Which Bearing Is Better? 2025
BassTravis reply :
The kattobi or boca?
Big Bait Fishing reply :
You'll get a mixed bunch of opinions depending on what they have !! My opinion is that they are both good and that the difference is miniscule ....
poisonokie reply :
I have both, and like both. I think the kattobi starts faster, better for lighter baits, and is definitely quieter. Bocas are louder, but still an excellent upgrade that will greatly improve casting distance.
a1712 reply :
On 9/11/2015 at 3:30 AM, poisonokie said:I have both, and like both. I think the kattobi starts faster, better for lighter baits, and is definitely quieter. Bocas are louder, but still an excellent upgrade that will greatly improve casting distance.
Define Greatly Improve, as in exact distance over a flushed and reoiled factory bearing? Brian.
rippin-lips reply :
Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly.
Montanaro reply :
I'd only consider upgrading for my t3 1016 so I can toss lighter rigs.
Otherwise abec5s get the nod.
PitchinJigz reply :
Why are they free?On 9/11/2015 at 5:21 AM, rippin-lips said:Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly.
PitchinJigz reply :
Why are they free?On 9/11/2015 at 5:21 AM, rippin-lips said:Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
i use Boca ABEC 5's with the metal shields , they work great and i don't feel the need to go to ABEC 7 or ABEC 9 bearings
poisonokie reply :
Dude, if they start faster and spin easier, they'll cast further. Period. I easily got a good 20-30 extra feet casting 1/2 oz lipless with my cranking rod by switching to kattobis, and without having to shotgun them out there. Just dial your spool tension and brakes in and you'll see benefits.
deaknh03 reply :
On 9/11/2015 at 5:21 AM, rippin-lips said:Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly.
If you achieve the same distance with less effort, wouldnt more effort get you more distance?
rippin-lips reply :
A bearing that has a better startup allows you to use less brakes than you normally would. So an easier cast results in the same distance. If you try to cast harder with less brakes it usually doesn't turn out well for the user. My spool tension is on the loose side of things and my brakes are generally on 3-4 depending on what's tied on, and sometimes less depending on the reel. I have my mag brakes on 1 when using my Steez. Daiwa uses different braking profiles depending on the spool. SV spools need very little braking. I can spool my Alphas Sv down to the arbor knot with the right bait. I'm not saying increased distance can't happen, but it shouldn't be expected just from a bearing swap. Maybe Mike 'DVT' will chime in and make it a bit more clear for interested parties. Accuracy > distance anyhow for most.
PitchinJigz - Boca sends them to me.
Stapsy reply :
I haven't tried the Boca but I like the ZR better than the Kattobi unless you are going pure finesse. ZRs are cheaper, quieter, and will spin for days as long as you keep them clean and lightly oiled. I found the Kattobi to be more finicky with maintenance as well so I decided to stick with ZR.
Edit: sorry I assumed you meant the kattobi air, the ZR is still a Kattobi
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
On 9/11/2015 at 6:59 AM, poisonokie said:Dude, if they start faster and spin easier, they'll cast further. Period. I easily got a good 20-30 extra feet casting 1/2 oz lipless with my cranking rod by switching to kattobis, and without having to shotgun them out there. Just dial your spool tension and brakes in and you'll see benefits.
x2
I notice these gains on my Core50 very well cleaned stock bearings with one drop of REM oil vs boca7. Reaching areas of the lake not reachable prior to switch. They spin much more easily so a persons abilities will show more or less the advantages gained. If abec5 work the same not sure haven't used them but the 7's made a difference no doubt.
Hogsticker reply :
Both are better than most stock bearings so it's an upgrade imo. A flushed stock bearing is going to work better than out of the box of course. As alreaalready mentioned, better start up and easier casts is what to expect from after market bearings. I wouldn't expect greatly improved casting distance, but it can be noticeable if paying attention. The majority of my gear is between 3/16 and 5/8. I've found I like the Air and ZR bearings best simply because they are a little less noisy. None the less I also use 7's and find them both to be money well spent.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
On 9/11/2015 at 5:21 AM, rippin-lips said:Abec 5 is plenty good for a fishing reel. Anything over that is purely an enthusiast thing. I have boca Abec 7's in all my reels, but they're free so why not. They also aren't leaps and bounds better then a good clean and lightly lubed stock bearing. An increase in distance is usually not something to expect. It's also minimal at best if it happens. Easier startup of the spool is a real benefit. Which makes pitching easier and also achieving the same distance with less effort. I saw the most benefit on my finesse reel since it has a very lightweight shallow spool. A professional deep cleaning of your reel would cost you the same and have about the same results. It's money better spent honestly.
