Best Carp Reels? The Shimano Ultegra 14000 Xtd Review

In this weeks tackle review, we take a look the Shimano Ultegra 14000 Xtd big pit carp reel.

I’ve been using these reels for a few weeks now, so will share my thoughts on these reels including all the features and will be keeping this review up to date regularly.

So what did I want from a new carp reel?

Well I needed a big pit carp reel that guaranteed me reliability, built from quality components, which is lightweight and stylish but not too expensive.

When looking for new carp reels I checked videos, reviews and asked other anglers their recommended big pit carp reel, I was recommended by a lot of anglers to check out the Shimano Ultegra 14000 Xtd reels.

Big pit carp reels from a design perspective haven’t really changed in the last 10 years, but Shimano is known for listening to anglers feedback and by making small improvements and tweaks, resulting in the production of the best carp reels on the market.

I’m so far very impressed with them and are definitely the best carp reels I’ve ever used.

Below is my full review including all the features that make up these carp reels.

The Review

One of the Shimano Ultegra 14000 Xtd’s main features is the instant drag, going from taking line to a tight drag when playing the fish with a single turn is very user friendly.

There’s no need for continued turning like a lot of other carp reels on the market, giving you ultimate control. This is great for weedy or snaggy waters where reel control can prevent you from losing a fish of a lifetime.

The next feature I noticed on first inspection may so a little silly, but these reels have a simple but well designed line clip.

I’ve used a few different carp reels throughout the years, which included fiddly, cheap and flimsy line clips so the line clip on the Shimano’s is one of the little things that makes me a very happy angler (sad I know).

The reel includes a unique slow oscillation and brilliant line lay, which means the line can pull off the spool fast, this can be great for distance casting, making the reels ideal for most European type waters.

One of the main things I notice when using the reels for the first time was how lightweight they are compared to others I’ve used in the past.

In my opinion they’re half the weight of my old Wychwood exorcist reels which makes casting very enjoyable and keeps my overall tackle weight down yet again, which is great for the mobile angler.

One of the biggest issues I’ve had with reels in the past is the line getting caught up in the back of the spool, resulting in you having the take off the spool, sort out the twisted line and put the spool back on again.

The Shimano Ultegra 14000 Xtd reels come with a unique line guard, which is placed behind the spool, this eradicates the line issue, which is a big thumbs up for me.

These reels have silky smooth handle turning due the bearings and gears hidden away in the reel.

The reel comes in matt black with chrome parts throughout, giving a super stylish look and in my opinion the best looking reels on the market.

These reels work well in conjunction with Gardner’s HD line and is super simple to re spool line onto it.

These are excellent carp reels for the money and most likely, the best carp reels you will find for under £150.

 

The key features include:

• Super Slow Oscillation
• Instant Drag (1 Turn)
• Lightweight (645g)
• Large line capacity
• Comes with a spare spool and accessories

How much?

Buy cheap and buy twice is something that comes to mind when I think of carp reels.

I’ve been through numerous carp reels ranging from £50- £80 and seem last me for around a few years each. If your into your carp fishing and looking for a well built, reliable reel that I’ve been told can last for over 10 years than a Shimano carp reel could be the one for you.

You can find the Shimano Ultegra 14000 Xtd big pit carp reels for around £159 each from most Shimano stockists. You can also find the them a little cheaper at around £127 from sites such as ebay and amazon.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this review of the Shimano Ultegra 14000 Xtd carp reels. If you have any questions about the reel I’ll be happy to answer them in the comments below.

Don’t forget to check out our other tackle reviews, news and carp fishing guides.

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