yonny

Me too. That is now my cold weather/long session option ha ha....

Lol, yeah, just like me mate. I had an Armo for cold weather/long sessions and sold it after it had just sat in my carp room gathering dust for almost 3 years!!

And in typical fashion today the Trakker website shows the new Tempest Brolly V2.... and it's gone from 4.4 kg to 5 kg. Not a massive increase but an increase never the less. A step backwards for what I'd want and one less option on the market.

When the old ones went wrong he had to borrow one of my spare Micron M's, 20 years old, they never give up!

A close mate had the old ones. They went wrong after a couple of years so he bought the new ones last year. They've just started going wrong too.

I do know what you mean. If I'd not had issues with water I'd still be using them I have to admit.

Imo the delks perform better. It's just the reliability that's the issue.

FYI the Skeetex Ultralight was ripped off by Navitas who released the Lite Boot which is slightly cheaper for exactly the same thing. I've been using them for over a year now, they're great. No need to get a size up with either of them - they're already nice and big to accommodate the inner.

Agree @kevtaylor. I still have a set of old micron m's and they work perfectly. It' why i moved to ntxr's after water problems with delks. Guess what.... they've been flawless.

It's a good question Nige. That said, in many (most) other industries R&D is covered by investment of profits, not by hiking the price up.

The way that stuff lasts he might as well give up fishing lol....

Not sure I agree with that buddy. Price point is used as a marketing tool in all industries, although I agree it's at its worst in carp angling. I would blame the tackle firms working the price point far more than I would the anglers who want decent gear. I buy whatever I think is best for the job. Sometimes it's the cheapest on the market, others it's the most expensive. It is what it is. There always has been and always will be cheaper options out there. Pays your money takes your choice. Now that I agree with 100% mate!

I do know Aqua went after Cyprinus in the courts but it was about the name. That's why their version of the Fast 'n Light was rename the Rapide. They couldn't do anything about the design which backs up your theory @harpz_31.

The DXR with the vibration sensing was one of the best alarms of all time. They can't do it now as it infringes Delks patent. Battery life is awful however, you have been warned. The LXR is the same without vibration I understand. The RX is (I think) a different generation of the DXR. They're all wicked alarms. Even the old cheapo Microns were great. They just don't let you down.

Lovely part of the country Phil, my parents had a place in Cromer so we used to spend a lot of time there. We'd visit Sherringham, Salthouse and Wells too, happy times for me and my twin brother.

Funny thing is I actually gave up smoking maybe 4 years ago...... apart from when I'm fishing. I can go as long as I want without a Fag, it doesn't bother me at all, but as soon as I'm heading down the lake my baccy comes out. Crazy really. That's one 50g I just can't do with out.

Not really the kind of thing I'd normally buy but for less than 20 quid I thought why not...... if they save me 100g, which they will, then I'm happy. And I can stare at them when I'm blanking.

Andy they've just sold out......

I realise these are not for everyone and very tarty but South Customer Reels are doing the RAD Angling Carbon Distance Stick kits for £19.50. They're normally nearly 40 quid so if you want to treat yourself to some tartism whilst saving a little weight and money: https://www.southcustomreels.com/product-page/carbon-distance-stick-kit

Tackle Discounts were out of stock when I needed one, they often are, but worth waiting for if you're in no rush. I needed one pronto but even at full price the Wychwood at 90 odd quid is a bargain compared to the next lightest (Trakker RLX Superlite @ £180!!!!).

Yeah for sure @smufter, I'm not slating it, like I say it looks cool, it's just those extra kilos here and there are a big deal to me. The original (the one you have I believe) is quality, it just does my head in when these products are re-released with what to me are disadvantages over the original. The Fox Supa was the worst one.... it started off amazing, 4.5 kg.... they then re-released it with Ventec material (as a result of leaking even through it was the bell caps leaking, not the material) which added 2 kilos, then they released the Ultra which has another skin.... it weighs a ton now. Shame, I loved the original.

I've seen things that would support that.

Century, JAG and Cotswold Aquarius.... I can't think of anyone else apart from the bespoke bank-wear manufacturers that are still in the UK? ESP and Korda still make a couple of bits over here. You're Aqua's and Trakker's did the off some years ago. Still £££££££££££££ though.....

If you're keeping the 2.5's then I'd go with the 3.5's solely as a casting tool for distance work. I don't own Free Spirits but I've seen them all. They're all decent rods but the more you pay the better they'll get. The CTX are beasts but they're a little heavier than the E Class. If it's just for casting and you'll normally use the 2.5's elsewhere I'd stick with the cheaper CTX.

Imo the innovators such as Aqua set their price point so ridiculously high that I have zero sympathy for them when their tooling is used to manufacture for other organisations that are prepared to undercut them. After all, if the likes of Aqua's prices were reasonable there'd be less point in Cyprinus undercutting them. I've heard before that prices are high due to design/development costs - that's not right. In every other industry the manufacturers invest their own profits into R&D/product development to establish long term growth. Why is it acceptable for carp brands to hike the price up instead and pocket the profit? They chose not to invest as they do in other industries and ultimately they'll pay the price. All industries use price point as a marketing tool, I understand that, but when I see what is essentially a tent for 600 odd quid my sympathy goes out of the window. It can only benefit the angler imo. These big old brands are forces to be reckoned with nowadays and their marketing power will keep them going just fine, whereas anglers that aint bothered about an Aqua badge can get quality gear for half the price. Result.