I've been using the Stratos FS 10000 for about a year now and the only thing that's changed is the stiffness which I commented on in the first look review. Like running in a new car that stiffness has now eased to the point where it feels 'right', no doubt due to those 16 ball bearings on which it runs so smoothly.
The line lay is still the most impressive thing about the Stratos. It is, quite simply, superb. The line is laid precisely and evenly over the whole length of the 30mm long spool and distance casting as a consequence benefits greatly as the coils flow unhindered from the spool.
Front drag or rear drag, what's your preference? If you want precision rather than convenience then it has to be a front drag, which is exactly what you get with the Stratos. And precision is the name of the game, for even the slightest turn of the adjustment knob alters the drag setting. Not a bit like in the old days when drags were either tight or slack with no in between. Also, the drag turns freely, with no stutter.
Same with the drag setting of the free-spool mechanism; it can be accurately adjusted and the spool spins without any stutter.
The bale-arm appears to be a little on the flimsy side, and I've heard remarks about the bale-arm closing prematurely, but on the Stratos 10000's I've used I haven't had any problem.
The weight of the reel, fully loaded with the line reducer and 250m of 15lb line, is almost 1 ½ lb, but as I stated in the 'first look', that's only an issue if you had to hold the rod and reel for long periods, and that just isn't what the reel is intended for.
The price of the reel 12 months on has settled to around the £85 to £90 mark and for that kind of money you're getting one hell of a good reel, and after 12 months of quite heavy usage it shows no signs of undue wear and tear. And you won't see better line lay on any other reel.
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yoggy
