The Light Game X is a small conventional reel for boats that Daiwa released in Sep 2026. List price is JPY 12,900 (excl. tax). If you fish light game from a boat and do not need a counter, the 150H-DH is a buy.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The heart of the Light Game X is a small 32mm-diameter spool paired with a 7.3 gear ratio. Even with the smaller spool it takes up 73cm per crank, so the body stays light and retrieve speed does not drop. That is why I pick the 150H-DH as the first reel to take on a hairtail or horse mackerel boat.
Key points
- Released Sep 2026. All 4 models JPY 12,900 (excl. tax)
- The 150H-DH is aluminum, 195g, PE #2 for 200m, 6kg drag
- 40g lighter than the RX IC 150-DH and JPY 11,700 cheaper
When is the Light Game X out, and what does it cost?
It goes on sale in Sep 2026. List price is JPY 12,900 (excl. tax) for all 4 models. It comes in 2 sizes, 100 and 150, each with a right handle and a left handle (HL).
The price is the same. The insides are quite different, though. The 100 has a light carbon-based frame, the 150 a rigid aluminum frame.
Swipe the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Frame | PE capacity | Max drag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100H-DH | 175g | Carbon composite | #1, 200m | 5kg |
| 150H-DH | 195g | Aluminum | PE #2, 200m | 6kg |
How I judged it
Seen through 30 years of fishing and boat jigging, what first caught my eye is an aluminum frame at this price. When load comes on during the retrieve, the less the frame flexes, the better the gears stay meshed. That matters.
What I weighed was the 100H-DH. Being 20g lighter was appealing. Even so, the 150H-DH, which holds 200m of PE #2 and has 1kg more drag, covers everything from hairtail to light jigging with one reel.
I decided. My pick is the 150H-DH. If you can do without a counter, an aluminum frame and 6kg of drag at the low end of the JPY 10,000 range is a big selling point.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Light Game X 150H-DH (right handle)
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 9,930 (as of Oct 18). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumHow do the 100H and 150H differ, and which should I pick?
The target fish decides the answer. The 100H is set up for fishing where feel and light weight count: kawahagi, tai rubber, ika metal, maruika and fugu. The 150H is set up with more power for hairtail, horse mackerel, amadai, flounder and light jigging.
Retrieve speed is the same 73cm. Only the body and the line capacity differ. For delicate presentations, the 175g 100H; for slightly heavier rigs or waters with a hint of yellowtail, the 150H. The 100 and 150 spools are interchangeable, so if you own one you can put a spare spool to use.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Light Game X 100H-DH (right handle)
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 9,930 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 13,260. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumHow does a small spool take up 73cm?
The length taken up per handle turn is the spool circumference times the gear ratio. The Light Game X spool is 32mm in diameter, so one lap is 32 × 3.14 = about 100mm. Multiplied by the 7.3 gear ratio, that is about 734mm, which matches the 73cm in the table.
The Light Game RX IC has a 36mm spool, so one lap is about 113mm, and with a 6.4 gear ratio that gives about 723mm (72cm in the table). The 4mm of spool diameter given up is made back in the gear ratio. A narrow spool is light to start turning, and the body packs smaller too.
The spool is made of extra-super duralumin with a double anodized surface. For a tool used at sea, it is built with corrosion in mind.
How does it differ from the Light Game RX IC?
Swipe the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Gear ratio / per crank | Counter | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Game X 150H-DH | 195g | 7.3 / 73cm | No | JPY 12,900 |
| Light Game RX IC 150-DH | 235g | 6.4 / 72cm | Yes | JPY 24,600 |
With the RX IC you pay JPY 11,700 and 40g for a counter that shows depth as a number. If many of your boats call out the depth in fine detail, this one is easier.
The X 150H-DH has 1kg more drag. It is lighter, cheaper and stronger on drag. For anglers who do not need a counter, there is little reason not to pick the X.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Light Game RX IC 150-DH (right-hand)
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 18,298 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 22,080. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaHow many cranks to retrieve 100m?
100m is 10,000cm. 10,000 ÷ 73 = about 137 turns. The RX IC 150-DH is 10,000 ÷ 72 = about 139 turns, almost the same. There is no real gap.
The long 110mm double handle carries a large EVA knob, so your hand is less likely to slip when you retrieve from deep.
Things to watch
This part is so-so. There is no counter. You count depth by the color of the line or by markers. For fishing with fine depth instructions, a reel that shows numbers, like the RX IC, suits you better.
The bearings are 3 ball and 1 roller, fewer than the 5 on the RX IC.
Who is the Light Game X 150H-DH for?
- Anglers looking for a first conventional reel for hairtail, horse mackerel and amadai boats
- Anglers who want the same reel to cover light jigging too
- Anglers who want to probe wide with an underhand cast on calm days. The Mag Force brake lets you change how hard it acts to match the weight of your rig
For a small tai-rubber-only reel, see the 26 Kohga TW 80 review; if you are moving up to electric, compare the Seaborg 150J review too.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Light Game X 150H-DH (right handle)
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 9,930 (as of Oct 18). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumHow many lb a PE #1 on the 100H and a PE #2 on the 150H come to is tabled in how to choose PE line sizes.
FAQ
When is the Light Game X released?
Sep 2026. List price is JPY 12,900 (excl. tax) for all of the 100H-DH, 100HL-DH, 150H-DH and 150HL-DH.
How do the Light Game X 100 and 150 differ?
The 100 has a 175g carbon-based frame, holds PE #1 for 200m and has 5kg of drag. The 150 has a 195g aluminum frame, holds PE #2 for 200m and has 6kg of drag. The 7.3 gear ratio and 73cm per crank are the same.
Can I use the Light Game X for tai rubber?
Yes. The 100H is set up for tai rubber, and the 150H goes up to light jigging. If you want a counter, the tai-rubber-only 26 Kohga IC 150 suits you better.
