When unsure, take HG (high gear). The Stradic C3000 is the same in weight and price across the standard, HG and XG; only the length per turn differs: 75cm, 86cm and 94cm.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The gear ratio is a dial that changes only winding speed, with no change in weight or price. In exchange, the handle feels heavier to turn, and makers make up for it with a longer handle. So before choosing XG, I check whether HG is enough.
Key points
- The 3 C3000 models are the same at 225g and JPY 29,100. Only the length of 1 crank turn differs
- Turns to wind 100m: 133.3, 116.3, then 106.4
- Every 0.1 of gear ratio adds about 1.5cm per turn
Same weight, same price, and 19cm apart per turn
On Shimano's Stradic, the C3000, C3000HG and C3000XG all weigh 225g. The list price is the same too, JPY 29,100 (excl. tax). What differs is the length wound per crank turn: 75cm, 86cm and 94cm.
The gap is 19cm. You choose only winding speed, with no extra cost.
How I see it
I first looked at the length per turn of three reels in the same size that differ only in gear ratio. Next I searched Shimano's and Daiwa's tables for any number that gets worse when the gear ratio goes up.
What I struggled with was XG. The speed is attractive.
Even so, I recommend HG for a first reel. Shimano itself calls the C3000HG the model to start with "if you can't decide at this size," and by my calculation it sits in the middle between speed and handle feel.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Stradic C3000HG
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 20,798 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 28,980. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanThree things decide the gear ratio
- When unsure, take HG. Each turn is about 15% longer than the standard
- For slow, steady retrieves, the standard gear (no letters in the model number)
- XG is only for when you want to take in line fast. The handle feels heavier
Compare by the "length per turn" in the table rather than by the letter names. I explain why below.
Quick chart of gear ratio by fishing method
With 30 years of fishing and an instructor's eye for eging and jigging, the gear ratio comes down to whether you want to take up slack line fast. I lined up the direction of each maker's own descriptions.
| Method | Gear ratio guide | Reel size to look at | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eging | High gear (HG, XH) | Regalis LT2500S-XH (Daiwa presents it for eging and bass) | 26 Miravel |
| Sea bass | High gear (XH) | Regalis LT4000-CXH (6.2, 99cm) | Regalis LT2500D |
| Surf | Extra high (XG) | Stradic 4000XG (6.2, 101cm) | — |
| Shore jigging | H (5.7) | 26 BG SW 5000-H and 6000-H | 26 BG SW |
| Boat jigging | Power gear (P, 4.9) | 26 BG SW 6000-P and 8000-P | 26 BG SW |
| Bass | For spinning, HG. For baitcasting, choose by cm per turn | Stradic 2500SHG (Shimano presents it for bass where quick repeat casts matter) and SLX DC 70 / 70HG / 70XG (65, 75, 85cm) | Scorpion DC MD |
| Aji light game | Choose by cm per turn | Mirabel 1000 (5.0, 66cm) and C2000SHG (6.0, 79cm) | 26 Miravel |
How many turns HG and XG save
| Part number | Gear ratio | Length per turn | Turns to wind 100m |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3000 | 5.1 | 75cm | 133.3 turns |
| C3000HG | 5.8 | 86cm | 116.3 turns |
| C3000XG | 6.4 | 94cm | 106.4 turns |
From standard to HG you save 17.0 turns, and from HG to XG 9.9 turns. The first step helps more. Even going up to XG, the turns saved are smaller than at the HG step.
Length per turn = spool diameter × 3.14 × gear ratio
The gear ratio is how many times the rotor (the part that winds the line) turns per handle turn. So the length per turn is set almost entirely by one spool circumference × gear ratio.
The C3000 spool diameter is 47mm. 47 × 3.14 = about 14.8cm per circumference; × 5.1 is about 75cm, × 5.8 about 86cm and × 6.4 about 94cm. That matches the official table.
From this you can see that each 0.1 of gear ratio adds about 1.5cm (14.8cm × 0.1). At the same gear ratio, sizes with a wider spool give a longer turn. I covered this in how to choose a reel size.
The biggest diameter effect shows up in casting-only reels. The Daiwa 26 Tournament Surf 45, with a 74mm spool lip diameter, gives 113cm per turn at a gear ratio of 4.9.
Gear ratio differences are fishing-method differences
Within the same Stradic line, Shimano writes which fishing each gear ratio suits. Picking from the description of each size, it goes like this.
