Avid Pro-Tect Carp Sack

How well is it built?

The Pro-Tect is a plain mesh sack rather than a framed sling, and the 7.8 reflects how simple it is. There's less to go wrong, but there's also less structure, so it relies on the quality of the mesh, the zip and the cords.

What's there is sensibly made. The zip is heavy duty and anti-snag, so it's less likely to catch when you close it, and a fastening clip holds it shut.

The clip-off 5m retention cord has a 3/8in bankstick thread on the end, so it screws straight onto a standard bankstick, and the safety H-block retention cord gives you a further securing point.

At 120 x 75cm it's a decent size for most UK carp, and the drawcord bag keeps it together between sessions. For a sack at this price, I think the build is solid enough, and you're not paying for anything you don't need.

Fish Care

The Pro-Tect's soft-touch, fish-friendly mesh is made for maximum airflow, which means water moves freely through the material while the carp is retained, and the soft finish should be gentle on scales and fins.

That matters more with a sack than with a framed sling, as the material is against the fish the whole time.

Because it's a sack, it relies on you staking it out in enough water, away from snags and strong sun. The anti-snag zip and its clip keep the fish inside, and the safety H-block cord gives you a second way to secure the sack.

Wet it before the fish goes in, and keep retention short, as fisheries and clubs often have their own rules on retaining carp.

A buoyant sling holds a fish at the surface, while a sack does the simpler job of holding it in the water. Overall, it's a soft, well-ventilated sack, and I think the 8.0 is fair.

Ease of Use

So, how easy is it to use? In most respects, very. You zip the fish in, fasten the clip, screw the 3/8in thread into a bankstick, and the clip-off 5m cord gives you a good length to reach the margin. When it's time to release, the cord unclips and the anti-snag zip opens easily.

Packing away is where it shines. It goes into its drawcord bag at just 28 x 14 x 8.5cm, which is small enough to live in a rucksack pocket or the bottom of a carryall all season.

The 7.9 is held back because a sack only retains. You'll still need a separate weigh sling and a set of scales to weigh the fish, and moving a carp from one to the other is an extra step. To be fair, that's the main thing to weigh up before buying one.

Is it good value for money?

It's one of the cheapest bits of retention kit you can buy, and value scores 8.8.

For the money, you get a soft mesh sack, a heavy-duty anti-snag zip with a clip, a clip-off 5m cord with a bankstick thread, a safety H-block cord and a drawcord bag, which is pretty much everything a sack needs.

Is there a reason to spend more? The Solar Tackle Worldwide Carp Sack XL With H Block is roomier and adds an integrated hi-vis H-Block and a reflective drawstring for low light.

If you'd rather weigh and retain in one piece of kit, the NGT XPR Floatation Sling does both and is still a cheap option.

Overall, I'd recommend the Pro-Tect to carp anglers who want a light, compact sack for short-term retention, especially those who already own a weigh sling and want something small to keep in the bag.