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KastKing vs. Abu Garcia Reels (Which Brand Is Better?)

KastKing vs. Abu Garcia Reels (Which Brand Is Better?)

When it comes to fishing reels and brands, it’s a regular jungle out there; there are so many of them! 

Abu Garcia and KastKing are two well-known and popular brands, and thousands and thousands of anglers fish with their various reel models.

But which of them makes the better reels? The well-established Abu Garcia, or the highly ambitious newcomer KastKing?

When it comes to higher-tier reels, most anglers consider Abu Garcia to be the better gear manufacturer, as their models generally have better performance, strength, and material quality. KastKing’s lower-tier reels, on the other hand, are a popular choice among beginners.   

Keep reading and find out more about Abu Garcia’s and KastKing’s very best reel series and how the two fishing brands compare!

PRO TIP: Just want to check out Abu’s and KastKing’s top reels? No problem! You can find the Abu Garcia Revo Beast Baitcaster and the KastKing Bassinator Elite Baitcaster on Amazon here.

These high-quality reels are very cost-effective, durable, and will get the job done every time!

KastKing or Abu Garcia: Which Brand Makes the Better Reels?

I always enjoy writing gear articles, especially those about comparing reel brands. KastKing vs. Abu Garcia is an exciting topic because these are two very different brands.

To answer the main question, I would definitely say that Abu Garcia makes better reels for the money, at least when it comes to higher-end reels.

They have over 100 years of experience behind them and are a well-established fresh and saltwater fishing reel brand.

Compared to Abu, KastKing is still a toddler in the fishing gear industry, even though they’ve managed to make a name for themselves quickly.

KastKing, founded in 2014, is known for manufacturing budget reels, while Abu Garcia is associated with some of the world’s most high-end fishing reels.

Nonetheless, KastKing has put out a surprising number of decent-quality reel models over the last decade, and their reputation is rapidly improving.

The lower-end budget reels of both KastKing and Abu have the same quality, as they have similar price tags, are made of similar materials, and are produced in Asia.

So if you’re a beginner or occasional angler who’s looking for entry-level or budget reels, both of these brands are reliable picks!

When it comes to more advanced fishing reels, Abu Garcia wins the race. No question about it!

Their baitcaster series especially are really high-end stuff, and KastKing’s baitcasters are simply not playing in the same league!

The more advanced Abu reels beat KastKing in both material quality, fine-tuning, power, performance, and durability. You really get what you pay for here!

But again, that’s okay!

Naturally, different brands have different prices and quality levels. And we, the anglers, have different budgets, wants, and needs.

Not everyone needs or can afford a very expensive and high-end baitcaster reel! That’s why it’s a good and healthy thing that there are so many different reel brands out there!

Now that we’ve gone through those two reel brands, let’s take a look at some of their best and most popular models!

What Is the Best Abu Garcia Reel on the Market?

an Abu Garcia Revo Beast baitcaster without line
My own Abu Garcia Revo Beast for pike fishing

In my opinion, Abu’s Revo Beast is one of their finest creations! This is a really powerful baitcaster that’s meant to haul in big fresh and saltwater species!

I use mine for big river pike, and I’ve landed plenty of 20+ pounders with this beauty.

If you’re fighting a large pike in flowing water, you want a reliable and strong reel, and the Revo Beast is just the right reel for the job!

The same goes for musky, steelhead, salmon, and lake trout, by the way. This reel will land you all of them, no matter how big they are.

Here are some of its most important features:

  • 7+1 stainless steel bearing system
  • Power Stack Carbon Matrix drag system
  • Infinite brake system
  • Gear ratio: 7.3:1
  • Max drag: 30lb
  • Mono line capacity (yd/lb): 240/12 205/14 170/17
  • Braid line capacity (yd/lb): 310/20 235/30 165/50
  • Reel weight: 9.5 ounces

Even the salties enjoy fishing with it for some of their big game species, and that says a lot about a baitcaster reel. A true high-performance, heavy-duty reel!

So if you’re looking for a really high-end, robust, and durable baitcaster to hunt for big trophy fish, look no further because you won’t find a better one!

Check out Abu Garcia’s incredible Revo Beast Baitcaster on Amazon here

What Is a Good Abu Garcia Budget Reel?

The Abu Garcia Pro Max is a very decent low-profile baitcaster that’s very popular among bass anglers. 