- C3000 (standard): slow fishing, and fishing that needs lifting power
- 2500SHG: bass where quick repeat casts matter, and lure control in current
- C3000XG: fishing that needs fast retrieves, and quick repeat casts
- 4000XG: surf. Take in line pushed around by waves or crosswind right away
Speed matters when you want to take up slack fast. If you want a slow, steady pull, a lower gear ratio suits better. I am happy with that dividing line.
XG has the same name but a different gear ratio
Within the Stradic alone, XG gear ratios are 6.3 for the C2500SXG, 6.4 for the C3000XG and 6.2 for the 4000XG. Length per turn is 87cm, 94cm and 101cm.
The letters are the same but the numbers are all over the place. Daiwa writes "H" and "XH," and calls the Regalis LT2000S-P (gear ratio 4.8) a "low gear model." When you put two makers side by side, drop the letters and compare cm to be sure.
Within the Regalis, the LT3000D-C has a gear ratio of 5.3 and 80cm per turn, while the LT3000-CXH has 6.2 and 93cm. The list price is the same JPY 14,100 (excl. tax), and the weight differs by 5g.
Turns to wind 100m are 125.0 and 107.5. That saves 17.5 turns.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Regalis LT3000-CXH
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 10,311 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 15,230. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhy baitcasting reels have gear ratios as high as 7 or 8
Because the spool is narrow. The Shimano SLX has a 32mm spool, so one circumference is 32 × 3.14 = about 10.0cm. That is only about two-thirds of the Stradic C3000's 14.8cm.
So to wind the same 70-something cm, the SLX HG needs 7.2. 7.2 × 10.0 = about 72cm, which matches the official 72cm. The spinning C3000's 5.1 (75cm) and the baitcasting 7.2 (72cm) are far apart as numbers, but nearly the same per turn.
Comparing gear ratio numbers between spinning and baitcasting is meaningless. Compare cm.
What gets worse with high gear
| SLX DC model number | Length per turn | Max drag | Handle length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 (6.3) | 65cm | 5.5kg | 42mm |
| 70HG (7.2) | 75cm | 5.5kg | 42mm |
| 70XG (8.2) | 85cm | 5kg | 45mm |
The pattern is the same on a baitcasting reel. Only the XG loses 0.5kg of max drag and gets a handle 3mm longer.
Spinning is the same. Shimano gives the Stradic C2000SHG a 45mm handle, 5mm longer than the C2000S's 40mm, and writes that it also "reduces the heavy winding feel of high gear."
High gear makes the handle feel heavier to turn. So a longer handle makes it up with leverage. This part is so-so. Speed isn't free.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano SLX DC 70HG
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 20,900 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 27,095. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanBy contrast, Daiwa's Tatula TW 100 has the same max drag of 5kg and weight of 195g in all three of 6.3, 7.1 and 8.1, so on paper there is no gap. Whether something gets worse, check the table model by model.
For choosing between baitcasting gear ratios 6.3 and 5.5, see the 26 Kohga TW 80 review; for handle length and winding weight, see the 26 Tierra IC 150H review.
Who is it for?
- Anglers bothered by slow retrieves who are thinking of going up a gear ratio
- Anglers who want to decide between HG and XG by comparing turns. It is 9.9 turns per 100m
If your current gear ratio gives you no trouble, you're fine as is.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Stradic C3000
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 22,407 (as of Oct 16). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaFor a ranking in the size 2500 range that includes models with different gear ratios, see the size 2500 and C3000 spinning reel ranking.
FAQ
Which is better, HG or XG?
When unsure, take HG. On the Stradic C3000, the gap between HG and XG is 8cm per turn, or 9.9 turns per 100m. Shimano itself says that if you can't decide at this size, start with the C3000HG.
Is there a low-gear model?
Yes. Daiwa introduces the Regalis LT2000S-P, with a gear ratio of 4.8, as a "low gear model."
Does high gear make winding heavier?
Yes. Shimano fits the C2000SHG with a 45mm handle to reduce the heavy winding feel of high gear.
Which gear ratio is best for eging?
High gear. Daiwa introduces the Regalis LT2500S-XH as suited to eging.
For shore jigging, H or P?
If you cast from shore and retrieve, H; if you jerk heavy jigs from a boat, P. On the 26 BG SW size 6000, P works out to about 15% less force on your hand.
Can I compare gear ratios between baitcasting and spinning reels?
No. The SLX HG (7.2) is 72cm, and the Stradic C3000 (5.1) is 75cm. Compare cm.
Gear in this article
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