Finding the Best Fishing Reel Lubricant on the Market Today

There are many fishing reel lubricant brands on the market so it can be a tough task choosing the right one to buy. Certain lubricants are for use on specific areas in a reel while some lubricants are for more multi-use. To add to the confusion, manufacturers label their lubricants with fancy terms like space-age technologies, ultra low-viscosities and all-in-one solutions. In this article I’ll educate you on the types of reel lubricants out there and what part of the reel they are intended for. I’ll also test these lubricants on my personal reels to help aid in the search for the best fishing reel lubricant on the market. 

Types of Reel Lubricants

There are 3 main types of reel lubricants on the market today. This isn’t including spray-on corrosion inhibitors or cleaners. In my blog How To Maintain and Store Your Fishing Reels Between Trips, I recommend Ardent Reel Guard Corrosion Inhibitor for between-reel servicing to keep the reel safe from corroding. Please take a look at that blog as there’s a lot of good information in there. Now on to the reel lubricant types:

1. Multi-purpose fishing reel lubricant: A multi-purpose reel lubricant is a low-viscosity reel oil recommended to be used on certain bearings, the spool, other internal parts and on the reel frame itself. Definition of viscosity: the ability of a fluid to flow. The viscosity ratings of a fluid the following: “low” if it moves quickly and “high” if it moves  slowly. All these reel oils are synthetic with a high temperature performance rating.  Knowing the viscosity rating is important in order to keep your equipment in top shape and to prolong it’s life. 
2. Fishing reel bearing-specific lubricant: Reel bearing-specific lubricant is different than the multi-purpose oil in that it has an even lower-viscosity rating. This type of lubricant isn’t as thick as a multi-purpose reel lubricant and allows for easier penetration into tiny areas like a reel bearing. Many of these bearing-specific lubricants claim to help flush out dirt or other foreign debris as well as providing a thorough lubrication. This is a need for reel bearings as any type of debris build-up will affect their smoothness and efficiency. 
3. Fishing reel grease: Reel grease is a much different type of fishing reel lubricant than a fishing reel oil. It’s a much higher viscosity and some types resemble something like axle grease but not as thick. Fishing reel grease is used mainly on internal parts like gears, brakes and housings. There is one external part on a reel that some anglers use reel grease on and that is the worm gear. When using reel grease on the worm gear most of the time it’s thinned with a lower viscosity reel oil. Cal’s reel grease can be thinned and many anglers swear by it and use it regularly. I personally do not use reel grease on the worm gear because I find that it builds up too much and isn’t as easy to clean. For the worm gear I still recommend using a multi-purpose reel oil.  

Gun oil on a fishing reel?

This is a question that comes up quite a bit because many anglers are indeed gun-owners and hunters. The short answer to this is Yes, you can use gun oil on fishing reels. If you’ve run out of your favorite fishing reel lubricant then you can use gun oil for a couple lubrication periods. However, gun oil is generally a higher viscosity and tends to attract dirt and debris which can cause your reel to lose performance. My recommendation is if you’re in a pinch and need a quick fix then you can use gun oil on your fishing reels. A specialized fishing reel lubricant is the better long-term solution and will offer superior protection and performance.

Fishing reel lubricant manufacturers

There are many fishing reel lubricant brands out there ranging from the large fishing reel manufacturer brands to private lubrication companies. Many fishing reel manufacturers use private lubrication companies to supply them with their reel oils. For us as consumers though this means we don’t have to stick with the reel manufacturer to provide us with their exclusive lubrication products. There are choices and the following is my list of the very best fishing reel lubricant brands and products on the market.

Best fishing reel lubricant: Multi-purpose reel lubricant category

THE BEST

ReelX:  This is the best fishing reel lubricant on the market today. It’s a strong statement I know but the makers of CorrosionX can’t go wrong. Initially engineered for the aviation industry this stuff just works and works great. Corrosion Technologies has been around for a little while, since 1988. To many anglers out there 1988 seems like ancient history, but for some old-timers it doesn’t seem that long ago. The lubricant has excellent lasting qualities, doesn’t get gummy and keeps dirt and debris from penetrating the areas where you don’t want it. For any angler out there, I highly recommend this product.

From the Manufacturer:

ReelX® is a hi-tech, extreme-pressure optimized reel lubricant that virtually eliminates wear, disrupts existing corrosion and prevents new corrosion or rust from forming. ReelX is the perfect choice for all spinning and casting reels. A breakthrough lubricant starting with the revolutionary CorrosionX core Polar Bonding technology, we added a package of extreme pressure additives specifically engineered to make your fishing reels achieve their ultimate performance.

