The Free Spirit S-Lite range offers numerous different test curves and rod lengths ranging from 10ft compact rods to 13ft ive. There is a choice of handles in cork, shrink or an abbreviated EVA hybrid finish. Test curves range from 2.75lb to 3.5lb. There is also a dedicated Spod/marker rod in both 12ft and 13ft.
The rods I was testing were the 12ft 3.25lb test curve rods with the abbreviated handles. These are priced at approx £229, but there are discounts available for multiple purchases.
My first impressions were that the rods look fantastic, they are slim and light and the “perdurable” finish on the carbon weave looks great, really different to most of the other rods out there.
They come fitted with a Fuji TVSM17 reel seat and nice 3-leg rings with a 50mm butt ring.
The rods cast beautifully, they recover really quickly but still retain a great action and are lovely and soft playing fish under the tip, which helps with those last minute lunges as the fish near the net. They coped with a medium sized solid bag and 3oz lead and I was hitting my spots at 80 yards with relative ease, there seemed like there was plenty left in the rod should I have needed to cast that bit further. The rods also have enough back bone for when a carp is hell bent on getting into those snags.
One feature I really liked is the open sides near the reel seat, it gives a nice feel, and seems to transmit more information back up the rod making feeling for a drop even easier.
In summary, I love these rods . They are great and really feel like a top end carp rod, which is what you would expect really from a company like Free Spirit.
If you are looking for a high quality carp rod that will turn heads on the bank, you won’t go far wrong with the S-Lites.
4.5/5 boilie rating
Carp Dreaming 