The Hedgehog bearings will give you a lot more distance over the stock ones.

I'd be curious of your definition of "a lot" and how you came up with your data. I'm not attacking your personal opinion or the bearing....just curious.

I run BOCA's in all of my reels. I'd never tell you brand A makes a better bearing than brand B....because in all honesty, who knows where they are made and how they are produced. Secondly, I'm not sure that anyone could ever "legitimately" say "This bearing made me cast <insert distance> further. The reason being is that you can not replicate 2 identical casts back to back or at the same time using the same exact force, rod load, degree of cast or anything else so that you could test a stock bearing over a non stock bearing. It's impossible without using a computer aided device in a controlled environment.....and I haven't seen a company show those results yet in a casting situation. Do they give you added free-spool time? Absolutely. Are they somewhat smoother? I think in the proper environment and based on what you are replacing then absolutely. Do they have the potential to add a few feet to a few yards of distance? I'd like to think they do but honestly in the 5yrs I've ran them.....I can't say that by adding them I've definitely "gained distance" in my cast. Do they make your casts more efficient? Again.....I think so, but how do you prove that?

At the end of the day, I run them because mentally, it makes me feel like my gear is solid, potentially operates more efficiently and has "the potential" to cast further. In tournament fishing.....the mental aspect is huge. So ya......I use them. I guess the same comparison could be said about using a hydrowave.......

IMO if you have $15 - $30 to blow x <insert quantity> number of reels......then go for it. Me personally, I think I'd rather invest that same money into a seminar with a pro, a guide trip to learn a technique or a new Metanium in my arsenal. That's just my opinion though. I've used ABEC7's for about 5yrs and all my Curado's have them. My new Shimano Aldebaren's do not have them and cast and feel better than my upgraded Curado's. Again....my 2 cents.

Well......if wow factor is what you are after, I hate to tell you but you are probably going to be disappointed. Again....nice upgrade if you have money to blow, but it's not going to put more fish in your boat so to speak. I have them......if I had to do it all over again I would have kept my $30 x 20 reels and bought a pair of strippers for the night. I would have at least had a good story to tell afterwards.

In all honestly though.....they have benefits, I'm just not sure they live up to the hype the "pro-staffers" try to sell you on when they say "brand-x will give you 20 more yards and reduce your fatigue by 20%....blah blah blah".

I'd be curious of your definition of "a lot" and how you came up with your data. I'm not attacking your personal opinion or the bearing....just curious.

I run BOCA's in all of my reels. I'd never tell you brand A makes a better bearing than brand B....because in all honesty, who knows where they are made and how they are produced. Secondly, I'm not sure that anyone could ever "legitimately" say "This bearing made me cast <insert distance> further. The reason being is that you can not replicate 2 identical casts back to back or at the same time using the same exact force, rod load, degree of cast or anything else so that you could test a stock bearing over a non stock bearing. It's impossible without using a computer aided device in a controlled environment.....and I haven't seen a company show those results yet in a casting situation. Do they give you added free-spool time? Absolutely. Are they somewhat smoother? I think in the proper environment and based on what you are replacing then absolutely. Do they have the potential to add a few feet to a few yards of distance? I'd like to think they do but honestly in the 5yrs I've ran them.....I can't say that by adding them I've definitely "gained distance" in my cast. Do they make your casts more efficient? Again.....I think so, but how do you prove that?

At the end of the day, I run them because mentally, it makes me feel like my gear is solid, potentially operates more efficiently and has "the potential" to cast further. In tournament fishing.....the mental aspect is huge. So ya......I use them. I guess the same comparison could be said about using a hydrowave.......

IMO if you have $15 - $30 to blow x <insert quantity> number of reels......then go for it. Me personally, I think I'd rather invest that same money into a seminar with a pro, a guide trip to learn a technique or a new Metanium in my arsenal. That's just my opinion though. I've used ABEC7's for about 5yrs and all my Curado's have them. My new Shimano Aldebaren's do not have them and cast and feel better than my upgraded Curado's. Again....my 2 cents.

Well......if wow factor is what you are after, I hate to tell you but you are probably going to be disappointed. Again....nice upgrade if you have money to blow, but it's not going to put more fish in your boat so to speak. I have them......if I had to do it all over again I would have kept my $30 x 20 reels and bought a pair of strippers for the night. I would have at least had a good story to tell afterwards.

In all honestly though.....they have benefits, I'm just not sure they live up to the hype the "pro-staffers" try to sell you on when they say "brand-x will give you 20 more yards and reduce your fatigue by 20%....blah blah blah".

Have you EVER tried a set of the Hedge Hog air bearings?? Yes or NO. If you haven't then how can anyone take your "opinion" seriously. It is based on nothing.
FYI am also not a prostaffer for anyone. I just offered the OP my actual experience with air bearings not just my opinion.