DMK (Chinese: 徳米克) is an excellent Chinese Domestic Market CDM fishing reel manufacturer. They’re probably best known as the company that makes DC BFS reels, and apparently manufacture all of the DC systems for all the different BFS reels in China.
In the US, DMK is sold as Purelure on Amazon, and either DMK or Purelure on Aliexpress. There’s a few other names depending on geos, but DMK or Purelure will find the results of the reels. I’ll be referring to DMK/Purelure interchangeably in this article.
Purelure reels are fantastic, and punch way above their price point for most models. Over the last year, I’ve acquired and fished with a majority of the reels, and found interesting consistencies:
- All the reels generally perform well
- Price is mostly related to frame material, not castability or functionality
- There’s a ton of interchangeable parts and pieces across the reels
Parts compatibility is shown to emphasize how similar most of these reels are, and to show that, with few exceptions, although the price varies, you’re essentially buying similar versions of a very similar system. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as companies like Daiwa, Kastking, and many others do this as well as part of their process.
Model by Model Review
Silver Feather – 60AIR HG
The original Silver Feather is a magnetic brake BFS reel that started hitting Aliexpress around 2023, and made an instant splash as an extremely lightweight, excellent caster. One of the main features is that it weighs only 119g, which at the time and still in 2026, is far lighter than every JDM reel on the market.
Price and availability: Although it is no longer sold in 2026, the original price was around $120, but often went on sale for as low as $80.
Fishing notes: This reel sings. It is an effortless caster that can throw less than a gram out of the box, and the braking is very good at preventing backlashes. I purchased mine second-hand from none other than Aaron Hunt in 2025, and it’s been great.
Parts Compatibility:
The original Silver Feather is the only reel in the DMK system to use a smaller spool bearing than the others. For this reason, it is incompatible with all other reels.
The original Silver Feather does share (mostly) the same frame and same (interchangeable) sideplate as the 2025 Cheetah Air’s magnetic brake sideplate.
Silver Feather Elite – 60ELITE XG
The Silver Feather Elite is the successor to the original Silver Feather, and also uses magnetic brakes. Introduced in 2024 with an updated frame design and larger spool bearing, the Silver Feather Elite shares a lot of the same features as the original silver feather, just a touch more refined.
Price and Availability: As of January 2026, the Silver Feather Elite is still being sold, and is available via Purelure on Amazon for around $120.
Fishing notes: This is the benchmark that I compare other CDM reel performance to. I routinely use it to cast 0.5g lures to small crappie and panfish, and it not only casts far, but has been extremely hard for me to backlash. The brakes are easy to dial in, and changing from 0.5-2g lures doesn’t require much adjustments, which is a huge bonus for ultra light weight BFS. I purchased this reel new in 2024 from Aliexpress.
Parts Compatibility:
The Silver Feather Elite spool is interchangeable with the Cheetah Air magnetic brake spool. The spools are identical in specs, just different colors.
The frame of the Silver Feather Elite is (mostly) the same as the Silver Feather MIIEC, just different colors.
Interestingly, you can turn the Silver Feather Elite into a DC reel by swapping sideplates with the Silver Feather MIIEC, Cheetah Air Creek, or Cheetah Air Metal.
Silver Feather MIIEC – EXA601 XG / EXA602 XG
The Silver Feather MIIEC is a BFS DC reel, and one of the first (if not the first) CDM reels to not be dependent on an app for use. Introduced in 2024, the Silver Feather MIIEC popularized the DC system in CDM reels for BFS.
Price and availability: The Silver Feather MIIEC retails for around $180 for the US market via Purelure on Amazon, and sits at the top for DMK in price. That said, the newer reels (listed below) all cast similarly, and some have higher quality frame materials, making this reel a tough sell in 2026. Additionally, The MIIEC received an extremely minor update in 2025 (sold as model EXA602 XG) where the line guide was widened slightly, and white and pink color options were added.
Fishing Notes: This reel has stayed in my car since I got it, paired with a Purelure telescoping pack rod, and used dozens of times on those “I wonder if there’s fish in that creek” stops. It is smooth, easy to cast, and has been very reliable. I purchased this reel new in 2024 from Aliexpress.
Parts compatibility:
The Silver Feather MIIEC spool is interchangeable with all other DC spools that DMK offers across all their reels. All DMK DC spools (except the Cheetah Air Creek) are identical spec-wise, and the only difference is the color.
Additionally, the side plates of the Cheetah Air Creek, and Cheetah Air Metal; and you can turn the MIIEC into a mag brake reel with the Silver Feather Elite sideplate and spool.
Silver Feather Plus – ETA601 XG
I do not own a Silver Feather Plus, and because it uses an app and a battery charger to charge and set the DC brakes, I can’t recommend it, especially at the price. I can’t confirm if the spool or sideplate are compatible with other reels. If you’re interested, here’s a few links about it:
Purchase:
Cheetah – EXB601 XG
The entry level reel in the DMK lineup, the Cheetah is a DC BFS reel came out in early 2025. While it’s marketed as having less DC braking options than all the other reels in the DMK lineup, in real-world use the settings don’t make much difference, and otherwise this reel is fantastic for the price.
Price and availability: This reel cost about $80 and sometimes less on sale via Purelure on Amazon for the US market. It also has a few color options in white, black, and pink.
Fishing notes: This reel casts just as well as the Silver Feather MIIEC, at half the price. What more is there to say? It is excellent. I purchased this reel new in early 2025.
Parts Compatibility:
The DC spool is compatible with all the other DC spools. Unfortunately, other than the spool, most of the rest of the reel does not share the same frame or sideplates as other DMK reels.