ReelX contains no wax, tar, silicone or other solids, so it will never gum-up. Like all CorrosionX products, ReelX sticks to metal like a magnet, so it cannot be easily displaced by pressure, friction or moisture. It lubricates under extreme loads and high temperatures. And not only does ReelX lubricate better, because it is bound to metal on the molecular level, it lasts many times longer than conventional fishing reel lubricants.

• Improves reel performance
• Displaces moisture
• Stops/prevents rust and corrosion
• Will Not Harm Plastic, PTFE or Monofilament

RUNNERS UP

Ardent Reel Butter is my second choice but is extremely close in respect to performance, viscosity levels and price. It goes on very easily and tends to last longer than many of the other multi-use oils out there.  

From the Manufacturer: Ardent Reel Butter Oil: Ardent Reel Butter Oil is a high-performance synthetic oil developed by Ardent Reels specifically for fishing reel components. Ardent Reel Butter Oil is a 100% Full Synthetic product with specially engineered additives to provide superior, long-lasting lubrication for any model fishing reel. Applying Ardent Reel Butter Oil to ball bearings, spool shafts, and other wear points in your favorite reel on a regular basis will ensure a smoother, quieter, and high-performance experience.

• 100% Full Synthetic Oil
• Super Low Viscosity
• Compatible with all materials
• Anti-gumming agent
• Consistent Temperature Performance

Shimano Bantam Oil

While this isn’t the easiest oil to find, you’ll recognize the 4.5 gram bottle if you’re a Shimano reel owner. Description:  Oil for ball bearings on bait casting reels, roller clutches, spool shafts on spinning reels. This is the basic Shimano reel oil. It has relatively low viscosity and your Shimano will perform great  with this basic oil.

Clenzoil Marine & Tackle Needle Oiler

I like the needle oiler bottle that Clenzoil packages their reel oil in. The bottle has a nice point that allows you to get into tight spaces. I wish that all manufacturers used this type of bottle for their reel oils.

From the manufacturer:

Clenzoil® Marine & Tackle Needle Oiler is a quality synthetic cleaner, lubricant, and rust preventative for gear exposed to environmental extremes. The Needle Oiler allows you to apply the agent with precision to keep your reels, tools, locks and hinges, motors, and any items with moving parts free of rust and working smoothly. Effective in both fresh- and saltwater environments, Clenzoil provides a thin, non-greasy coating that doesn’t wash out and will not harm synthetic surfaces, rod handles, or reel components. Great for wood accents on boats and fly rods too.

• Versatile synthetic lubricant and rust inhibitor
• Keeps fishing equipment operating smoothly
• Essential for gear exposed to the environment
• Won’t wash out, even if submerged
• Safe for all rod and reel components

Lucas Fishing Reel Oil

Lucas Fishing Reel Oil is a special blend of oil and additives specifically designed to lubricate all moving parts in fresh and salt water fishing reels. It penetrates into tight spaces to lubricate small high speed bearings and between tight surfaces. It provides rust and corrosion protection even under the most adverse conditions. Also works great on folding knives. It comes packaged in a 1 ounce bottle with a precision needle applicator for one-drop applications allowing you to put just the right amount of lubricant into hard to reach areas.

• Lubricates and penetrates with lasting protection
• Designed to lubricate all moving parts in fresh water and salt water fishing reels
• Provides rust and corrosion protection even under the most adverse conditions
• New one-drop application allows you to put just the right amount of lubricant into hard to reach areas
• Convenient bottle for the tackle box
• Made in U.S.A.

Best fishing reel lubricant: Bearing-specific category

THE BEST

Ardent Reel Butter Bearing Lube does a fantastic job as a bearing-specific reel oil product. I use this for bearings in my personal and customers reels as it provides not only lubrication but is said to flush dirt and debris out of the bearings. If you’re following the lubing intervals that I’ve set in my blogs(see below) this one bottle will last for quite some time. I define those lubing intervals and more information on how and when to lube your baitcast and spinning reels in the following articles:  How to Properly Lube a Baitcast Reel and How to Properly Lube a Spinning Reel.

From the Manufacturer

Ardent Reel Butter® Bearing Lube uses the latest in lubrication engineering technology to help you Properly Lube Your Baitcast Reels. It penetrates deep into ball bearings and roller bearings for a complete flush of dirt and foreign debris, as well as a thorough lubrication. Unlike graphite-based lubrication, Reel Butter® Bearing Lube Contains no tiny graphite particles that produce bearing noise and can cause performance issues. Reel Butter® Bearing Lube provides maximum lubrication and corrosion protection for all bearing applications.Ardent Reel Butter Oil, Multi-use

This product is a high-performance synthetic lubricant that is specifically designed for use on fishing reels. Ardent Reel Butter Oil penetrates critical components like bearings, shafts, and wear points. Plus, it has extremely high surface tension to reduce wear and noise, which will help you Properly Lube Your Baitcast Reels.