It’s a smooth and durable reel that’s also perfect for beginners and anglers who’ve never fished with a baitcaster. 

Trust me, you don’t want to start with a $200 reel that you don’t know the first thing about.

Learning how to operate a baitcasting reel doesn’t take long, but it’s much easier if you pick a basic reel to get used to this type of fishing reel. 

Even though it is very low priced, it’s got many of the standard features of the more advanced Abu baitcasters:

  • 7+1 ball bearings
  • Power Disk drag system
  • Duragear brass gear
  • MagTrax brake system
  • Very compact design
  • Very lightweight (just over 7 ounces)

A decent budget pick for bass fishing, baitcaster newbies, or anglers with a limited budget.

Take a closer look at the Max Pro Baitcaster on Amazon here

What Is the Best KastKing Reel on the Market?

KastKing has a couple of really decent baitcasters out there, but one of their finest reels is undoubtedly the KastKing Bassinator Elite.

This KastKing reel shows up at more and more bass tournaments, and if the pros are using it, you can bet that this is a fine baitcaster!

For the KastKing brand, this actually is a very high-end piece of gear, and they’ve really managed to produce an excellent fishing reel with this one.

The Bassinator has a series of really impressive features:

  • Standard 6.6:1 gear ratio
  • High-speed retrieve 8.1:1 gear ratio (that’s a cool and smart feature right there)
  • Carbon fiber handle
  • Beautiful cork grips (classic KastKing design)
  • 10+1 stainless steel ball bearings
  • Max drag: 17.6lb
  • Mono line capacity: 12lb/130yards
  • Braid line capacity.: 50lb/130yards
  • Reel weight: 5.7 or 5,9 ounces (extremely lightweight)

The idea to make a standard and a high-speed baitcaster model is a super cool one and shows that KastKing is an innovative and motivated brand thinking outside the box.

If you want to try out the KastKing Bassinator Elite baitcaster, you can find it on Amazon here

What Is a Good KastKing Budget Reel?

a predator angler fishing with the KastKing Megatron 200 baitcaster
My trusted KastKing Royale Megatron 200 Baitcaster

The KastKing Royale Megatron 200 is a decent baitcaster that will cost you less than $100. It has an impressive performance and is very durable! 

I have caught plenty of bigger pike and trout with this reel, and it has yet to fail me.

Just like Abu’s Pro Max, this is a basic baitcaster that beginners will find very smooth and practical to fish with. 

No fancy-schmancy features that you don’t need or understand, just a solid fishing reel that does its job. And for the relatively low price, it does an outstanding job, I must say!

Here are a few of the Megatron 200’s specs and features:

  • Gear ratio: 6.4:1
  • 7+1 stainless steel ball bearings
  • Max drag: 28.6lb
  • Triple disc carbon drag
  • Mono line capacity: 17lb/130yards
  • 8-button magnetic braking system (eliminates overruns and maximizes casting distance) (very important for beginners!)
  • Triple-A cork knobs (again, classic KastKing, looks very neat)
  • Reel weight: 9.1 ounces

This reel is surprisingly heavy-duty and can handle big pike, musky, trout, salmon, and catfish without any problems.

It’s also suited for small saltwater species. 

You can take a closer look at the KastKing Megatron 200 on Amazon here

Are KastKing Reels Cheaper Than Abu Garcia Reels?

As mentioned above, Abu’s and KastKing’s lower-tier reels are both quite affordable, especially their spinning models.

KastKing does take home the price for the cheapest spinning reel, but Abu Garcia is just a little behind!

Here are the two brands’ absolute cheapest reel models on the market. You can check them out more closely on Amazon via the links:

Reel ModelApprox. price Range
KastKing Summer 2000 Spinning Reel$25
Abu Garcia Black Max 20$30

It’s fair to say that these are very cheap spinning reels. Whether or not they are of decent quality is another topic altogether, though.

Both models have thousands of positive reviews, so they can’t be that bad, can they?

From my experience, low-tier gear like that can indeed be of fairly good quality but can sometimes score less in terms of durability.

But all in all, these two reels are solid entry-level picks for beginners, kids, or anglers with a small budget.

It’s always better to start with basic gear, learn how to fish with it, and then upgrade over time, rather than getting high-end stuff from the start, possibly getting frustrated because you cannot operate it and broke the bank, and then, in the worst case, never fish again!

Trust me; I’ve seen that too many times, and it always makes me sad!

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