Abu Garcia Revo SX · problems & reliability report

Abu Garcia Revo SX problems: what real owners report

13% of 157 verified Abu Garcia Revo SXowners don't recommend it, and 1 describe specific problems — based on real owner comments from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.

For balance: 76% recommend it. This page collects the complaints so you know what you're signing up for — read the full owner report for both sides. How we score

Most common complaints

In owners' own words

“am still unable to cast more than 30 to 40 feet.”
— colbyrtucker on Reddit
“Lew's speed spool LFS is better than Abu Garcia Revo SX. I have both. Abu Garcia is overpriced and overhyped”
— Mountaineer23 on Reddit
“I currently use an Abu Garcia Revo SX as my all around casting reel and though I like the external breaking system it's a pretty finicky reel for the price point and don't think I'd buy one again unless I got a screaming deal.”
— bj4web on Reddit
“just sent mine back because it WILL not cast baits in the 1/8--1/6--1/16 ie flicker shads #4--#5's”
— @MikeFerris-g5g on YouTube
“The Revo SX is a heavy thing man. But I cant afford a lighter reel rn.”
— MelkLordSpecial on Reddit
“The one that gives me the most trouble is strung up with mono. I get awful nests...so frustrating that I've stopped using the entire set up. This also happens to be an Abu Garcia...Revo SX.”
— tony_boxacannoli on Reddit
“I also have an Abu garcia revo sx with msrp 160 bucks. The baitcasters are almost identical at least on the outside and the supreme is smoother, I would def buy one again”
— Ccrimmins89 on Reddit
“The only bait caster I have and don’t like the quality is a abu Garcia revo sx. After the abu Garcia I will never buy anything that’s not shimano.”
— [deleted] on Reddit
“Got mixed feeling about those reels and I got 3 from this series.”
— @Malysandacz on YouTube
“Not a fan of Abu's heavy spools. The need to make them lighter.”
— @pacman_17 on YouTube
“my brothers SLX XT DESTROYS my old $250 Abu Garcia Revo SX”
— Sea-Radish3063 on Reddit
“I have a ~2 year old Revo SX (Gen4) that has a decent growl to it when retrieving a crankbait. I've completely disassembled the reel and cleaned it, no improvement.”
— goodman_fishing on BBCBoards

Setup quirks & things to watch for

Not complaints — practical notes from owners that didn't affect the score.

“The abu Garcia revo sx is another reel I have that performs well, I got it on sale for $110 so I wouldn’t spend the normal price of $160 on it myself.”
— TrashJuice41 on Reddit
“I myself have two Revo X Inshore LP's (sealed baitcasters for salt) that are 100-200 size reels that I use on 7FT and 8FT rods for back bay and light inshore”
— Italianbuca on StripersOnline (SurfTalk)
“Revo SX has a relatively advanced brake system which can actually work against you if you dont know how to set it up.”
— Tripp_Engbols on Reddit
Weighing it up? The full report has the other side — what 76% of owners like about it, who it's for, and every sourced quote. Full Abu Garcia Revo SX owner report →