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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Please remember that we are a full-time reel servicing company and we also sell these products through the links provided. Clicking on these links and making a purchase will greatly help us continue to deliver top-notch educational and advice articles.
Thanks and keep those lines tight!
Chris Fischer
Senior Fishing Correspondent/Owner
Fischer Angling, LLC
[email protected]
www.fischeranglingpro.com
Here in Galveston, as with many cities on the US Gulf Coast, heavy gloves aren’t a big priority like in other regions. The temperatures are moderate and when it does get colder it tends to last for only about 2 months out of the year. But when the thermometer starts to plunge it’s nice to have a good set of fishing gloves that will keep your hands warm. With any fishing glove that I have, I like to be able to tie knots, have a good touch on the rod and be able to scroll through the GPS or electronic devices without having to pull my gloves off. This is where ‘fingerless’ or ‘1/2-finger’ gloves are so useful. I’ve personally been wearing these types of fishing gloves for about 15 years when I bought my first pair of Buff 1/2-finger gloves. Since then manufacturers have come out with hundreds of these types of gloves to help fend off the sun and to protect your hands from minor nicks, cuts, etc. However, these have always been very lightweight and not as useful for when the weather takes a turn for the worse.
So when we had a turn of cold weather down here, I went searching for a pair of new warm-ish weather gloves. I started searching on Google and I get 650,000 products, so I had to narrow this down a bit. So I started searching for GORE-TEX 1/2 Finger Fishing Gloves because I like Gore-Tex and also like the 1/2 finger types. For the most part, I tend to buy trusted name brands and Cabela’s is one of my go-to brands/outfitters for tough outdoor gear. Don’t get me wrong, there are several other outfitters who have quality products that I buy from but I still have a Cabela’s hunting bag from when I was a kid. So I know their products can withstand the test of time.
When I went on the Cabela’s site searching for gloves there were over 550 to choose from! After about 15 minutes of searching I knew I was in this for the long-haul. And I had already devoted time to this so I kept clicking and researching. What I stumbled upon are in the Cabela’s Guidewear line and are the Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper 1/2 Finger Fishing Gloves(that’s a mouthful right….). And I really stumbled on these as they aren’t on the site as ‘fingerless’ gloves, rather they are ‘half gloves’ in their search menu. C’mon Cabela’s, tag your products better! But they intrigued me because they were made with Gore-Tex and all the Gore-Tex items I’ve purchased have lasted me a long time. I see the price-tag and they are a little high but I expect that at Cabela’s because I’m paying for quality that I want to last for years. Luckily I have a Cabela’s pretty close so I made the trek over there, tried on a couple of pairs and decided to buy them. I’ve included highlighted links to the Cabela’s site so you can easily find them, something I wish I’d had! I'll have to disclose that if you click one of my links and purchase these gloves I get a small, and I mean small, commission. This is how I make a living and I'd appreciate you buying these through my links as every bit helps. Anyway, on to the review!
Full-Review: Cabela’s GUIDEWEAR Gore-Tex Infinium 1/2-Finger Fishing Gloves
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When I first tried these on in the store I was surprised how small they were. I’m a men’s medium glove and needed a men’s large and they still fit snug. I recommend going at least one size up when purchasing these. The sizes go up to 2XL which sounds large but isn’t huge. They will stretch a bit but you’ll be disappointed if ordering them online and they are too small.
These gloves are made for windy and moderately cold weather. They feel softer than a Gore-Tex shell you would find in a jacket and are flexible when you put them on. The lining is somewhat of a micro-fiber which I’m going to assume is the Gore-Tex Infinium product. The lining isn’t as thick as fleece but does help keep your hands warm. After inspecting them for a little while you can tell they will protect from the wind and are breathable which is really nice. One thing to note is that these are not waterproof so dunking them overboard when landing a fish is not advisable. A big plus to me and to most anglers is the sticky silicone-printed fish scales on the palms. This gives you a great grip on your reel, the steering wheel of the boat or even a t-top. Having a good grip on items while fishing is a must.
As for style, Cabela’s Guidewear GORE-TEX Infinium Windstopper 1/2-Finger Fishing Gloves look pretty tough. They have the traditional Cabela’s branding that some people like. There is the GORE-TEX Infinium logo on the wrist and the Cabela’s GUIDEWEAR logo on the top of the hand. They only come in black and I would say these are made for both men and women even though the description says for men. At first glance you will notice 4 red tabs that look interesting and stick out when you first see them. After using them several times I realized these tabs allow you to easily pull the gloves on and off! Two smaller tabs are on the middle and ring fingers and are a huge help when taking them off. Two red hook tabs are on the bottom wrist and help when pulling them on. Some reviews stated these tabs turn the fingers inside-out when pulling them off but I haven’t had that problem. For added convenience there is also a small zipper that would allow you to release some of the snugness when putting them on and off. I don’t use this but it would help if you have larger hands. The gloves come up to around where your watch is on your wrist so if you’re wearing a watch you’ll have to push it up a little higher on your arm or just tuck the glove around it a bit. I use my watch for current temperatures, wind and tides so I like to be able to easily glance down and see my watch. Overall the style of these gloves is top-notch, they look like serious fishing or hunting gloves.
Conclusion
Cabela’s Guidewear GORE-TEX Infinium Windstopper 1/2-Finger Fishing Gloves are great gloves that anglers will find suit many of their needs. You won’t see many people wearing these out on the ski slopes or in the Antarctic. But they do fit the needs of someone who wants a glove which is durable while also leaving the fingers free for tedious tasks. I’d highly recommend these to fellow anglers and to anyone wanting a 1/2 finger glove that provides warmth in moderately low temps, keeps the fingers free and that just looks tough. Please remember to click on one of the highlighted links if you're interested in purchasing these as it does help me out.
Thanks and keep those lines tight!
Chris Fischer
Senior Fishing Correspondent/Owner
Fischer Angling, LLC
[email protected]
www.fischeranglingpro.com
