Quantum Reels are Back and Saltier than Ever

Forty years since first hitting the market, Quantum Reels are coming back in a big way. While Quantum’s initial splash was made in freshwater, in the early 2000s, a successful line of saltwater reels, including the Cabo, Boca, and Catalyst PTS put the reels on the map with coastal captains from Florida to the Northeast.

Quantum was acquired by Rather Outdoors in 2021, “a family of legendary brands with a common purpose,” to help anglers “experience nature the way we do — with the right equipment, made with passion and sold with truth.”

Rather’s other brands are immediately recognizable to Northeast fishermen, such as Strike King, Lews, and Zebco, while international brands like Fox, Salmo, and Matrix are giants in the European fishing market.

Rather has invested in a team of outdoor industry professionals and avid anglers under Quantum, including legendary New York captain Frank Crescitelli as a pro-staffer. The consensus among the team was that, with a freshwater powerhouse in Lews already under the Rather Outdoors umbrella, Quantum would renew its focus on saltwater.

Beginning with this year’s product rollout featuring two spinning reels, Quantum has a pipeline of new gear in development for releases that stretch out over the next decade. The first two reels, the Benchmark and the Strive were, according to Mike Rice of Quantum, tested beyond limits, both in the field and in the lab.

The Benchmark, as the name suggests, is the flagship. It’s sturdy aluminum frame encases machined gearing (“GEARTEQ”), which improves the cranking power and smoothness.  “Among all of the spinning reels available to saltwater anglers today, the Benchmark stands out for its exceptional fully-sealed drag,” says Marcos Mazzola, Senior Video Producer at Rather Outdoors. “I’ve seen it perform in the saltiest environments, and at such a reasonable price, there are not many other reels like it on the market—we’re changing the game a bit, in that sense.”  

The sealed Carbon Fiber drag (“CFX200”) offers best in class max drag power, and a consistent curve, for a wide range of fish-stopping power. The reels are fully sealed, and feature an IPX6 rating (“SEALOQ 6 PROTECTION”) to help it survive splashing and spray without saltwater or sand intrusion compromising the reel. The six sizes command prices of $149.95 to $189.95.

The Strive, priced $99.95 to $139.95, features the same seals and IPX6 rating, but lacks the machined gear of the Benchmark, which allows for the more approachable price point.

“We recently put the Strive to the test in Islamorada, flipping baits into dense structure, like mangroves, for snook,” said Mazzola. “The 3000 size was more than up to the task. It feels like a lightweight spinning reel, but has the drag power to handle heavyweight predators, like snook or stripers, in skinny water.” 

I have fond memories of fishing my Quantum Cabo back in the day, and I’m looking forward to this new era of Quantum reels as they celebrate their 40th year.

The Benchmark and Strive will be hitting tackle shops this fall, and we’ll get our first in-person look at them next month at the International Conventional of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) in Orlando. Be sure to follow On The Water on Instagram to see that coverage.

Below is the press release from Quantum announcing their return to the saltwater market and the new Myth rods being released alongside the reels:

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Quantum Enters a New Era of Innovation in Saltwater

Stuart, FL –As the Quantum brand embarks on its 40th anniversary (founded in 1984), there are big plans in place for the next decade. Expanding on a rich legacy of building top-tier rods, reels, and combos, the
Quantum brand will now redirect it’s focus on the saltwater market. Embracing this shift, “we are committed to delivering the new standard of performance in saltwater tackle” Ken Eubanks CEO Rather
Outdoors.

By assembling a team of industry veterans in sales, marketing, product, and brand management with over 150 years of experience in the saltwater tackle business, Quantum now has the critical foundation
needed to push the brand to new heights. “This team has a proven track record of managing successful saltwater brands and understands what our customers and consumers want. These guys aren’t corporate desk jockeys; they fish and take it seriously,” says Mike Rice, Senior VP of Quantum. “’Tested Beyond Limits’ is more than just a tagline for the brand; it’s how the team operates. Whether field testing on the water or rigorously testing rods and reels in the state-of-the-art facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, nothing is approved until everyone agrees it’s market ready. No compromises.”

Complete with a new logo, branding, product, and a new headquarters in Stuart, Florida. Close to the customer base, year-round field testing with a great inshore fishery and easy access to offshore waters, Stuart was an easy decision to be home base for this world class team.

What makes Quantum different than what’s already out there? Better products, enhanced profitability for the retailer, and better support from a team that won’t stop until our customers and consumers are
satisfied.

When it comes to product, Quantum is set to release a very focused assortment at ICAST 2024. Two families of reels and combos, and one family of rods, for a total of forty of the best-selling SKUs in the business. The first couple years of development will be focused on spinning tackle, in fact next year’s product is already in development, but after that the possibilities are endless. Quantum will release two new spinning reels at ICAST 2024, Benchmark™ and Strive™, each equipped with innovative features and built to the highest quality standards. Both reels are available in sizes 2500-8000 and are offered as combos as well.

Quantum Benchmark™ – built to catch anything from trout to tarpon, these reels are manufactured to the highest quality standards. In this case the name “Benchmark” is more than just a name. The Benchmark reels have a sturdy aluminum frame, keeping all gears and bearings in perfect alignment, and are fully sealed with SEALOQ™ 6 to protect internal components from water, salt, and sand, ensuring long-lasting performance. The GEARTEQ™ Machined Gearing is precisely cut to tight tolerances and is comprised of premium materials to achieve a perfect blend of cranking power and gear smoothness. The class leading CFX200™ Carbon Fiber Xtreme drag system offers impressive max drags, great range, and a consistent curve, for impressive fish stopping power. The Quantum Benchmark reel does exactly that—sets the new benchmark for spinning reels, placing the highest standard of performance and reliability in the hands of anglers everywhere. MSRP $149.99 – $189.99.

Quantum’s Strive™ – offered in the same 6 sizes as the Benchmark, the Strive reel features a high strength aluminum frame to maintain perfect gear alignment and is fully sealed (to IPX6 standards) with Quantum’s exclusive SEALOQ™ 6 protection, shielding the inside of the reel from water, salt, sand, and other debris. The internal components are lubricated with Quantum’s Hot Sauce and work flawlessly together to produce the muscle needed to land big fish. Providing exceptional strength, the CFX200™ Carbon Fiber Xtreme drag system has an extremely high max drag for ample fish stopping power. Blazing new trails with forward-thinking innovation to provide the best saltwater gear around, Quantum Strive delivers to the highest caliber. MSRP $99.99 – $139.99.

Designed specifically for the inshore market, the Quantum Myth™ rod series offers exceptional value across its 10 models. Crafted with our proprietary HSX30 carbon fiber blank, this rod ensures superior strength and sensitivity. The Seaguide Zirconia guides, Fuji DPS reel seats, and sculpted premium cork grips are features typically found on higher-end rods. Yet, the Quantum Myth delivers these premium components at an unbeatable price, ranging from $129.99 to $169.99 MSRP. Experience the perfect blend of quality and affordability with the Quantum Myth™