G. Loomis IMX-Pro vs. GLX vs. NRX+
- Contenders
- 3
- Spec
- 7'1" MH XF Casting (853C JWR)
- Price band
- $380–$650
No comparison on this site is purer than this one. G. Loomis builds the identical 853C JWR spec, 7'1" medium-heavy extra-fast, 3/16–5/8 oz, 12–16 lb, in three material tiers: IMX-Pro, GLX, and NRX+. Same taper philosophy, same handmade-in-Woodland construction, same jig-and-worm job description. The only variable is the graphite, which means this page is really about what blank material is worth to you.
Open in the compare tool →Each spoke: percentile rank among all casting rods(n=7,828). Dashed ring = cohort median.
| Spec | G. Loomis IMX-PRO 853C JWR | G. Loomis GLX 853C JWR | G. Loomis NRX+ 853C JWR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series● | IMX Pro Jwr Casting | GLX 23 Jwr Casting | NRX Plus Jig Worm Casting |
| Length | 7'1" | 7'1" | 7'1" |
| Power | MH | MH | MH |
| Action | XF | XF | XF |
| Lure | 3/16–5/8oz | 3/16–5/8oz | 3/16–5/8oz |
| Line | 12–16lb | 12–16lb | 12–16lb |
| Pieces | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| MSRP● | $380 | $550 | $650 |
| Buy | Buy from G. Loomis | Buy from G. Loomis | Buy from G. Loomis |
● = specs differ. We may earn a commission from purchases made through affiliate links.
The verdicts
The IMX-Pro is the sane stopping point
At $380 the IMX-Pro delivers the JWR taper that made this rod family famous, with more sensitivity than almost anything below Loomis' own price sheet. For anglers stepping up from a $200 rod, the IMX-Pro is the jump you actually feel. Loomis' own hierarchy places GCX below it at $260 if even this stretches the budget; above it, you are paying for refinement, not capability.
Full specs: G. Loomis IMX-PRO 853C JWR →The GLX is the legend, and still the benchmark
GLX graphite has defined 'sensitive' in bass fishing for three decades, and the 2023-generation GLX JWR keeps the crown: lighter swing weight than the IMX-Pro and a bottom-feel that turns sand-to-gravel transitions into information. At $550 it costs more than most complete combos. The anglers who buy it already know why; if you're unsure whether you'd notice, buy the IMX-Pro.
Full specs: G. Loomis GLX 853C JWR →The NRX+ is the last two percent
The NRX+ stacks Loomis' most advanced material system onto the same JWR taper for $650, and the gains over GLX are real but marginal: a touch lighter, a touch crisper on the recovery. This is the rod for the angler who fishes jigs a hundred days a year and treats gear as the final variable under their control. Everyone else gets more from spending the difference on time off work.
Full specs: G. Loomis NRX+ 853C JWR →Frequently asked questions
Are the three rods really the same spec? ▾
Yes: 7'1", medium-heavy, extra-fast, 3/16–5/8 oz, 12–16 lb, in all three tiers. The 853C JWR is one of the few specs Loomis builds across its whole material ladder, which makes it the cleanest possible material comparison.
What about the cheaper GCX? ▾
The GCX 853C JWR exists at about $260 with the same spec and sits below IMX-Pro in Loomis' hierarchy. It is the entry point to the JWR taper if $380 is out of reach.