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Spool Bearing Differences – Core vs Edge vs Apex Compared
Spool Bearing Differences – Core vs Edge vs Apex Compared
Our spool bearings differ in material composition, ball quality, cage system, ABEC precision class, and optimal tuning for your casting weight. Each class is designed for a specific application. The decisive factor is not just the ABEC rating, but the entire construction and its tuning to your setup.
Apex – ABEC 9 with S30 Ceramic Balls and PEEK Ribbon Cage
Apex bearings are our uncompromising high-performance option. They consist of ABEC 9 precision-made stainless steel rings, equipped with S30 ceramic balls and a PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) ribbon cage.
S30 ceramic balls enable extremely low friction and very high speeds. The PEEK ribbon retainer is a high-performance cage that ensures stability, temperature resistance, and reliable ball guidance at very high speeds.
- ABEC 9 precision standard
- S30 ceramic balls for maximum rotational pleasure
- PEEK ribbon cage for stability at high speeds & minimal friction
- Very fast spool acceleration
Thanks to this design, the spool of your baitcasting reel starts very quickly and reaches extremely high speeds, especially in the lower casting weight range.
Sweet spot casting weight: 2 to 60 g
If you mostly fish well above this range, a slightly more robustly tuned design makes sense. In this case, switching to the Edge class is recommended.
Edge – ABEC 9 Hybrid Ceramic Bearings with S25 Balls
Edge bearings are also based on an ABEC 9 precision standard. They use S25 ceramic balls combined with precision-made steel rings and a Japanese ribbon retainer.
Compared to Apex, Edge is tuned to be a bit more versatile. The design offers high speed capability combined with more mechanical stability for a broader range of applications.
- ABEC 9 precision standard
- S25 ceramic balls for high speeds
- Japanese ribbon retainer for stable ball guidance
- Balanced performance tuning
Edge bearings are available in two variants:
- With Orange Seal: Additional protection against dirt and moisture
- Without Seal: Minimal resistance for maximum rotational pleasure
Sweet spot casting weight: 5 to 100 g
If your setup regularly exceeds this range significantly, the Core class is the technically more suitable choice.
Core – ABEC 5 Stainless Steel Bearings for High Load
Core bearings consist of ABEC 5 precision-made stainless steel bearings with a stable ball and cage construction. They are designed for durability, continuous use, and consistent performance.
ABEC 5 here does not mean lower quality but a more robust tuning compared to high-speed hybrid ceramic bearings.
- ABEC 5 precision standard
- Robust stainless steel construction
- High mechanical load capacity
- Consistent performance under load
Sweet spot casting weight: 8 g to over 200 g
The Casting Weight Decides
All our spool bearings are high-quality manufactured and designed for high speeds. The crucial difference lies in the tuning to your actual lure spectrum.
Those who mostly fish very light lures benefit from maximum startup dynamics. Those covering a broader spectrum should choose a more versatile tuning. Those who consistently cast heavy should rely on robust stability.
The best performance arises when bearing class and casting weight match.
RL-TNG CORE Knob Ball Bearings | Set of 4 | 4x7x2.5
RL-TNG CORE Knob Ball Bearings | Set of 4 | 4x7x2.5
The stainless steel Bearings in ABEC 5 quality ensure smooth operation of your Knobs!
The set includes four Bearings each in the size 4x7x2.5 mm.
The High Precision Stainless Steel Bearings ensure that your crank knob can turn smoothly. Ideal for replacing old Bearings or equipping new Knobs with Bearings that only contain plastic bearings.
What does ABEC mean?
ABEC is a standard that indicates the manufacturing tolerance level.
The higher the number, the higher the precision of the Bearing's manufacturing and the smoother it runs.
The standard is only given with odd numbers.
This means that ABEC 3 Bearings are rather low-end, followed by ABEC 5 and 7, which are the most commonly used Bearings. They are usually installed as standard.
Why use tuning Bearings?
In general, Bearings installed in the reel from the factory often do not have good rotation properties because a lot of grease and dust prevent smooth operation.
The stainless steel Bearings are delivered pre-oiled and are equipped with an anti-rubber cover that protects the Bearings from dirt particles. You can remove this cover for cleaning and oiling.
You can also install the Bearings without the cover, which will squeeze a little more speed out of the Bearings because friction is reduced.
Long durability
The Bearings are oiled as standard, but we recommend every user to re-oil the Bearings after a season, preferably with the Alchemy Oil from Hedgehog Studio or the Premium Bearing Oil from Glitch Oil.
This way you simply get longer use out of them and don’t have to maintain the Bearings as often; furthermore, the humming of the Bearings is significantly reduced when you oil them.
Just one drop of oil is enough to enjoy them for a long time.