Daiwa Caldia 2025 spinning reel review. Shimano fans dream?

This all new Daiwa Caldia 2025 spinning reel is really nice. Seems Daiwa has packed a good number of high-end features into this mid-priced reel. Some of these features will appeal to Shimano users too.

00:00 Intro
00:40 Looks
01:22 Moving parts
06:20 Airdrive rotor&bail
10:50 Drag improvements
16:20 Seals
18:15 Smoothness and start-up
20:00 Weight
20:52 Shimano users
22:37 Outro

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[apocalypsecat]

Shimano fan's dream was Ballistic FW, without Magsealed, without that monocoque bs, but with more expensive main gear and still relatively affordable.
Current gen Caldia is dream of Daiwa marketing managers, I don't see any purpose for this reel, but need to admit, it looks better than previous Caldia.

[Linc-]

Thanks Andrew. I got the c2000s-H version as well. Everything is super smooth out of the box. There's only one problem though, i had to add 2 shims for the spool for the line lay to be perfect. Kinda sad but it is what it is. Im going to bring the reel out for a spin next week.

[tavi]

You’re the only one in this world that doesn’t like the bail sound. It is reassuring that the bail is not half open, which happens a lot

[buffdoc]

What I do with Caldia and Salamandura reels, take them apart and put heavy white reel grease inside and on line roller. These reels come very under greased. Rinsing off after saltwater and reel lube to keep them working well.

[LightningmarMarius]

Hello are you still using tegmen reel?Is it worth buying as the main reel or will it still be Daiwa Shimano for UL?

[yep.fishing]

this reel would look amazing on the hangetsu. I cannot wait to see you use the hangetsu

[Sweetaccord]

1000-2500 bearing upgrade. I use ceramic bearing on all low speed external locations.

Inside spool 1: 6x10x2. 5mm

Main shaft spool bearing support 1: 7x11x2.5mm or 7x11x3 as both fit.

Handle 2: 4x7x2.5mm

Line roller 2: 4x7x2mm

[resilurecustomrods]

Hi andrew, i have 3000s arriving monday, the stock daiwa pics show the reel to be purple (spool & handle etc, where yours is dark gunmetal, can you confirm or is it just the light not picking up true colour?

[georgedixon]

It’s always the line lay, never quite as good as the Shimano’s, have a few but line lay always lets them down, good but always second best.

[krille_]

wow looks great. have a question for you I’m trying to find a reel that can help me cast further, and from what I’ve researched, one of the most important factors is the spool face diameter — basically the circular opening at the front of the spool. A larger diameter lets the line come off in wider coils, which means less resistance and longer casts.If you have any spinning reels you'd recommend for an 8ft rod, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks! Also if possible keeping them somewhat budget friendly.

[WaytooFastSpeed]

The line roller has a bearing. Not sure why you say it don't? ☺️

The line roller has a 3x6x2mm CRBB in there. I have replaced for ceramic bearing as all the others below.

Also the reel like all Shimano reels is too sloppy on the bail.

5x7x.2mm PTFE washer on non roller bearing side bail arm to remove play. Total is .7mm to make perfect, added .2mm. OEM is .5mm. On other side need a .1mm shim. Once you do that the reel is perfect. Daiwa need to tighten their specs as I have to always shim their reels to make them perfect like Shimano.

1000-2500 bearing upgrade. I use ceramic bearing on all low speed external locations.

Inside spool 1: 6x10x2.5mm

Main shaft spool bearing support 1: 7x11x2.5mm or 7x11x3 as both fit.

Handle 2: 4x7x2.5mm

Line roller 1: 3x6x2mm

😉

[Sweetaccord]

The clip on the bail is called an "E" clip. 😉

[ham.f]

What gear is he using? Can you answer, thank you?

[Sweetaccord]

You missed to mention it has a zinc gear. 😉

[gvidasgi]

It would be an awesome reel if not cast zinc gears. If Shimano can put cold-forged gears in their budget reels like Nasci there is no reason why Daiwa can't.

[Bamba-xb]

I want to buy new 2025 Caldida specifically for XUL fishing with Mifine rods (0.2g-2g lures) but I am not sure which size, 25 FC LT1000S and 25 FC LT2000S both have same weight, I believe 2000S has larger diameter spool, but could be just same diameter & deeper, cannot find specs. Is diameter same? if 2000S is larger I'd go 2000S. BUt wait... per their specs, 25 CALDIA FC LT2500S-H has highest retrieve per crank! Definitely largest diameter, and weights only 5g more than 1000S/2000S.

[vensroofcat]

Somehow you didn't test the main and well known design flaw with previous Caldia and Ballistic MQ - the (clicking) free movement of the rotor up and down?
Also one should fasten brakes before doing the spool lift test.
Then your 2000 is plain H, while 3000 is XH or extra high gear. That's why the gear ratio difference there.
In the end it's not really about the gear ratio. It's about "cm retrieved per handle rotation" and the length of that handle. That's how the force gets translated. You can skip the gear.

[flash]

Hi mate, what do you think about the Caldia LT 4000 C ?

[ChrisGousias]

still that cast zinc gears ?aint gonna buy a 250 euros coffee grinder from daiwa again....4000 bg mq started feeling geary just after 2 hours of casting 30gr metal jigs...its not 2016 anymore....please tell me they made a decent reel under 350euros....they look the best so make them as such daiwa come on....