A solid and well built fly fishing reel that offers excellent value for money
Best suited for beginners and also more experienced anglers looking for a reliable backup
Featured in our guide on the best pike reels as a great budget option for pike fishing on the fly
| Feature | What This Means |
|---|---|
| Die-Cast Construction | Made using a precision casting process with aluminium, offering a good balance of strength and value while keeping costs down. |
| Rulon Disc Drag | A self-lubricating composite material in the drag system that provides smooth, consistent pressure when fighting fish. |
| Large Arbor Design | Wider spool diameter that helps reduce line memory and enables faster line retrieval when playing fish. |
| Anodised Black Finish | Protective coating that enhances durability and provides corrosion resistance while giving a professional appearance. |
| Size | Maximum Drag | Weight | Line Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/6 | 1.1Kg | 165g | WF6 + 60m backing |
| 7/8 | 1.1Kg | 185g | WF8 + 60m backing |
A much-requested addition to the Greys fly reel lineup, the Cruise offers disc drag performance, large arbour line pick up and a stunning, full di-cast aluminium design at an exceptional price.
Here’s how the reel performed in testing and/or from experience and feedback from other anglers.Â
The Cruise might be Greys’ entry-level offering, but there’s nothing basic about its construction. The die-cast aluminium frame provides a solid foundation, while the black anodised finish adds both protection and visual appeal.
The large arbor design shows Greys hasn’t cut corners on modern features, and the overall build quality feels reassuringly sturdy in hand. While it may lack the refinement of its more expensive siblings, the fundamental engineering is sound.
Out on the water, this reel proves its worth where it matters most. The Rulon disc drag system, while not the most powerful at 1.1kg maximum, delivers smooth and consistent pressure when playing fish. The large arbor design helps maintain line condition and speeds up retrieval, particularly useful when fishing for pike on stillwaters.
For both beginners and experienced anglers looking for a reliable backup reel, the Cruise offers genuine performance credentials without the premium price tag.
Here is how the Greys Fly Cruise Reel compares against other products in its category. This table shows the overall rating based on the average of the key attributes that go into making a top fishing reel.
| Name | Overall Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fox EOS 10000 | 8.1 | £62.99 |
| Daiwa Black Widow BR Reel | 8 | £57.77 |
| Shimano Baitrunner DL | 8.3 | £76.95 |
| Shimano Baitrunner XTB CI4+ LC Reel | 8.6 | £279.99 |
| Daiwa 23 Ninja LT Reel | 8.1 | £54.99 |
| Savage Fazor Spinning Reel | 8.3 | £143.99 |
| Fox Rage TR Reel | 8.3 | £124.99 |
| Shimano Stradic FM Reel | 8.4 | £179.99 |
| Daiwa 7HT Mag Multiplier Reel | 8.5 | £199.99 |
| Wychwood Agitator S1 Baitcasting Reel | 8 | £59.99 |
| Greys Fly Tital Reel | 8.5 | £206.99 |
| Greys Fly Cruise Reel | 8 | £44.99 |
There are four key attributes that form the basis of our reviews on fishing reels. These include the following:
Build Quality: – When we assess the build quality of a fishing reel, we test and review the materials used in manufacturing the reel and how it all comes together in the finished product.
Cast & Retrieve: – This part of the review is fairly self-explanatory and focuses on how well the reel casts and smooth the retrieve is. Distance isn’t a factor in this assessment whereas accuracy and efficiency is.
Drag System: – When reviewing the drag system on a fishing reel we are testing how smooth the drag is and how convenient it is to use. There is no bias as to whether a reel has a front or rear drag system, it is solely judged on how smooth it can take out line relative to the amount of pressure that it is being applied.
Value for Money: – Again, this is self-explanatory in terms of an assessment but yet an important part of the review process. Having value for money as a criterion allows us to judge how well a reel performs vs its price point and in turn allows us to recognise good-performing reels at bargain prices.
Here is how the Greys Fly Cruise Reel performed against is peers in each of these important attributes:
| Name | Build Quality | Casting & Retrieve | Drag / Clutch | Value For Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox EOS 10000 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 9 |
| Daiwa Black Widow BR Reel | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 9 |
| Shimano Baitrunner DL | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Shimano Baitrunner XTB CI4+ LC Reel | 9.0 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 8 |
| Daiwa 23 Ninja LT Reel | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 9 |
| Savage Fazor Spinning Reel | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Fox Rage TR Reel | 8.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Shimano Stradic FM Reel | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Daiwa 7HT Mag Multiplier Reel | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Wychwood Agitator S1 Baitcasting Reel | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 9 |
| Greys Fly Tital Reel | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Greys Fly Cruise Reel | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 9 |
If you would like to see more fishing tackle check out our full list of featured products below.Â
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