I ordered an All Star titanium for a spinning rod (approx 6-12 lb line) and am wanting to build it up using the lightest components that are practical for me. I am looking for some light guides, but I'm not sure if the extra money the titanium guides cost is worth it in actual performance. How much weight difference is there really in the Titans vs. zirconia, titanium nitride, alconite, or SiC and will you really be able to tell the difference on the rod? I don't want the REC spinning guides--I just don't like the look. Also, what is a good option for the reel seat? Is the standard graphite as light as it gets? I don't really want to go with cork and slip rings but still want something light that looks decent. Any other thoughts on keeping a spinning rod light would be appreciated. Thanks.

I am not sure what the difference is, but I use the Alconote guides mostly for my rods and I just use the smallest I can get away with . You should be able for that rod go down to #6 fly guides for most of the rod and work your way up to the reel. For the reelseat, you could use a skeleton reelseat and make or purchase a cork insert. To me that would be about the lightest you could get for the reelseat.

I hadn't thought of the skeleton seat with cork insert. I like that idea a lot. I'm also considering the Batson M series guides. Those things go down to a size 4. I'm not sure if they would be lighter than Titans in size 7 or 8, but I would imagine that they would be close. Then again, I've been wrong before...

The Titan guides are lighter. The M guides will put the ring a lot higher. I feel too high
The titan or fuji concept guides I think are the way to go. IMHO

I aggree with Mike about the reel seat. The titanium framed SIC guides are the lightest regardless of the
maker. Very spendy though! I too like Batson Ent. and of course Fuji concept has always been hard to beat.

Tight Lines !!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..