Rods

Daiwa’s Basia receives plenty of coverage and has many admirers, yet the ISO seems to be afforded considerably less airtime.


Having tested a set of these over a period of months (and having previously also used Basias) I think that the ISO is worthy of similar acclaim.

So important to carp anglers, the ISO looks sublime. The black finish with red trim offers an air of luxury and the wooden handle sets it all off perfectly.

It’s extremely light, but is no lightweight when it comes to performance.  As you’d expect from a reel at the higher end of the Daiwa range, the ISO is packed with features – Air Bail, QD Spool, Real Four technology and much more – so performance is unquestionable.

It is a super-smooth performer and while not the out-and-out casting maestro that the Basia can claim, as an all-rounder, capable of anything you need from a modern carp reel, the ISO is quite stunning.

RRP: £499
Website: www.daiwasports.co.uk
Test period: Five months

Marc Coulson's Verdict
Performance ★★★★★★★★★★
value ★★★★★★★★★★
Lightweight, great looking and top-end performance