Daiwa Exist LT Spinning Reel Review

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.

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** NOTE ** Daiwa released the new Daiwa Exist G early in 2022, read on to see what this updated version has to offer

Here is a sneak-peak of this new Exist G reel

With this latest 2022 Exist reel, Daiwa is introducing some new technology and enhancements, which they are calling ‘Airdrive design’.

Here are a few of these upgrades that come with this reel:

• Airdrive Rotor
• Airdrive Bail
• Airdrive Spool
• Airdrive Shaft
• Automatic Tournament Drag system – Type L

More to follow on the exciting new 2022 Exist reel…

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In the past, I have always leaned towards Shimano for their spinning reels, but have always kept an eye on Daiwa as they have an excellent range of spinning reels too.

Having used the Daiwa Exist LT spinning reel a number of times now, I have to say that I was very impressed by the quality and performance of it!

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The Daiwa Exist is certainly a long-time favorite with Daiwa enthusiasts, and now it is easy to see what all the fuss is about.

This reel combines a host of Daiwa’s top technologies, along with an aesthetically pleasing design.

So what exactly do you get with this reel? That’s exactly what we are going to dive into in this detailed review of the Daiwa Exist spinning reel.

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Performance of the Daiwa Exist LT

Let’s dive right into the performance of this bad-boy and see whether it deserves to be the flagship of Daiwa’s light spinning reel range!

Right out of the box, you can see that the Exist LT is incredibly well designed.

Daiwa has certainly put all of their resources into making this their pride and joy, they want you to see that from the first time you lay eyes on it. It certainly is a slick-looking reel.

Daiwa has some excellent technology that they use in their spinning reel range, and the Daiwa Exist has been built with all of their top-end features. So as soon as you start to play around with the reel you can feel just how light and smooth it is.

When I first used the Daiwa Exist LT I was really impressed with how the reel felt on the rod. The balance is incredible, and it is also a very light reel, being built using a Zaion body.

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It just gives you that much more feel and finesse when you are fishing with lures.

The casting ability of the reel is extremely good, it feels like the line just peels off the spool with no resistance whatsoever.

It is the fine details such as the spool design that allows for performance factors like this, so you really start to understand and appreciate the precision engineering that has gone into this reel.

Line retrieval is extremely smooth with the Daiwa Exist, even when under high pressure from a hard-fighting fish.

The gear ratios make retrieval very efficient too, so you are a lot more in control when you hook into the good fish, increasing your chances of winning the battle.

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Top-end technology

Magseal is an ingenious bit of engineering that Daiwa has included in the Exist LT, and some of their other better spinning reels too.

They use magnetic oil so that the gap between the inner and outer bearings is secured from the elements.

This ensures that the reel keeps purring smoothing each time you use it a very long time, so you can get many years of usage from it (and when you are paying this amount for a reel, you want it to last a very long time!).

Another feature on the Daiwa Exist that I really love is the ATD drag system.

“ATD” is an acronym for Automatic Tournament Drag, which basically means it was designed so that even professional anglers can improve their hook-up rate with this drag system in place.

The way ATD works is that the moment you strike into a fish, the drag will initially start off extremely smoothly before it tightens itself up to provide the real responsive force you need to play the fish efficiently.

It is that first strike where so many fish are lost, so this kind of cushioning means that the hook can be set properly instead of being shaken free. A very clever design that will help improve your hook-up rate.

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Reel specifications

There are several different sizes of the Daiwa Exist LT spinning reel, and some of the specifications will vary through the range.

So here is a look at the different specs’ you get with each model of the Exist LT reel.

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Range of technology used on the Daiwa Exist LT

Let’s not beat around the bush here, the Daiwa Exist spinning reel is not cheap. In fact, it’s pretty darn expensive as far as spinning reels go!

But as I mentioned earlier in this article, Daiwa has put a lot of their high-end technology into the Exist LT reel, and they certainly didn’t want to undermine any part of the reel by putting anything but the best components and technology they have.

So to help you better understand exactly what these technologies are, and what each one does, here is a breakdown of them all for you:

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Magseal:

Magseal is Daiwa’s magnetic seal that they use to seal internal mechanics within the reel.

This seal is also used on the bearings, so you get the optimal performance at all times. Traditional rubber seals will corrode over time after exposure to the elements, but the beauty of this magnetic oil seal is that it cannot corrode.

So you will always have the ultimate sealant that will make the reel last for a very long time, while also maintaining its excellent performance ability.

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Automatic Tournament Drag (ATD):

The innovation behind Daiwa’s ATD system is very clever. It works by giving you a split second of softer and smoother drag when you initially strike into a fish.

Then once the hook is firmly inside the fish’s mouth, the drag tightens up and sets firmly. This should improve your overall hook-up rate.

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Zaion body and rotor:

Zaion is a material made of densely packed carbon fibers. Not only does this make the reel incredibly light, but it also makes it supremely strong and rigid.

The rigidity of a reel is what can improve the rotary performance, and this is the end goal of using the Zaion material, rather than more traditional aluminum.

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Air Rotor:

Daiwa has managed to reduce the weight of the rotor by 15% by using their precision-designed Air Rotor.

The design of the rotor also improves strength and durability too, so just another really well-thought-out and designed component to further improve the overall quality and performance.

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Digigear II:

Daiwa revamped their drive system, and this was when Digigear II was born.

This drive system is incredibly accurate and has improved the overall power and efficiency during the retrieve while maintaining the silky smooth motion that every rotation of the reel has.

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Silent Oscillation II:

The Silent Oscillation II has again been improved from previous versions, and this design feature also helps to produce the faultlessly smooth rotation. And yes, it is silent!

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Is the Daiwa Exist LT the right spinning reel for you?

To help you better answer this question, I will just give you a quick summary and my thoughts on the Daiwa Exist LT spinning reel.

Firstly, this reel was designed with professional tournament anglers in mind. This is why Daiwa has included all of its top-end technology on it, and also the reason for the hefty price tag.

If you are just looking for an upgrade to your old entry-level reel, then the Exist LT will be overkill for you, and you can get a very good reel for much less cost than this reel.

But if you are an experienced angler, and you are looking for improved performance in certain areas of your lure fishing, then the Daiwa Exist LT will provide this.

What you can be assured of with this reel, is that you are getting the very best design features that Daiwa offers, and you are getting a reel that will last you a very long time.

Yes, it is a significant outlay, but if you think you need improved performance than your previous reel offers, then the Daiwa Exist LT is hard to beat!