Cheetah Air – EXW601 HG
The Cheetah Air is a DC BFS reel that combines a lot of the best components of the other reels, making it the most complete reel to me in the entire DMK lineup. Additionally, it is sold with an optional side plate and spool that makes it a mag braked reel. The out-of-the-box combination basically provides you with a Silver Feather Elite and Silver Feather MIIEC, all together. The Cheetah Air was introduced in mid-2025, and the extra spool was brought to market in fall 2025.
Price and availability: the Purelure Cheetah Air costs $130 alone, and $130 with the mag brake spool and sideplate. The sideplate and spool cost $25.
Fishing notes: If I had to recommend one reel in the entire DMK lineup, it’s this one hands down for the price. As of January 2026, I have fished it multiple times with the DC spool, and twice with the mag brake spool, and both have matched the performance of their native spool family siblings. For the price, I personally find this to be the best BFS reel to buy for under $150 in 2026. I purchased my reel new in mid 2025, and purchased the optional spool in winter 2025, both from Aliexpress.
Parts Compatibility:
The Cheetah Air shares the same sideplate as the original Silver Feather.
Cheetah Air Creek and Cheetah Air Metal – EXAC602 HG
The Cheetah Air Creek and Cheetah Air Metal are DC BFS reels that share a higher quality metal frame. The Cheetah Air Creek has an extra shallow spool and is a 7.5:1 gear ratio, while the Cheetah Air Metal has the same spool as the rest of the DMK DC reels and an 8.5:1 gear ratio. Both reels were introduced in winter 2025.
Price and availability: The Cheetah Air Creek and Cheetah Air Metal cost
Fishing notes: I have the Cheetah Air Creek, but not the Cheetah Air Metal.
For the Cheetah Air Creek, I do not like it at all. The regular DC spool that DMK uses casts under 1 gram without issues. The extra shallow spool that comes with the Air Creek, in my limited time out with it so far, has given me nothing but problems. I have had backlashes, overruns, and worst of all; multiple times I’ve had my line slip between the spool and wrap around the spool shaft. I popped a regular DMK DC spool in to test, and all the problems went away, indicating to me that it’s a spool issue. All that to say, I wouldn’t recommend the Cheetah Air Creek at the moment, unfortunately. I had very high hopes.
I do not own the Cheetah Air Metal, although who knows if I get one in the coming year. That said, I imagine it’s the better buy if you’re looking for a reel that has a more solid, durable frame, and given the rest of the reels DMK makes, I cannot imagine it will cast any differently than the rest.
Parts Compatibility
The Cheetah Air Creek and Cheetah Air Metal are completely interchangeable with each other. Additionally, you can use any DC spool from any DMK reel with either model.
The sideplate for the Cheetah Air Creek and Cheetah Air Metal can be swapped with the Silver Feather MIIEC. If you’d like to turn either reel into a mag-braked reel, you can also swap the sideplate and spool with the Silver Feather Elite.
DMK Purelure Reel Spec Comparison Chart
| Reel | Price (Amazon US Feb 2026) | Reel Weight | Frame Material | Lure Range | Brake Type | Spool Capacity (PE) | Gear Ratio | DC Modes |
| Silver Feather | Discontinued | 119g | Carbon Fiber | 1-15g | Magnetic | 0.8# – 110m 1.0# – 90m | 7.5:1 | N/A |
| Silver Feather Elite | $139 (Dankung. Not sold on Amazon currently) | 139g | Carbon Fiber/Aluminum | 1-15g | Magnetic | 0.8# – 110m 1.0# – 90m | 7.5:1 or 8.5:1 | N/A |
| Silver Feather MIIEC | $179 | 146g | Carbon Fiber/Aluminum | 1-15g | DC | 0.8# – 180 1.0# – 140 | 7.5:1 or 8.5:1 | 2 |
| Silver Feather ETA Plus | $189 | 146g | Carbon Fiber/Aluminum | 1-15g | DC (app) | 0.8# – 180 1.0# – 140 | 8.5:1 | 5 (change using app) |
| Cheetah | $79 | 142g | Nylon | 1-15g | DC | 0.8# – 180 1.0# – 140 | 8.5:1 | 1 |
| Cheetah Air | $99 | 135g | Carbon Fiber/Aluminum | 3.5-17g | DC | 0.8# – 180 1.0# – 140 | 7.6:1 | 3 |
| Cheetah Air (optional spool / side plate) | $25 | N/A | Carbon Fiber | $9 | Magnetic | 0.8# – 110m 1.0# – 90m | N/A | N/A |
| Cheetah Creek | $129 | 150g | Metal | 1-7g | DC | 0.6# – 75m 0.8# – 60m | 7.6:1 | 3 |
| Cheetah Metal | $129 | 150g | Metal | 3.5-17g | DC | 0.8# – 180 1.0# – 140 | 8.5:1 | 3 |
Which is the best DMK reel to buy currently?
The Cheetah Air with both spools. Hands down.
Do DC drive modes make a difference?
For me, no, not really. Maybe to someone else it makes a difference, but they all have master mode. Which is all I use. It’s pretty backlash free, at least comparatively.
I already have a DMK reel, should I upgrade?
No. If you need a second reel, cool. But there is no upgrade, they all cast and perform extremely similarly.
Reminder: All CDM DC Reels are from DMK
I’m about 99% certain that DMK is the manufacturer for all DC braking systems in CDM reels.
Loongze is the most notable to use DMK’s DC technology, but if you see other cheap DC reel alternatives on Aliexpress or similar, I am all but positive those parts are coming directly from DMK.
Conclusion
DMK / Purelure makes some pretty great reels, especially for the price. You really can’t go wrong with any of them, but I’d say the cheaper options provide the best bang for your buck. Feel free to email any questions if you have them and I’ll be happy to help!
