Orvis DXR

Review Date
September 17, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: cardiacbob(Unregistered User) ,  30 days a year , from Illinois

Price Paid:  $260.00 at Orvis

Body of Water:
Pere Marquette

Favorite City:
Baldwin

Favorite State:
MI

Favorite Country:
USA

Summary:
Purchased this DXR 7/8 reel right before it went on close out. I used it almost exclusively for Salmon & Steelhead on the PM and other Lake Michigan Tributaries. After the drag fried twice in consecutive seasons, I gave up and bought an Abel.

Strengths:
Hard finish, looks good.

Weaknesses:
Drag. It can't take the big fish, has a problem on startup-pick up, even on a light setting.

Customer Service:
It's Orvis. Outstanding.

Similar Products Used:
Abel Big Game, Ross Canyon, Battenkill, Lamson

Review Date
October 25, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Bryan (Unregistered User) ,  30 days a year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Body of Water:
Never reveal (-;

Summary:
Used my DXR 9/10 Anti-Reverse on 4 of 5 Pacific salmon species. Reel performed brilliantly. Loved the fact that while others were "knocking knuckles", I was happily holding the handle the whole time.

Strengths:
Anti-Reverse... awesome!

Weaknesses:
Going back to an non-Anti-Reverse reel proves to be challenging since I now have habits of grabbing reel handle on every fish.

Customer Service:
I''m sure it''s good

Similar Products Used:
Ross Gunnison, Redington AL, SA System 2

Review Date
April 1, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Anonymous User(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from Harrisburg, PA

Price Paid:  $220.00 at Orvis

Body of Water:
Susquehanna River

Favorite State:
PA

Summary:
At $220 at closeout\discontinue, I couldn't resist. This reel is very well made and definitely worth more than what I paid, and it should provide more than a lifetime of service. I'd like to see Orvis use the Abel-type drag. The Orvis drag knob is already front-centered and well made, but it's weird to accidentally turn off the drag and have the spool get some wobble in it until the drag nut is re-tightened. Surely Orvis can do better. But again, this is a great reel at this price, and hopefully Orvis has discontinued this reel for the improved Odyssey+.

Strengths:
DXR 9/10 anti-reverse. Well-machined, good finish, balanced, very strong.

Weaknesses:
Backing capacity does not appear to be quite as high as advertised; getting 350 yds of backing in would make for a very tight fit. About 225 yards of 30# dacron fits in just fine with an 8-wt line. But I've never had a fish take that much backing out, either.
The drag on this just is not as good as it should be. The Abel drag is much better. Orvis advertises that there's an even flow in the drag that you don't get with a click adjustment (Abel), but this well-placed adjustment knob provides little distance between full and off, and when off, the spool isn't tight and it wobbles a little.

Customer Service:
No problem with this reel, but my experience with Orvis over the years has been excellent

Similar Products Used:
Orvis Battenkill (direct drive), Abel (anti-reverse)

Review Date
October 25, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Anonymous User(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from Erie,PA,USA

Price Paid:  $170.00 at Orvis in Manchester

Body of Water:
just about anyplace

Summary:
Bulletproof reel and at the price I got it a steal.

Strengths:
I got a great closeout price, The 7/8 matches my 7wt. Orvis saltrodder perfectly, have caught many steelhead up to 14# and have not had a problem. Have also used a diffrent 7/8 and 9/10s and a AR Tarpon for Strippers,Blues and False Albacore. It isnt quite as smooth some drags but its plenty smooth enough, I've never had any of the freespooling problems I read about in these reviews, but before I used mine I followed the instructions and adjusted the drag.

Weaknesses:
None

Customer Service:
Never had to use it for a reel but if they are as good as they are with the rods I've broken I'll never complain.

Similar Products Used:
Ross Gunnison, and Cimmiron, Tetons, Lampsons, and Battenkills.

Review Date
August 23, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Anonymous User(Unregistered User) ,  40 days a year , from Longmeadow, MA USA

Price Paid:  $280.00 at BG Sporting

Body of Water:
Westfield & CT Rivers, Cape Cod

Favorite City:
western

Favorite State:
MA

Favorite Country:
USA

Summary:
This reel has given me good service in both salt and freshwater environs. Regarding the free spooling problem I've read, you MUST pre-set your drag, especially with heavier lines and you will eliminate the free spooling problem. The new Lamson Litespeed has probably the lowest startup inertia of the newest generation of big game reels and if you do not pre-set the drag, that beautiful reel will also free spool. Haven't had any problems with the drag on this reel and with reasonable care has provided very good service. It's a good product for what it's designed for.

Strengths:
Handsome reel, very good anodizing, nice finish overall, line capacity, smooth performervalue.

Weaknesses:
None found to date.

Customer Service:
Haven't tested yet

Similar Products Used:
Redington AL series