Penn Battle 3<\/a>\u00a0 now benefits from the body, rotor, and bail design of the Slammer 3.<\/p>\nWait, then is the Battle 3 just a watered-down Slammer 3? That was definitely what came into mind upon first look. But a closer inspection proved otherwise.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s dive deeper, shall we?<\/p>\n
First Impressions<\/h2>\n
The new reel keeps to its charm by sticking with its original color scheme. Black and gold with gunmetal accents. A classic look that Penn aficionados will appreciate.<\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t handled a Penn spinning reel before, but are used to Shimano and Daiwa reels, your first handle turn will be very different. You\u2019ll feel more weight or resistance when spinning the handle compared to your standard Shimano or Daiwa offerings.<\/p>\n
A more detailed explanation will follow later on, but the thick Penn reel grease, fully metal rotor plus heavy-duty bail wire are the main reasons why there is more resistance when spinning the handle.<\/p>\n
A heavier rotor with a super thick bail wire results in more rotation resistance, resulting in a heavier spinning experience.<\/p>\n
The new half-sphere rubber power knobs are a great update and help improve the overall spinning ergonomics of the reel. These power knobs are available up to size 8000. The 10000 size Battle gets the standard rubber egg handle knob.<\/p>\n
The gears are CNC machined aluminum from the smallest to size 5000. While the 6000 sizes up to the biggest 10000 size Battle 3 gets machined brass gears.<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t tell the difference in smoothness without having any load on the other end but based on experience, the softer brass gears allow a bit more give, providing a softer ride. Possibly why the big guns had brass gears instead of machined aluminum.<\/p>\n
Durability will also be tested in the long run. Brass, as mentioned above has some give, allowing it to take on more stress and load from high torque sessions. We can only wait and see.<\/p>\n
Weight-wise, the big boys can fracture your toes if dropped. Full metal construction gives you great durability, stiffness, and toughness, but it won\u2019t be winning any swimsuit competitions anytime soon.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s it for our first impressions, so let\u2019s take a closer look at the features of the reel so we can further explore its updates and if it is a worthy successor to the older Battle 2.<\/p>\n
The Body<\/h2>\n