Redington Crosswater Outfit Review: Best First Kit?
Buy it if you want the cheapest complete 5 weight setup that is genuinely worth owning, and you would rather learn to cast than learn about line tapers. Skip it if you already own a reel and a line, because the rod on its own is not what you are paying for and buying separately will get you a better blank for the same money.
A 9 foot 5 weight with a RIO line already on the reel, for under $250.
Redington Crosswater Fly Fishing Outfit, 9 foot 5 weight, 4 piece
Under $250
A complete 9 foot 5 weight starter outfit: medium-fast four piece rod, pre-spooled Crosswater reel, RIO Mainstream WF5F line, leader and a zippered travel case.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Configuration | 9 foot, 5 weight, 4 piece |
|---|---|
| Rod action | Medium-fast graphite, described by Redington as offering excellent casting performance for beginners |
| Reel | Crosswater fly reel with a disc drag, pre-spooled and balanced |
| Line | RIO Mainstream WF5F |
| Also included | Leader, pre-rigged, plus a zippered travel case |
| Budget | Under $250 |
Specifications above come from Redington's published description of the Crosswater outfit. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Nine feet and 5 weight is the correct default for North American trout, and this outfit ships exactly that rather than a compromise length.
- A named RIO line rather than an unbranded one, which matters because line quality is the thing beginners feel most and understand least.
- Medium-fast is the right action for someone learning, since it loads at short range without being so soft that it collapses under a nymph rig.
- Four pieces in a zippered case, which is the format that actually survives being carried in a car all season.
Where it falls short
- The reel is the weak point and Redington does not pretend otherwise. It has a disc drag and it holds line. It is not smooth in the way a $150 reel is, and it is the first thing most owners replace.
- RIO Mainstream is an entry level line. It is a real line rather than a filler, and it will still be the second thing you replace, probably in your second season.
- A zippered soft case is not a hard tube. It protects against scuffs, not against a car door.
- For the same under-$250 budget bought separately you could have a noticeably better blank paired with a cheap reel. Whether that is a better outcome depends entirely on whether you enjoy making those choices.
What owners report
Published owner reviews of the Crosswater outfit are unusually positive for an entry product, and the reason is consistent: people report it arriving ready to fish and casting better than they expected. The rod draws the praise. The reel draws the criticism, with owners describing the drag as basic and the finish as plain, and returning reviewers commonly report having upgraded it while keeping the rod.
The other steady theme is Redington's warranty coming up in reviews from owners who have used it. For a first outfit that route matters more than it does at the top of the market, because a beginner is statistically more likely to shut a rod tip in a car door.
How it fits with the rest of your kit
The honest question is whether to buy an outfit at all, and at this price the answer is usually yes. The outfit against buying separately comparison explains why the maths flips somewhere above $300, which is exactly why this outfit is easier to recommend than the more expensive ones. Confirm the line class suits your water with the line weight calculator before you assume 5 weight, particularly if you fish wind.
For the field, the starter kit roundup puts this against everything else at the price, the Orvis Clearwater outfit is the premium step up and the Orvis Encounter is the 6 weight answer for windier water. When you do replace the line, the RIO Elite Gold is the same brand's flagship version of what is already on the reel.
Who it suits
- Anyone buying their first fly rod who wants to spend the first day casting rather than researching.
- Parents and gift buyers, because there is nothing left to get wrong after the box is opened.
- Experienced anglers wanting a cheap complete backup that lives in the truck.
Who should skip it
- Anglers who already own a 5/6 reel and a line, who should buy a better blank on its own.
- People who fish wind constantly, who want a 6 weight or a faster 5.
- Anyone who wants the reel to be good, since at this price no outfit gives you that.
Alternatives worth considering
Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod Outfit, 8 foot 6 inch 5 weight, 4 piece
Under $500
under $500 for better components throughout, though the listing is the 8 foot 6 inch 5 weight rather than a 9 foot, which suits smaller water rather than simply being nicer.
Check price on AmazonOrvis Encounter Fly Rod Outfit, 9 foot 6 weight, 4 piece
Under $250
A 9 foot 6 weight outfit at under $250 for anyone whose water is windy or holds bigger fish, where a 5 weight is the wrong tool rather than the cheaper one.
Check price on AmazonRedington Original Fly Rod, 5 weight 9 foot, medium-fast
Under $250
Redington's 9 foot 5 weight sold on its own for under $250, for someone who already has a reel and a line and only needs a blank.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Fly rod outfit against buying separately
- Line weight calculator
- Best fly fishing starter kit
- Orvis Clearwater outfit review
- RIO Elite Gold fly line review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Redington Crosswater outfit good for beginners?
It is one of the most sensible first purchases in fly fishing. It is a 9 foot 5 weight, which is the right default, the action is medium-fast, which is forgiving, and the line is already matched to the rod, which removes the single most common beginner mistake. The reel is basic and that is the correct place for the compromise to sit.
Redington Crosswater versus Orvis Clearwater outfit, which is better value?
The Crosswater at under $250, for most people. It is a full 9 foot 5 weight where the Clearwater listing is 8 foot 6 inches, and the extra tip height is worth more to a beginner nymphing an indicator than the Clearwater's better components are. The Clearwater wins on finish and on the reel, which are not the things that catch fish in a first season.
What will I need to replace first?
The reel, then the line. Owners consistently report keeping the rod and upgrading the reel, usually within a season or two, and replacing the RIO Mainstream line when it starts to crack or sink. Neither is urgent. A basic reel catches trout perfectly well, because a trout reel is mostly line storage with enough drag to stop an overrun.
Is a 9 foot 5 weight the right first fly rod?
For trout in North America, yes, and it is not close. A 9 foot 5 weight throws a size 18 dry on 6X, drifts a two fly nymph rig under an indicator and swings a small streamer, all with the same line. It is not the best tool for any one of those jobs and it is the only single rod that does all three acceptably.
Does it come with flies and tippet?
No. The outfit is rod, reel, line, backing, leader and a case. You will need tippet, flies, floatant, forceps and a net before a real day on the water, which is roughly another $80 to $150. If you want the whole shopping list in order, the starter kit roundup lays it out.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, line and leader standards, and verified owner reviews across retailers. We do not test gear in person, and every diameter, grain weight and breaking strength quoted here is the manufacturer's published figure unless we say otherwise, so check the spool label before you trust a number. Nothing here is professional instruction. Wading moving water is the real hazard in this sport: wear a snug wading belt, know the water temperature, and turn back rather than push through a crossing you are unsure of.
