Van Staal VSX2 High Speed Spinning Reel

Unibody sealed. Faster gearing. The Van Staal evolution.

The Van Staal VSX2 is the new high-speed evolution of the reel that's been the surfcaster's gold standard for 30 years. The X2 keeps everything Van Staal owners love about the original VS Series — the bombproof unibody construction, the fully sealed waterproof design that you can literally drop in the surf, the lifetime serviceability — and adds the faster gear ratios and ergonomic upgrades anglers have been asking for. New longer handle and oversized power knob deliver more cranking torque. Oversized clutch on the pinion side means instant hooksets when a bass crushes your plug. Three sizes covering the 150 (light inshore and back bay) through the 250 (full surf and offshore).

Key Features

• New unibody design — increased strength, full waterproof sealing
• Faster gear ratios — the high-speed evolution Van Staal owners asked for
• Longer handle and oversized power knob for more cranking torque
• Oversized power drag knob for fast, precise drag adjustments
• Oversized clutch on pinion side — instant, powerful hooksets
• 8 stainless steel ball bearings throughout
• Fully serviceable for life by Van Staal
• Hand-assembled in the USA
• Three sizes from light inshore through full surf

Specs

Rigging & Use

• 150: light inshore, schoolies, back-bay striper, fluke — 20-30 lb braid
• 200: the do-it-all Northeast surf reel — 30-50 lb braid
• 250: trophy striper, jetty work, light offshore — 50-65 lb braid
• You can dunk these reels — literally. Fully sealed unibody means a wave through the casting platform doesn't hurt anything.
• Annual service through Van Staal keeps them performing for decades — we see Van Staal reels in the shop that are 15+ years old still fishing

Why We Like It

Van Staal is the surfcaster's reel because they hold up to abuse that destroys other brands — literal submersion, sand, salt, getting dropped on rocks, all of it. The X2 keeps that bombproof reputation and finally answers the one critique long-time owners had: needs to be faster. The new gearing delivers it. At nearly $1,000, this isn't an everyday-purchase reel — but if you fish hard 50+ days a season and want a reel that'll be your only reel for the next decade, this is the math that makes sense.