RUNNERS UP

Lew’s Hyper Speed Bearing Lube is another product that comes in a needle bottle.  A great bottle design again as it allows you to get into those tight spaces. It’s another reel manufacturer-driven lubricant but can be used on other reels as well.  

From the Manufacturer:

Allows maximum performance of baitcast spool mainshaft bearing.  Designed specifically for high-speed baitcast reels.

Quantum Hot Sauce Reel Oil

The special low-viscosity formulation in Quantum® Hot Sauce™ Reel Oil provides enhanced spool acceleration, increasing spool speed by up to 30% on the cast. The super-slick Hot Sauce Reel Oil forms a permanent molecular bond with internal metal parts that will never wear off, ensuring a lifetime of smooth, trouble-free performance. Plus, the versatility of Hot Sauce makes it well suited for all freshwater and saltwater applications regardless of style or brand of reel.

• Enhances spool acceleration
• Increases spool speed
• Forms a permanent molecular bond

Best fishing reel lubricant: Reel Grease Category

THE BEST

Cal’s Universal Reel & Star Drag Grease – Cal’s is the industry-leading reel grease because it works great for internal parts, drag washers and on the worm gear. I personally think that many of the other reel grease products out there are too viscous and don’t work as well on the interior parts of the reel. I like to have a nice thin coating on the interior body of the reel and Cal’s is greasy enough to do this without gumming up.

From the Manufacturer

Cal’s Universal Reel & Star Drag grease is the result of decades of hands-on fishing and reel customization experience combined with ultra-modern lubrication technology, including PTFE and polymers. It offers salt-water corrosion protection on all metals, including aluminum, steel, and brass. It is safe use on anodized and plated surfaces, all common plastics, drag materials, seals, and o–rings used in reels. Offers baby skin smooth, ultra-consistent star drag performance and superior resistance to heat and breakdown in drags and reels (Dropping point is >500°F!), plus reduced gear-drive friction for easier cranking, and minimal grease “creep” so it stays where you put it.

RUNNERS UP

Shimano Reel Grease – Star Drag Grease

This is another reel grease that is similar to Cal’s in that it’s nice and thick. It works great on the interior parts of reels as well as the drag washers. It’s made and manufactured by Shimano specifically for their fishing reels. This doesn’t mean it can’t be used on other reels though. I don’t think Shimano likes selling this stuff because it’s a little harder to find but it works great.  

From the Manufacturer

Keeping your reels in perfect condition takes more than an occasional cleaning and squirting in a little oil now and then. The drags and gears of your Shimano reels need some TLC to perform at their best. The Shimano Reel Grease was developed to keep your drags smooth as glass and the gears of your reels protected. This grease is super sticky, it will stay on your gears. The low-friction lubricants in the Shimano Reel Grease will help maintain that new feeling in the drags on all your reels. You won’t get the sharp jerk and the line will run out smoothly so you can fine tune your drag settings to match any line you’re using. The Shimano Reel Grease is cheap insurance for landing the fish of a lifetime.

Ardent Reel Butter Grease

Another excellent high-performance synthetic product also designed for fishing reels, Ardent Reel Butter Grease protects components long after the competition’s products have  broken down. It prevents plus it easily bonds to all the working parts of any model fishing reel to help you Properly Lube Your Baitcast Reels.

Quantum Hot Sauce Reel Grease

Hydrophobic formula forces water away to prevent corrosion and structural breakdown. Quantum® Hot Sauce™ Reel Grease will not deteriorate due to heat and wear. This reel grease is formulated with super-low friction polymers that bond to all metal parts to ensure optimum performance for the life of your fishing reel.

• Formulated with super-low friction polymers
• Prevents corrosion and structural breakdown
• Will not deteriorate due to heat and wear

ReelX Grease

ReelX® Grease is the new, hi-tech, synthetic, extreme-pressure optimized reel grease developed for all spinning and casting reels. Used in conjunction with ReelX fishing reel oil, ReelX Grease blocks moisture intrusion, reduces wear, disrupts existing corrosion, and prevents new corrosion or rust from forming.

Conclusion

I have to start this off by saying I’m happy you’re reading this article because it tells me people are interested in keeping their gear in top working order. Without these products we would have fishing reels that are noisy, have terrible casting efficiencies and are tough to operate. So what is the conclusion of all this testing and hard work in the search for the best fishing reel lubricant products on the market? Well, there are some manufacturers who stand out, mainly CorrosionX and Ardent Outdoors. Cal’s has also been providing us with great reel grease for years now. I would stick with these top three products as they will give you great results. I hope that I’ve educated you on these types of reel lubrications and that you’ll be able to make a choice on which work best for your needs.

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Thanks and keep those lines tight!