True. I'm a Boca dealer and got flamed on another venue for calling out another shop force feeding the bearing sale. They accused me of not being a very good dealer. Well my loyalty is first and foremost to my customers not not to any one vendor. Boca is a a good company with good products I readily recommend WHERE APPROPRIATE. ABEC5 hybrids are an upgrade over most stockers but modestly over properly treated ones.
hummbug reply :
I am surprised, the point of durability never came up. Stainless steel is a very mellow steel and undergoes a lot of wear. I read that the life-span of a hybrid-ceramic is about 10 times the life of a SS bearing. I greatly enjoy your forum and normally I am a more avid reader than writer
poisonokie reply :
Well, since bocas and kattobis are both ceramic, i didn't feel the need to point it out, but you're
absolutely right.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
There are different grades of SS and the "ceramics" are technically hybrids: ceramic balls in stainless races. The ceramic balls are rounder and harder hence the faster speeds and longer life. Durability typically takes a back seat when looking at high performance parts.
hummbug reply :
Sorrym my mistake. Please consider that down here is a different world and some subjects or proprietry names or gadgets we have never heard about. Sorry, won´t happen again. Good fishing
poisonokie reply :
On 9/12/2015 at 5:21 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:There are different grades of SS and the "ceramics" are technically hybrids: ceramic balls in stainless races. The ceramic balls are rounder and harder hence the faster speeds and longer life. Durability typically takes a back seat when looking at high performance parts.
That's true. Can't wait to try out a 100% Al oxide or SiC bearing! Those would absolutely spin and last forever.
poisonokie reply :
On 9/12/2015 at 5:27 AM, hummbug said:Sorrym my mistake. Please consider that down here is a different world and some subjects or proprietry names or gadgets we have never heard about. Sorry, won´t happen again. Good fishing
I wasn't knocking you or anything. I just figured that bocas and hedgehog bearings being superior was the one thing that everyone could agree on. Your comment just made the argument all the more concrete. Tight lines to you, sir.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
A single 100% ceramic bearing costs more than some reels. Plus a bait of a given weight, mass and profile will only fly so far. There's nothing to be gained on the water with anything more than is available now.
rippin-lips reply :
On 9/12/2015 at 10:04 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:A single 100% ceramic bearing costs more than some reels. Plus a bait of a given weight, mass and profile will only fly so far. There's nothing to be gained on the water with anything more than is available now.
Combine some Abec 7's with Daiwas T wing and I bet you'd gain 60ft on a cast.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
On 9/12/2015 at 10:08 AM, rippin-lips said:Combine some Abec 7's with Daiwas T wing and I bet you'd gain 60ft on a cast.
63' if rod is spiral wrapped as well
rippin-lips reply :
On 9/12/2015 at 11:31 AM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:63' if rod is spiral wrapped as well
Now you just blew my mind.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
On 9/12/2015 at 10:04 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:A single 100% ceramic bearing costs more than some reels. Plus a bait of a given weight, mass and profile will only fly so far. There's nothing to be gained on the water with anything more than is available now.
add an ABEC9 rated bearing to the equation and it becomes ridiculous , some go for $190 each bearing !!! .......
poisonokie reply :
On 9/12/2015 at 10:04 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:A single 100% ceramic bearing costs more than some reels. Plus a bait of a given weight, mass and profile will only fly so far. There's nothing to be gained on the water with anything more than is available now.
Yeah, but the less friction, the better. If you were to put a small cup on the end of the perfect to for a certain bait (like a lacrosse stick), and then put that bait in there without any line, or reel for that matter, and casted it, it would fly much further than what it ever would tied to a reel. That's why super slick ceramic guides, ultra precise ceramic bearings lubed as lightly as possible, and light, slick line are so important when it comes to casting distance. The more you reduce friction, the further it flies. Obviously the aerodynamic properties of the bait itself plays a role, so will a spinnerbait with 5 blades fly much further with upgraded bearings? Probably not substantially. Will a lipless crank? Absolutely. We all agree that the ease of casting improves, so with the appropriate bait, so will distance. It's science. I can totally science a plug across the lake now
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