I chose by three things, length, weight and price, with the eye of a fishing instructor who has fished for 30 years and also does eging. No. 1 is the Major Craft Eggzaust 3G EZ3-842ML. At 8ft 4in and 72g, it is 28–33g lighter than the other five, with a list price of JPY 21,500 (excl. tax). If you choose in the low JPY 10,000s, I take the 104g, JPY 11,600 NEW Solpara SPE-862ML.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
With eging rods, changing the length hardly changes the weight. Within the same series, stretching from 8.3ft to 8.6ft adds only 0–3g; what moves the weight a lot is the series' material and build. So I decide length by the spot and weight by the series.
Key points
- Stretching from 8.3ft to 8.6ft adds 0–3g
- The EZ3-842ML is 72g, 28.3g per metre
- Saving 1g from the Solpara costs JPY 309–11,050
8.3ft or 8.6ft: a weight gap of 0–3g
Shimano's Sephia BB is 105g in both the S83ML and S86ML. Three inches longer, yet the same weight in the table. A surprise.
Daiwa's Emeraldas X is 100g and 103g, and the Emeraldas MX is 98g and 100g. Even if a beginner hesitates over length, you lose almost nothing in weight.
How I chose
I looked at weight first. If length does not change weight, I thought only the differences between series are worth comparing. Next I calculated one by one how much you add to save 1g from the cheapest one, the Solpara.
I hesitated between No. 2 and No. 3. The gap is 1g for JPY 7,000. Pay it or not? I chose not to. I ranked these from the current models you can buy on Rakuten, looking at the official numbers.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Major Craft Eggzaust 3G EZ3-842ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 18,920 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 30,490. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanDecide eging rod length by the spot
Since weight makes no difference, decide length by where you use it. I decide in three ways.
- If unsure, 8.6ft. A length with a good balance of distance and control
- If you walk around inside fishing ports, around 8.3ft. Being shorter, the jerk gets sharper
- Power is ML. All six list up to size 3.5 egi in the table
Quick table of the six eging rods
Swipe the table sideways →
| Rank / model | Length | Weight | Supported egi | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Major Craft Eggzaust 3G EZ3-842ML | 8'4" | 72g | Sizes 1.5–3.5 | JPY 21,500 |
| No. 2 Major Craft NEW Solpara SPE-862ML | 8'6" | 104g | Sizes 1.5–3.5 | JPY 11,600 |
| No. 3 Daiwa Emeraldas X 86ML・J | 8'6" | 103g | Sizes 1.8–3.5 | JPY 18,600 |
| No. 4 Daiwa Emeraldas MX 86ML・V | 8'6" | 100g | Sizes 1.8–3.5 | JPY 31,600 |
| No. 5 Shimano Sephia BB S86ML | 8'6" | 105g | Sizes 1.8–3.8 | JPY 20,500 |
| No. 6 Shimano Sephia SS S86ML | 8'6" | 102g | Sizes 1.8–3.8 | JPY 33,700 |
The price of saving 1g, and weight per metre
| Model | Per meter | Gap from the Solpara | Price of saving 1g |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZ3-842ML | 28.3g | +JPY 9,900 for −32g | JPY 309 |
| Solpara | 40.1g | ― | ― |
| Emeraldas X | 39.8g | +JPY 7,000, −1g | JPY 7,000 |
| Emeraldas MX | 38.6g | +JPY 20,000 for −4g | JPY 5,000 |
| Sephia BB | 40.5g | +JPY 8,900 for +1g | Heavier |
| Sephia SS | 39.4g | +JPY 22,100 for −2g | JPY 11,050 |
Only the EZ3 is in a different league. The other five fall within 38.6–40.5g per metre, lined up within a 2g gap.
Why this order
| Rank | Model | Reason for this rank |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | EZ3-842ML | 72g is 28–33g lighter than the others, and the price of saving 1g is JPY 309, No. 1 among the 6 rods. |
| No. 2 | Solpara | JPY 11,600 is the cheapest, and 104g is only 1g from No. 3. A narrow gap. |
| No. 3 | Emeraldas X | The carbon content of 99% and the build are higher, but saving 1g from No. 2 costs JPY 7,000. |
| No. 4 | Emeraldas MX | A new generation of Jul 2026 at 100g, but it costs JPY 13,000 more than No. 3 for only 3g lighter. |
| No. 5 | Sephia BB | Egi up to size 3.8 are listed, but 105g is the heaviest of the 6 rods, and JPY 1,900 more than No. 3. |
| No. 6 | Sephia SS | A rich build at 102g, but 2g heavier than No. 4 and JPY 2,100 more. |
No. 1 Major Craft Eggzaust 3G EZ3-842ML | 72g
72g. Light. The blank combines Toray T1100G with Major Craft's own R360 structure, and the grip is also made light. It claims the "lightest in its class," and the numbers bear that out.
