The Lateo 96ML is a buy. Its 135g is only 5g off the Labrax AGS 96ML, which costs JPY 20,300 more. Only anglers using PE 0.6 and those carrying the rod on a train are better served by other models.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
Tip diameter 1.5mm, lure rating 7-35g and 99% carbon are the same numbers as the Labrax AGS 96ML one step up. The big difference is the guide frame: carbon on the upper model, stainless on the Lateo. So I choose the Lateo and put the difference toward the reel and line.
Key points
- Weight per meter of length is 46.6g. The upper model is 44.8g and the lower model 50.0g
- The 96ML/M costs 6g and JPY 500 more, and the lure limit goes from 35g to 50g
- The lower limit of the line rating is PE 0.8. The three models compared start at 0.6, and this is so-so
The Lateo vs Labrax gap: JPY 20,300 for 5g
Among Daiwa's seabass rods, the Labrax AGS is 1 step above the Lateo. Setting the same 96ML side by side in the official tables, the weights are 135g and 130g. The list prices are JPY 20,300 apart.
The gap is 5g, or JPY 4,060 per 1g (20,300 ÷ 5). Expensive. That division put me on the Lateo's side.
How I judged it
Before weight, I first looked at tip diameter and lure rating. The Lateo 96ML's two numbers are exactly the same as the Labrax AGS 96ML. It is 10g lighter than the Seabass Flat X 96ML below it, and the carbon content rises from 87% to 99%.
What I struggled with was the Dialuna. Weight and price are nearly level. I still recommend the Lateo because there are four stiffnesses in the same 9.6ft, and the path to adding a next rod is visible.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Lateo 96ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 21,685 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 31,080. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaOfficial numbers for the Lateo 96ML
Length 2.90m, 2-piece (inverse parallel joint), transport length 149cm. Line rating is PE 0.8-1.5.
Swipe the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Tip / butt diameter | Lure weight | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96ML | 135g | 1.5 / 12.4mm | 7–35g | JPY 32,000 |
| 96ML/M | 141g | 1.6 / 12.8mm | 7–50g | JPY 32,500 |
| 96M | 147g | 2.2 / 12.8mm | 10–50g | JPY 32,500 |
| 96MH | 163g | 2.2 / 13.4mm | 12–60g | JPY 34,000 |
Weight per meter of length is 46.6g (135 ÷ 2.90). The Labrax AGS is 44.8g and the Seabass Flat X 50.0g. It is close to the upper model.
The lineup is 27 items: 16 spinning 2-piece, 5 baitcasting 2-piece and 6 4-piece, in lengths from 8ft to 11ft.
The slash in "96ML/M" means the tip and butt have different stiffness
The 96ML/M has the tip suppleness of an ML and the butt strength of an M. It shows in the numbers: the butt diameter is 0.4mm thicker than the 96ML and the lure limit rises by 15g.
What you add is only 6g and JPY 500. Cheap. If you want to cast lures up to about 40g with 1 rod, this is my pick.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Lateo 96ML/M
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 21,992 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 41,330. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanHow it differs from the Labrax, Flat X and Dialuna
Swipe the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Lure weight | Carbon | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daiwa Lateo 96ML | 135g | 7–35g | 99％ | JPY 32,000 |
| Daiwa Labrax AGS 96ML | 130g | 7–35g | 99％ | JPY 52,300 |
| Daiwa Morethan 96ML/M | 133g | 7–40g | 99％ | JPY 75,000 |
| Daiwa Seabass Flat X 96ML | 145g | 7–35g | 87％ | JPY 14,800 |
| Shimano Dialuna S96ML | 137g | Plugs 6-28g, jigs up to 35g | 99.7％ | JPY 33,000 |
Gap to the Labrax AGS: The difference is the guides: carbon on the AGS, stainless K guides on the Lateo. Both carry the HVF Nano Plus and X45 blank, so the foundation is the same. Reaching this weight from there earns the Lateo my warm praise.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Labrax AGS 96ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 40,271 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 69,600. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on NaturumSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanGap to the Seabass Flat X: It is JPY 17,200 cheaper, and JPY 1,720 per 1g (17,200 ÷ 10), less than half the gap to the upper model. So the step up to the Lateo is worth paying for. If price comes first on a first rod, the Flat X is enough.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Seabass Flat X 96ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 10,125 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 23,209. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumGap to the Dialuna S96ML: The Lateo is 2g lighter and JPY 1,000 cheaper. A close call. Honestly, either is fine. The Dialuna's plug rating starts lower at 6g, so if you use many light lures, it suits better.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Dialuna S96ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 21,205 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 29,233. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumThis part is so-so
The lower limit of the line rating is PE 0.8. The Labrax AGS, Flat X and Dialuna all start at 0.6. Narrow.
The transport length is long too, at 149cm. 4-piece versions exist for the 90ML-4 (73cm) and 96M-4 (78cm) and others, but not for the 96ML.
Who is it for?
The 96ML is the core rod for the middle to lower reaches of rivers and estuaries. It suits anglers who want to cast everything from minnows to vibration lures with one rod, and want near-top-model lightness in the JPY 30,000 range. A buy.
You could also choose the Dialuna for PE 0.6, the 96ML/M for lures over 40g, a 4-piece for the train, or the Labrax AGS when lightness comes first. If you're happy with your previous Lateo 96ML, there's no need to rush to replace it.
A ranking of six 96ML rods from JPY 10,000 to JPY 30,000 is in the seabass rod 96ML ranking. Shimano's rival is covered in detail in the Encounter S96ML review.
FAQ
What model year is the Lateo?
There is no model-year label. The product name is "Lateo," and every item name ends in "-K." It is the current model, slimmer and higher in modulus than its predecessor.
Is there a baitcasting model of the Lateo 96ML?
Yes. The 96MLB weighs 144g with a lure rating of 7-35g, and the list price is JPY 35,000 (excl. tax).
What is the difference between the Lateo 96ML and 96M?
The 96M is 12g heavier, the tip is 0.7mm thicker, and the lure rating starts at 10g. If you throw 7g lures, choose the 96ML.
