I've just gone bought a cheap reel for my new Korum Glide float rod. Error - but an error even within its class! I went for a Shakespeare FLX and I'd never have bought it if I had felt it in a shop instead of online. The finish to the reel is nasty, sharp edges everywhere, poorly fitting bail arm and a cheap, uncomfortable handle where even the knobs were badly finished. The line lay was good and it felt smooth to wind, but in reverse, the handle makes a hideous grinding, so it's going back. It comes with two aluminium spools, but I'd rather have a cheap, plastic spare - or no spare spool altogether - and for the money to have gone into the components instead.
It was £50. But as you can pick up a Daiwa Ninja LT Match & Feeder for not much more right now, this FLX feels like a bad deal. Maybe I got a duff one, but I'm not going to bother to find out! It's not put me off looking at the cheaper end, it's just about finding the right one and making sure it's only going to be used within its remit. Unfortunately the remit for the FLX was to be back in the box and returned to sender!