Penn Battle vs Spinfisher Reels – What are the Differences?

Penn Battle vs Spinfisher reels is a common thought for beginner and intermediate anglers. If you require a new saltwater reel, you are spoiled for choice. While there is a range of top-quality reels on the market, the Penn brand is arguably one of the best. Even when you narrow your options down to one brand, it doesn’t get much easier.

Now you have to decide which of their reels suits your needs best.

Two reels that many anglers sway back and forth on when trying to decide which one is best are the Penn Battle and Spinfisher models.

While the differences between these two reels are small, there are some stand-out features that could help you make up your mind.

These are two of Penn’s most popular reels and there is no doubt that both make for excellent saltwater reels. But, what makes one different from the other. We are going to find out.

In today’s article, we will be comparing the Penn Battle and Penn Spinfisher to help you decide which one you prefer. We will be analyzing the similarities and differences of these two reels to see which one, if any, comes out on top.

Here’s a teaser – It’s a close call!

 

The Penn Battle

Let’s start by taking a closer look at the two top-quality reels. We begin with the Battle. For today’s article, we will be focusing on the Battle II series of reels from Penn.

The Battle II is undoubtedly a top-quality reel. Anglers all over the world use this model for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. And, its affordable price tag means it is one of the most used by beginner and experienced anglers alike.

The Battle is as durable as it is versatile. It’s also available in smaller sizes than many of its competitors with sizes going down to 1000. This means you can happily use the Battle reel for very light freshwater spinning applications.

And, of course, you can also choose larger sizes that are more suitable for heavy saltwater spinning as well as surf fishing. If you need a reel for both freshwater and saltwater applications, the medium sizes of the Battle are great options.

Its only downfall is that the design doesn’t include waterproof sealing. Nonetheless, the sealed ball bearings are sturdy and durable enough for saltwater environments making the Battle II a great reel for inshore fishing.

This is because it shouldn’t get wet as much and risk getting damaged from moisture.

The Penn Spinfisher

For today’s article, we will be focusing on Spinfisher VI. This model in the series of Spinfisher reels was specifically made to perform well in harsh saltwater conditions. Unlike the Battle II, the Spinfisher is designed with water-resistant IPX5 sealing.

Therefore, it is virtually waterproof in all conditions. When it comes to saltwater fishing, your gear gets soaked continuously, so this feature is a godsend.

The Spinfisher VI also boasts more drag power when compared to its competitors. Furthermore, the drag system is also designed with waterproof sealing.

While Battle II and Spinfisher VI are very similar in terms of strength and durability, the Spinfisher has the added bonus of waterproofing material and additional drag power. This means it is better suited to saltwater applications.

Penn Battle vs Spinfisher Reels Buying Guide

Penn Battle vs Penn Spinfisher – Differences 

To understand what each reel brings to the table, we need to examine the differences between the two. Below, we will be studying the differences regarding:

• The size
• The water-resistant sealing
• The drag system
• The construction material
• The weight
• The anti-reverse gear
• The gear ratio
• The ball bearings

The Size 

This is one of the main differences between the Penn Battle and Spinfisher. Firstly, the Penn Battle manages to go from 1000 to 8000 whereas the Penn Spinfisher manages a little more with 2500 to 10500.

Yes, both lineups are great quality saltwater reels but the Spinfisher was designed specifically to perform as well as any under saltwater conditions.

This is the main reason why Penn did not build these reels in smaller sizes that are more in line with freshwater reels.

Winner: Penn Spinfisher

The Water-Resistant Sealing 

This may be the biggest difference between the two. Firstly, the Penn Battle II series does not have a waterproof design. Therefore, if you drop it into a body of water, moisture can seep into the body and damage it. On the other hand, the Spinfisher is made using IPX5 sealing technology which makes the reel waterproof. This means you can drop it into saltwater and, as long as you do not turn the handle at this point, no moisture will enter the reel’s body.

Winner: Penn Spinfisher

The Drag System

Both the Penn Battle and Spinfisher reels rely on HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers. However, the Spinfisher has a stronger, more powerful drag power than the Battle.

The Battle has a maximum drag power of 12 pounds which is more than adequate but the Spinfisher boasts a maximum drag power of 15 pounds.

If drag power is one of the main selling points for you, the Spinfisher should be your reel of choice.

Winner: Penn Spinfisher

Construction Material  

There is not much between the two reels in terms of their build. Both sport an all-metal construction and this includes the bail arm as well. When considering the overall weight and design of both reels, they are practically the same.

Winner: Equal

Weight 

As we just mentioned, both the Battle and Spinfisher have similar weights when you compare similar-sized reels. The Battle tends to weigh a little less with a maximum of 30.20 ounces while the Spinfisher has a maximum weight of 38.60 ounces. To choose between the two is a matter of personal taste.

Winner: Your choice!

Anti-Reverse Gear 

Surprise, surprise. Both models are pretty much identical in this regard.

Winner: Equal

Gear Ratio 

Yet again, both the Battle and Spinfisher are very similar here too. However, there is one difference. The largest Penn Spinfisher reels have a slower ratio of 4:2:1 while the largest Penn reels have a ratio of 5:2:1. But, because the largest Penn Battle models are bigger than the largest Spinfisher models (up to 10500 in size), this ratio speed tends to make sense. This is because you will require a slower ratio on larger reels to produce more torque if you are fighting large catches.

Winner: Both

Ball Bearings 

The two reels are practically identical when it comes to their ball bearings. Both sport 5 plus 1 sealed stainless steel bearings. And, these sealed bearings help the Penn Battle withstand saltwater conditions pretty well, even though it doesn’t possess the IPX5 sealing.

Winner: Spinfisher due to having the extra protection of IPX5 sealing.

Overall Best

When summing up these differences, we must consider that the Spinfisher is designed specifically for saltwater fishing.

On the other hand, the Battle is suitable for both saltwater and freshwater fishing.

The fact that the drag washers of the Spinfisher are waterproof is a huge bonus. This allows the reel to perform more consistently and offer a more reliable performance no matter how much and how often the reel is exposed to water.

As well as this, the Spinfisher possesses the IPX5 body sealing allowing it to withstand harsh conditions and environments that are so often associated with saltwater fishing.

The bottom line is that the Penn Spinfisher has superior waterproof sealing technology than the Penn Battle reel. Therefore, the Spinfisher is more durable and better suited to harsh, saltwater applications.

The Spinfsher also sports a great drag power so will work better when fighting larger saltwater fish.

Penn Battle vs Spinfisher Reels Final Thoughts

Unsurprisingly, Penn has produced two more top-quality reels with the Battle and Spinfisher. Both are exceptional saltwater reels and you can’t go wrong with either one.

But, if we had to choose a model specifically for the saltwater application, the Spinfisher holds more cards such as its IPX5 water-resistant sealing and additional drag power to fight larger fish.

Nonetheless, the Battle series can be used for both freshwater and saltwater fishing so the final decision is really down to a matter of what you need from your reel most.

Below are a couple of videos reviewing the Penn Battle vs Spinfisher reel for additional information and research.

About Post Author