular have caught a lot of attention lately.
With these reels commonly displayed side by side and almost identical in looks, I frequently get asked what gives the Remix the $40 advantage. It wasn't until I sat down and researched the two reels before I truly understood what each had to offer.
Similarities Between the Lamson Liquid and the Lamson Remix
The Liquid and Remix have the same cast spools. Both have the same CNC-machined drag system as Lamson's higher end reels. The drag is a fully sealed conical drag system, which means it will function efficiently in saltwater.
All drag components are made and assembled in the U.S. Each reel have sizes ranging from 1.5-4 which cover everything from small creek Brook Trout to Tarpon. Finally and most importantly, both reels are light weight and AFFORDABLE!
The Liquid's prices range from $99.99 to $129.99 while the Remix ranges from $159.99 to $199.99 depending on desired size.
Differences Between the Lamson Fly Fishing Reels
The Liquid's castings are imported, which is the entire reel excluding the drag system. The reason Lamson decided to create a fully cast reel is because there are certain characteristics that a machined reel can't copy.
Lamson's website states "Structurally you can do things with casting that you can’t machine, such as full radiused compound curves, near zero-radius inside corners, and for precise fit and finish you can go back and machine the cast part in critical areas amplifying the best aspects of the process." I personally own a Liquid 3.5, and I have taken many falls reel first onto wet banks or slippery rocks. So far, the reel has shown no sign of wear or weakness in any way imaginable, and I am very satisfied with my purchase.
The Remix is what is known as a "hybrid" reel in that the spool is cast while the case is machined. The case for the Remix is CNC-machined in the U.S. from 6061 bar-stock aluminum (a slightly higher grade aluminum than the Liquid).
This gives the Remix the advantage when it comes to durability, which translates to life expectancy.
Both of these reels are great options. You can stop into the shop and take a look or you can pick them up on our website. Either way you are getting set up for fish.