Rods · Spod and marker work · Our take
Free Spirit Hi-S Black SPM Rod
Black Edition SPM, available in 12ft and 13ft, with 50mm ringing
A proper long-range workhorse for Spombs, spod mixes and marker duty, with a softer tip that keeps the whole job feeling smooth rather than brutal.
- Available in 12ft and 13ft lengths, with 50mm ringing.
- The 13ft version has an approximate 4.5lb test curve.
- Built from Japanese low-resin 40T carbon with a full 1K weave.
- Designed for Spombing, spod work and long-range marker fishing.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Free Spirit Hi-S Black SPM Rod, not the standard Hi-S SPM finish. The Black Edition uses a black 1K clone reel seat, matt black S-Lite guides, a black Acetile butt cap and collars, and a full black 1K weave.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A high-quality, focused spod and marker rod that earns strong marks for smooth long-range work, though its specialist nature won’t suit every swim.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality9.7/10
- Performance9.6/10
- Impact on Fish Catching7.9/10
- Ease of Use8.8/10
- Value for Money8.6/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Long-range carp anglers. The powerful blank, 50mm ringing and 13ft option are made for getting bait and markers out towards the far side.
- Anglers who want smoother Spombing. The softer SPM tip helps the Spomb turn over quickly without making every cast feel harsh or clumsy.
Maybe skip if
- Small-water or margin specialists. A long, powerful spod rod can be more faff than help when the far bank is only a chuck away.
- Anyone wanting one rod for every job. This is a dedicated baiting and marker tool, not a general-purpose carp rod for playing fish.
The lowdown
Introducing the Free Spirit Hi-S Black SPM Rod
A proper long-range workhorse for Spombs, spod mixes and marker duty, with a softer tip that keeps the whole job feeling smooth rather than brutal.
- Available in 12ft and 13ft lengths, with 50mm ringing.
- The 13ft version has an approximate 4.5lb test curve.
- Built from Japanese low-resin 40T carbon with a full 1K weave.
- Designed for Spombing, spod work and long-range marker fishing.
Quick verdict
The verdict
This is a cracking spod and marker rod for anglers who want distance without a tip that feels totally lifeless. The softer SPM tip helps load and turn over a Spomb smoothly, while the Hi-S build gives you the backbone to work at range.
The 13ft model is the serious long-range option, especially with its approximate 4.5lb test curve. The 12ft version should be easier to live with in tighter swims and still has plenty about it. Not cheap-looking tackle, and not a subtle little tool — but for proper range work, it’s a bob-on bit of kit.
A high-quality, focused spod and marker rod that earns strong marks for smooth long-range work, though its specialist nature won’t suit every swim.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 9.7/10
- Performance
- 9.6/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 7.9/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.8/10
- Value for Money
- 8.6/10
Japanese low-resin 40T carbon, a full 1K weave and smart Black Edition fittings give it a properly premium feel.
The softer SPM tip should load Spombs smoothly while the powerful blank handles long-range work.
It helps you place bait and find spots more accurately, but it’s not a rod designed for playing carp.
The responsive tip and available 12ft option make it more approachable than an ultra-stiff distance tool.
It offers focused performance and high-end build quality, although specialist rods need regular use to justify the spend.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Free Spirit
Free Spirit Hi-S Black SPM Rod (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Free Spirit Hi-S Black SPM Rod
There’s a lot more to a spod rod than simply making it stiff and long. You want distance, obviously, but you also want the blank to load properly, the Spomb to turn over cleanly and the whole thing to feel repeatable. Nobody wants every baiting cast to be a full-on lottery. That’s where the Free Spirit Hi-S Black SPM Rod starts to make proper sense.
This is the Black Edition of Free Spirit’s SPM rod, aimed squarely at Spombing, spod work and long-range marker fishing. It comes in 12ft and 13ft versions, with 50mm ringing available. The 13ft model has an approximate 4.5lb test curve, so this is very much built for getting a baited rig or marker towards the business end of a lake.
The interesting bit is the SPM blank. Rather than relying on a completely unforgiving tip, it uses a softer, more responsive section up top. That helps a Spomb turn over faster and more smoothly, which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to clip up and repeatedly hit one area. A smoother cast usually means a tidier spread of bait, too.
The 13ft version is the one for proper horizon work. That extra length gives you useful leverage, especially when you’re casting a loaded Spomb or a marker setup into a headwind. It won’t magically turn a duff casting stroke into a world record, mind, but it gives a decent caster the tools to work at range without the rod feeling totally dead.
The 12ft option is likely to be the more versatile choice for everyday carp lakes. It should be easier to manoeuvre around awkward swims, overhanging branches and low banks, while still giving you plenty of poke for normal spod and marker jobs. If you’re not always fishing at maximum distance, that shorter format could be the sweeter one to live with.
Free Spirit has used Japanese low-resin 40T carbon for the blank, with a full 1K weave. In plain English, that points towards a light, crisp and responsive build rather than a heavy, soggy stick. The 12ft standard SPM version is listed at 250g for the blank and 382g built, which gives you an idea of the effort put into keeping the package manageable.
The Black Edition finish is smart without going daft. You get a black 1K clone reel seat, a black Acetile butt cap and collars, plus matt black S-Lite guides. The guides are mounted on the blank spine, helping keep the build aligned with the rod’s natural working curve. It’s all tidy, purposeful tackle rather than shiny nonsense for the sake of it.
The standard version has an abbreviated handle with a 500mm handle length. That keeps the back end fairly compact and suits the punchy casting style needed for spod work. It also makes the rod less cumbersome when you’re switching between a Spomb and a marker float, or when you’re setting up in a cramped swim with kit everywhere.
