Cradle frame style

[Adders27]

Recommend me a sensibly priced carp cradle ( metal framed one ) 

Ideally packs away flat and isn’t huge in size !

I have the Avid Compact Cradle Mat and it’s nice but packs away a bit bulky. 
 

Thinking of a frame style with legs but I’m confused on what size to get ( UK waters only ) 

Ideally less than £100 ! 

[greekskii]

A lot of places are now banning these type of cradles due to fish being damaged by them. 
Just a heads up as in all honestly there’s some great packaway mats out there now, sonik just released a zip up one. 

[Adders27]

Yeah I’m thinking my Avid Compact cradle mat is better 

[elmoputney]

4 hours ago, Adders27 said:

Yeah I’m thinking my Avid Compact cradle mat is better 

If it ain't broke, just save space somewhere else, my mat is pretty massive but tbh I quite like having a big mat as I know it protects the fish I occasionally catch lol. 

[kevtaylor]

Sorry but I've disliked these raised-frame ones from the beginning,  seem dangerous, stuff stabbing through from underneath or just the fish flipping out your hands and missing the thing or bashing itself on the frame.

I ordered an Avid mat with sides but was out of stock so they sent me a Tracker one instead, it is bulky packed down to be honest but great for the fish.

Might look for something smaller packed down - suggestions anyone?

[Adders27]

Fox Easy Mat or the NGT copy 

[salokcinnodrog]

On 06/06/2025 at 17:46, Adders27 said:

Recommend me a sensibly priced carp cradle ( metal framed one ) 

Ideally packs away flat and isn’t huge in size !

I have the Avid Compact Cradle Mat and it’s nice but packs away a bit bulky. 
 

Thinking of a frame style with legs but I’m confused on what size to get ( UK waters only ) 

Ideally less than £100 ! 

I must admit I really don't like metal framed cradles, fish thrash and damage themselves, or thrash and get dropped onto metal.

I have 2 unhooking mats, a big Rod Hutchinson Cabrio Unhooking Mat, and a Chub Xtra Protection Mat. 

I do struggle with a mat with deep sides due to a screwed back, lifting a fish can be painful, and having to bend over a walled cradle is a killer, so the majority of the time I use the Chub Mat. If I need to use the barrow to transport my gear I take the Cabrio mat as it makes a really handy barrow bag.

The Chub mat folds in half and stores my pod bag and centre bar, my weigh sling and sack, and a spare pair of storm poles which double as distance sticks and camera phone mount.

 

[kevtaylor]

14 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said:

If I need to use the barrow to transport my gear I take the Cabrio mat as it makes a really handy barrow bag.

I'd like a mat that's also a sling and can carry rods and net inside for stalking, trouble is this then doesn't have sides like a cradle.  I don't want yet another mat, but one doesn't seem to do everything 🤷‍♂️