Gear Review: St. Croix X-Trek

WHAT IS IT?

St. Croix X-Trek

WHAT SETS IT APART?

For starters, the all-new X-Trek is pronounced cross-trek. Offering anglers a versatile selection of combos to fit a variety of techniques and applications, the St. Croix X-Trek line includes four medium-light and medium power, fast-action tapers; three of them are two-piece models, along with a one-piece model. Ensuring a firm foundation, the rods are handcrafted with premium SCII carbon blanks and St. Croix’s Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology, which increases strength, while minimizing weight.

HOW DO I USE IT? 

The 6-foot, 6-inch X-Trek models are matched with precision-engineered 2000-size skeletonized, composite X-Trek reels spinning reels, while the 7-foot models come with 2500-size reels. With 6.2:1 gear ratios, X-Trek reels feature five ball bearings, one roller bearing and stacked carbon drag systems, large-arbor spools and rubberized paddle grips. Rod design features a split-grip handle with durable agglomerated cork material, slim stainless-steel guides with braid-friendly aluminum oxide rings, nylon and aluminum locking reel seat, and a fingers-forward grip.

HOW MUCH?

$175-$190

MORE INFORMATION: 

Stcroixrods.com

ANGLER’S INSIGHT: 

When designing these carefully balanced and precision-matched freshwater spinning outfits, St. Croix started from scratch and then conceived and tested each model for optimal performance. It’s not always easy trusting a pre-matched combo. Most anglers prefer their own alignments to prevent the risk of sacrificing performance on one piece or the other. With St. Croix’s new X-Trek series, anglers are assured quality construction and insightful design throughout each combo. This is a plus for anyone, and new anglers, youth competitors or anyone with a tight budget will appreciate the X-Trek value.