On the bank, the key thing is control. Clip up at a comfortable distance, load the rod progressively and let that softer tip do its job. Don’t try to bully it from the shoulders on every cast. Smooth acceleration will generally give you a straighter flight, less bait being lost in the air and a better chance of putting the next Spomb bang on the money.
So, is it for everyone? Not really, mate. If most of your fishing is short-range margin work, this is a fair bit of rod for the job. But if you want a dedicated tool for building a spot at distance, finding a clean area with a marker or sending bait into a crosswind, the Hi-S Black SPM looks a proper contender. It’s focused, nicely finished and built around making long-range work feel smoother rather than more brutal.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Lengths
- 12ft and 13ft
- Ringing
- Available with 50mm ringing
- 13ft test curve
- Approximately 4.5lb
- Blank
- Japanese low-resin 40T carbon with a full 1K weave
- Handle
- Standard version has an abbreviated handle, measuring 500mm
- Finish and fittings
- Black 1K clone reel seat, black Acetile butt cap and collars, matt black S-Lite guides; supplied in a rod sleeve
Specs checked with Free Spirit, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
A smoother way to reach the horizon
Spod rods can sometimes feel like broom handles with a reel seat. The Hi-S Black SPM takes a different route, using a softer, more responsive tip so the Spomb loads and turns over more quickly and smoothly.
That matters when you’re building a tight baited area. A progressive, controlled cast is much easier to repeat than a wild bosh that sends bait everywhere. Add the low-resin 40T Japanese carbon, full 1K weave and spine-mounted guides, and this is built around efficient casting rather than cheap brute force.
The build
A specialist rod with a smoother top end
The Hi-S Black SPM is built around long-range baiting and marker work, not playing carp. The Japanese low-resin 40T carbon blank and full 1K weave give it a crisp, high-spec feel, while the SPM profile keeps the tip softer and more responsive than a totally rigid spod blank.
That softer tip is the clever bit. With a loaded Spomb, you want the rod to compress and turn over cleanly rather than simply stopping dead. It should help you find a repeatable rhythm, especially when you’re clipped up and trying to keep a baited patch tight.
Worth knowing. The 13ft version is around 4.5lb test curve and comes with the long-range angler in mind. The 12ft version is the more manageable pick for tighter swims and mixed-distance work.
On the bank
Pick your length around the venue
Go 13ft if you’re regularly fishing big pits, open banks and far-side spots. The extra length gives you leverage and helps when you’re pushing a Spomb into a headwind. It’s the one for anglers who want to make the most of a solid casting technique.
The 12ft model makes more sense if your venues are a bit more cramped or you often fish at medium range. It should be less of a faff around trees and rod pods, while still handling spod and marker work properly.
Whichever length you choose, keep the casting smooth. Set the line clip carefully, use a sensible Spomb load and let the blank do the work. A controlled cast will beat a wild bosh when you’re trying to create a tight feeding area.
Worth knowing. This isn’t a carp-playing rod. Keep it as your baiting and marker tool, then let your proper fishing rods handle the screaming take and the final stages of landing a lump.
Quick answers
The stuff anglers usually want to know
The Black Edition is more than a colour change in the hand: it has the black 1K clone reel seat, matt black S-Lite guides, black Acetile butt cap and collars, and the full black 1K weave. It’s a properly coordinated build.
The 50mm ringing option suits the distance brief, helping the line flow cleanly during longer casts. Pair it with a suitable spod reel and a line setup you’re confident with, and the rod should feel at home on big-water baiting jobs.
Worth knowing. It comes supplied in a rod sleeve, so it’s ready to protect and transport once you’ve got the rest of your spod setup sorted.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Softer SPM tip turns over Spombs smoothly and quickly.
- Strong, crisp blank for long-range spod and marker work.
- Proper Black Edition detailing, including matt black S-Lite guides and black 1K clone reel seat.
- Available in 12ft and 13ft options to suit different swims and casting styles.
Worth knowing
- The 13ft, 4.5lb-style setup may feel overpowered in small, snaggy or close-range swims.
- A specialist spod and marker rod, so it won’t replace your carp rods.
- The long-range focus and abbreviated handle won’t suit every angler’s preferred casting style.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01What’s the difference between the 12ft and 13ft versions?
What’s the difference between the 12ft and 13ft versions?
The 13ft version gives you extra casting leverage and is the more obvious choice for serious distance. The 12ft model should feel handier around trees, tight swims and shorter range work. Choose around your venues and casting style, not just the biggest number.
02What is the SPM tip designed to do?
What is the SPM tip designed to do?
The SPM blank has a softer, more responsive tip. That helps the rod turn over Spombs more quickly and smoothly, making controlled, repeatable baiting easier when you’re trying to build a tight spot.
03Can it be used for marker work?
Can it be used for marker work?
Yes. It’s designed for long-range marker work as well as Spomb and spod fishing. The blank gives you the power to cast a marker out, while the responsive tip helps with feeling the lakebed and keeping the setup manageable.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: the verdict. The strongest reasons to choose it are softer spm tip turns over spombs smoothly and quickly. and strong, crisp blank for long-range spod and marker work.; the main trade-off is the 13ft, 4.5lb-style setup may feel overpowered in small, snaggy or close-range swims..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Softer SPM tip turns over Spombs smoothly and quickly.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Long-range carp anglers: The powerful blank, 50mm ringing and 13ft option are made for getting bait and markers out towards the far side.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The 13ft, 4.5lb-style setup may feel overpowered in small, snaggy or close-range swims.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Free Spirit Hi-S Black SPM Rod
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Owner reports
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Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Free Spirit Hi-S Black SPM Rod. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
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