Durability: The original Zillion reels have held up well over time but when examined closely I noticed that a number of my original reels have started showing signs of boat rash, but the scratches are very difficult to see on the stock sliver finish. Like a black car scratches are a lot easier to perceive on the finish of the Type-R. Though the paint has held up well overall the reel did take some damage in the aluminum hulled boats we used in the Amazon.

A Butterfly Peacock taken on a jig with the Type-R

Aside from a few white scratches on the non handle sideplate the reel exhibited no performance altering durability issues. The Type-R continues to remain smooth and no maintenance was required even after an entire season of use. Anglers that are weary about the durability of the magnesium based Steez can count on the aluminum based Type-R to deliver both sophistication and toughness.

A battle scar from the Amazon

Price and Applications: So far it has pretty much been pedal to the medal for the Type-R but here is where the reel hits a speedbump. Retailing for a whopping $399 dollars the Type-R is $110 dollars more than a standard Zillion reels and $100 dollars more than the Zillion Coastal. When the red Zillion 50^th Anniversary reel was available it retailed for $299 dollars each and featured the same 11BB + 1RB bearing count and ultra fast 7.3:1 retrieve ratio. So why is the Type-R so much more expensive?

Each component on the Type-R is metal, no plastic here

The Type-R does make use of some higher quality materials including the carbon fiber swept handle as well as the souped up “Ultimate Tournament Carbon Drag.” The Type-R’s gearing has also been machined to a higher level of refinement and the reel pays a little more attention to weight reduction through porting on the frame of the reel. All in all the Type-R is the most refined Zillion that Daiwa has ever released for the domestic market but the high price makes this somewhat of an exclusive offering.

All the knobs look and feel high quality

Daiwa Zillion fans will likely pony up the cash for this reel but at 400 dollars the Type-R is getting dangerously close to Steez territory, and anglers really need to ask themselves if they would prefer a magnesium reel from Daiwa’s flagship series instead. Fans of other brands will likely look at the Type-R as yet another overpriced Zillion. As with many high end Daiwa reels the Type-R caters to those anglers that demand a high level of refinement, are looking for something a little more exclusive, and are willing to pay to own such a premium product.

The Type-R is made in Japan

If you are looking for a reel to pull double duty and be fished in saltwater the Type-R is preferable over the Steez, but if you are looking for a low profile baitcaster exclusively for saltwater the more affordable Zillion Coastal is the better choice as it utilizes more corrosion resistant bearings. The Type-R is a good reel for most freshwater applications and is good for pitching, flipping, reaction baits, as well as topwater baits. The high speed retrieve makes it easy to cover a lot of water quickly and the reel delivers an excellent balance of both speed and power.

Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide):

Pluses and Minuses: