The Encounter S96ML is a buy. It matches the Dialuna S96ML above it in tip diameter, lure weight and PE size, and the weight differs by just 1g. Only anglers who want to pay for the grip build should look higher.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
From the Moonshot below it, JPY 5,700 buys 13g less, while going up to the Dialuna costs JPY 7,500 for only 1g. This is the last step where money spent on weight comes straight back. So I stop at the Encounter and put the savings toward a reel and line.
Key points
- Nine of the 14 spec-table items match the Dialuna S96ML above
- Carbon content is 99.8%, the highest of the three series
- All 13 models are 2-piece. The S96ML's transport length is long at 148.5cm
Encounter and Dialuna match on nine of 14 table items
I put the Encounter S96ML next to the Dialuna S96ML, one step up, in Shimano's official table. It surprised me. Nine of the 14 items are the same numbers.
Tip diameter, castable lure weight and PE size are the same. Only five differ. Few.
How I judged it
What I looked at first was weight. The Encounter is 138g and the Dialuna 137g. The gap is 1g, yet the list prices are JPY 7,500 apart. Expensive. The Moonshot S96ML below is 13g heavier and JPY 5,700 cheaper.
What I struggled with was Daiwa's Lateo 96ML. It is 3g lighter. I still recommend the Encounter because the price of 1g less is JPY 438 from below and JPY 7,500 going up, and past this point it jumps about 17x.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Encounter S96ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 15,400 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 36,824. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaOfficial numbers for the Encounter S96ML
Length 2.90m, 2-piece (inverse parallel joint), tip diameter 1.7mm. The grip is a split type, and carbon content is 99.8%.
Swipe the table sideways →
| Part number | Weight | Jig / plug | PE | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S90ML | 133g | Up to 35g / 6-28g | PE #0.6–1.5 | JPY 25,000 |
| S96ML | 138g | Up to 35g / 6-28g | PE #0.6–1.5 | JPY 25,500 |
| S100ML | 148g | Up to 35g / 6-28g | PE #0.6–1.5 | JPY 26,500 |
| S96M | 145g | Up to 45g / 7-38g | 0.8-2 | JPY 26,000 |
| S96MH | 166g | Up to 60g / 10-50g | PE #1–2.5 | JPY 26,500 |
The lineup is 13 models. Lengths run from 8ft 6in to 11ft, in 4 stiffnesses: L, ML, M and MH. Even the priciest, the S110M, is JPY 28,500 (excl. tax).
The S96M, 1 step stiffer, adds 7g and JPY 500 and raises the jig limit by 10g. Cheap. But PE starts from 0.8. If you want to throw jigs up to about 40g, this is my pick.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Encounter S96M
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 15,723 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 23,544. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaA rod "ovalizing" is the same as bending a straw
When you bend a rod deeply, its cross-section changes from a circle to an oval. This is "ovalizing," the same thing that makes a bent straw kink.
Spiral X is a three-layer structure in which carbon tape is wound diagonally in opposite directions inside and outside the vertical fibers, making the blank resistant to ovalizing and twisting.
How it differs from the Dialuna, Moonshot and Lateo
Swipe the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Per meter | List price | Price of 1g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano Encounter S96ML | 138g | 47.6g | JPY 25,500 | — |
| Shimano Dialuna S96ML | 137g | 47.2g | JPY 33,000 | JPY 7,500 |
| Shimano Moonshot S96ML | 151g | 52.1g | JPY 19,800 | JPY 438 |
| Daiwa Lateo 96ML | 135g | 46.6g | JPY 32,000 | JPY 2,167 |
Gap to the Dialuna: The grip becomes a carbon monocoque and the lineup is wider, at 31 models. Carbon content, though, is 99.7%, so the Encounter is 0.1 points higher. If you choose by weight, I can't find a reason to go up.
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 NaturumGap to the Moonshot: That one is Hyper Power X, with a jig limit 3g higher at 38g. Even so, you get 13g less weight at this price. This is its biggest strength. I praise it warmly.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Moonshot S96ML
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 12,346 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 21,780. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaGap to the Lateo 96ML: The Lateo's tip is thin at 1.5mm. Light. But its PE lower limit is 0.8 and it costs JPY 6,500 more. If you spool 0.6, take the Encounter.
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 IchibaThis part is so-so
The grip is split. The build around your hand is what you'd expect for the price.
Long. Even folded it is 148.5cm. All 13 models are 2-piece, so none packs short. The plug limit is 28g, so a 30g plug falls outside the table.
Who is it for?
The S96ML is a length that is easy to handle on rivers, tidal flats and breakwaters. It suits anglers who want to throw everything from minnows to vibration lures in the 20g range with one rod, and want top-model lightness in the JPY 20,000 range. A buy.
You could also choose the Dialuna if you care about the grip build, the S96M to throw jigs up to 45g, or the Lateo 96ML when lightness comes first. If you already own the Dialuna S96ML, tip diameter and lure weight are the same, so there's no need to switch.
A ranking of six 96ML rods from JPY 10,000 to JPY 30,000 is in the seabass rod 96ML ranking. Daiwa's rival is covered in detail in the Lateo 96ML review.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Encounter S90ML and S96ML?
The S90ML is 5g lighter, has a transport length of 141cm, and is priced JPY 500 lower. Lure and line numbers are the same. If you want shorter, take the S90ML.
What is the difference between the Encounter S96ML and S100ML?
Longer and heavier. The S100ML is 3.05m long, 10g heavier and JPY 1,000 more, and its transport length stretches to 155.8cm.
What model year is the Encounter?
There is no model-year label. It is the current series of 13 models, newly adopting Spiral X.