The point to watch is the down-lock grip that tightens the reel from below. It suits anglers who put lightness first and want to use it from their first rod for a long time.
No. 2 Major Craft NEW Solpara SPE-862ML | JPY 11,600
104g in the low JPY 10,000s. The guides are Fuji's K-frame guides that cut line tangles, and the warranty is 1 year, extended to 3 years with member registration. Cheap. And still a decent rod.
The so-so part is that it is 32g heavier than No. 1. For people who want to start cheap and see whether they stick with it.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Major Craft NEW Solpara SPE-862ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 8,030 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 20,416. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaNo. 3 Daiwa Emeraldas X 86ML・J | cheap for the build
99% carbon content for JPY 18,600. It even has Braiding X, which tightens the outside of the butt with carbon tape, and K guides that resist line tangles. I think they packed a lot in for this price.
The point to watch is the lower PE limit, from #0.5. If you spool #0.4, it falls outside. It suits people who want a first rod to match a Daiwa reel.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Emeraldas X 86ML・J
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 14,300 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 21,812. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaNo. 4 Daiwa Emeraldas MX 86ML・V | new generation of July 2026
A just-released new generation. The HVF Nano Plus and X45 blank gets the first carbon monocoque rear grip on a Daiwa eging rod. It carries vibration to the hand, and I am plainly glad of it.
But by weight it is only 3g lighter than the Emeraldas X. The price gap is large, and that part is so-so. It suits people who want to pay for the build at the hand.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Emeraldas MX 86ML・V
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 23,263 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 31,450. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 5 Shimano Sephia BB S86ML | up to size 3.8
Supported egi go up to size 3.8, above Daiwa's size 3.5. The blank has Hi-Power X, which resists twisting, and the series has 16 models in all.
The point to watch is 105g, the heaviest number of the six. It is the choice for people who match it with a Shimano reel and want to cast heavier egi with one rod.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Sephia BB S86ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 15,785 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 22,188. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 6 Shimano Sephia SS S86ML | the richest build
A blank that layers Spiral X and Hi-Power X, with 99.6% carbon content. It raises resistance to twisting and crushing while keeping the weight low.
But 102g is 2g heavier than the Emeraldas MX, and the price is the highest of the six. Lined up by numbers, it ends up at this spot. For people who want the higher build in a Shimano.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Sephia SS S86ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 23,588 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 39,936. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhy a slim eging rod resists twisting
The rod twists with every jerk. Even if only slightly. Hi-Power X is a structure that tightens carbon tape in an X shape to hold down this twist and cut power loss and wobble.
Daiwa's Braiding X follows the same idea, tightening the outermost layer of the butt in an X shape to get strength while staying slim. Three of the six rods used the same trick under different names.
All six rods have PE #0.8 within their range. For the line to spool, I lined up strength and price in the PE line #0.8 ranking.
Which rod fits you? How I split them
- Want to keep jerking all day with lightness: the No. 1 EZ3. 72g is in a class of its own
- Want to start cheap: the No. 2 Solpara
- Want to pay for the build at the hand and sensitivity: the Emeraldas MX released in July 2026. The carbon monocoque grip is the first on a Daiwa eging rod, a rod that feels like a new generation
If you use heavy egi a lot for big spring squid, you can also choose an M. I compared egi weights in the size 3.5 egi ranking.
To go for aori squid with yaen, read the 26 Aorimatic BR LT review for the reel.
If you have no complaint about your current rod's weight, there is no need to rush to replace it. If you cast egi heavier than size 4 in spring, an M or MH; and if a transport length in the 130cm range will not fit in your car or train, you can choose a rod that packs shorter.
FAQ
Is 8.3ft or 8.6ft better for a beginner?
8.6ft. Comparing within the same series, the weight gap is 0–3g and the price gap JPY 0–500, so you lose almost nothing in length.
Can an ML rod cast a size 3.5 egi?
Yes. All six have size 3.5 within the supported egi range, and the two Shimano rods list up to size 3.8.
What is the difference between ML and M?
Comparing within the Emeraldas X, the 86M・J is 106g with a supported egi range of sizes 2.5–4.0, 3g heavier than the 86ML・J and priced JPY 300 higher.
