Best Carp Landing Nets

The Fox Horizon X4S isn't our best-reviewed net for no reason. At £98.99, it offers excellent value for money, high-end build quality without the eye-watering prices some brands charge for gimmicky features you'll never use.

The high modulus carbon construction of the handle and arms but with extra diameter makes a huge difference to the net rigidity. With most nets the handle and arms flex like crazy when you're actually trying to scoop a decent fish, the X4S remains rigid and under control. The stainless steel spreader block and spigots are machined to tighter tolerances so it all fits together smoothly with no wrestling match required as with the budget options.

Fox also offers three handle variations to cater for different fishing styles. The 8ft two-piece is fantastic for extra reach when fishing zigs or awkward swims, whilst the Explorer option with retractable handle is great for compact storage.

All three versions benefit from that gorgeous 2K carbon wrap finish and Japanese shrink wrap grips, which give you excellent control even with wet hands.

The Fox camo mesh is also properly fish-friendly with reinforced corners where cheaper nets often fail first. It also slices through the water with minimal resistance, making that final scoop so much easier, and it also remains relatively snag-free and shakes clean easily.

Compared to the Korda Spring Bow at £229 which also scores the same 8.9, you're saving over £130. The truth is, landing nets don't need spring-loaded arms or other gimmicky features.

They just need solid build quality, a handle that won't let you down, and mesh that's kind to fish. The Horizon X4S delivers all three and with stainless steel components throughout, this one should still be going strong decades from now.

With a price tag of £229, we are looking at one of the most premium landing nets available. But is the Korda Spring Bow as good as you'd hope from one of these high price-tag pieces of kit?

Everything from the JAG spreader block to the reverse taper carbon handle has been carefully considered and re-considered, and these features have evolved over the course of 2.5 years of development.

A tapered 6ft handle from 23mm down to 18mm may sound on the chunky side, but this gives an excellent combination of stiffness without the handle being heavy, plus the thicker construction is also surprisingly light in the hand as there's no need to add extra material to prevent flexing like thinner handles do. Thicker handle is also much more controllable as you try to net an errant fish.

The anodised aluminum spreader block is also stunning to look at thanks to its gun smoke ceramic finish, with machined cutouts throughout. But it also has practical benefits; oval-shaped arm entries for easy assembly, plus the 91-degree arm exit angle to create the perfect bow shape.

Oversized rounded arm ends to reduce mesh wear and heavy zero-stretch cord to hold the whole thing together.

Nice touches like having the whole net float without the need for a separate net float so it sits on the surface of the water as soon as you drop it in.

Hexmesh is of good quality, with medium depth that's large enough to comfortably retain a fish when you've hammered the stainless steel spike into the lakebed. The mesh slides through water easily and reinforced corners to prevent the common tear points.

The only issue is, at £229, the Spring Bow costs a considerable amount more than other nets that we reviewed in this category. The Spring Bow is undoubtedly excellent and you can't fault Korda on the engineering and build quality, but we've seen nets with an equal weighting score that are also really good, but for a lot less money.

One thing I don't like doing is overselling products that are perfectly good, just because they're cheaper than the top end alternatives. The Daiwa Infinity Landing Net is an excellent example of getting the most out of a mid-range price point.

The Daiwa Infinity range is one of Daiwa's higher-end offerings, so you are getting quality for the price, rather than paying an inflated sum for a brand name. The net is constructed from ultra-light carbon which does feel lighter than most nets I've used in recent years.

The handle is slender, so won't look out of place with contemporary rod designs and, if you're already using Infinity equipment, should slot in nicely with the rest of your kit.

The machined aluminium spreader block is very user-friendly with close tolerances that let the arms slip in and out without you having to struggle. A neat design detail on the two-piece model is how the EVA grip extends past the joint, making it really simple to separate the sections when packing away at the end of a session.

Nice touches like that make you feel like there's someone at Daiwa that actually goes fishing with this kit, as opposed to just CAD-ing it up in an office.

The 8mm olive green polyester mesh is a great compromise between being small enough not to damage fish, but with enough open area for it to drain as you're mopping up. There's 85cm of mesh depth so plenty of room for your fish to be nice and secure if you've buried the handle in the mud, or you need to keep your catch out of the water briefly.

Mesh quality on the Infinity is also better than you might expect at this price, with properly stitched areas at points of stress where the corners of nets are wont to let go in the first place.

Directly compared to the Fox Horizon X4S at the same price point, it's clear that Daiwa have taken a different approach, favouring being lightweight and manoeuvrable over maximum stiffness. For existing Infinity rod owners, that decision will make the net an obvious choice as it will complement your aesthetics on the bank!

For non-Daiwa anglers, those machined components combined with the quality carbon build and fish-friendly meshing would be commanding a higher price elsewhere. Daiwa's reputation for producing long-lasting kit is strong, so I'm confident that it'll serve you well for years to come.

This is a proper working net, and one that offers superb value for money. The ultra-stiff carbon handle has a 'chunky' feel and true rigidity with no lag when scooping a fish.

Something the cheaper alternatives simply cannot match.

Spread bar is moulded ABS plastic rather than machined metal, but it's more than up to the job here at this price and works with both one-piece and two-piece handle options.

Tapered carbon arms keep the weight down and the Japanese shrink wrap grip provides excellent control even with wet hands. Wychwood have also included a built-in net float which saves you having to purchase a separate float that would set you back another £10 to 15.

It's these little touches that make the Riot such great value.

The ultra-soft mesh has the Tactical camo pattern and is properly fish friendly. The 42" frame size will cope with typical UK carp of most sizes comfortably, including 30lb+ specimens and even catfish.

Mesh depth is sufficiently generous for safe fish retention with the handle resting in the margins.

The corners are not reinforced like the premium models, but the stitching looks robust enough for this budget. The two piece design breaks down compactly and it also includes a carry case, another nice touch when you'd expect to be paying £70 to 80 elsewhere for all these features.

If you are already running Wychwood Riot Cork rods, then this is the obvious choice to complement with matching branding and quality, but even if you're not a Wychwood user, the synergy of rigid carbon construction, fish friendly mesh and all the practical features mentioned makes this a proper tool rather than a budget compromise.

For the money it's hard to see a better all round UK carp fishing landing net.

At £34.99, the Prologic Avenger has to be the best value-for-money landing net in the range today. I'll be completely honest with you here: I wasn't expecting much from this model. Before testing it I fully expected to see all of the typical budget net compromises in action.

But Prologic have really surprised me here: the Avenger is actually pretty impressive for the price it's at.

The carbon composite handle is the first thing you'll notice. It's light and rigid, with no flex or give in the handle when you've got it outstretched over the water, even with a fish in the net. The 6ft length is a 2-section design, which means you've got real length for bank fishing and it packs down to 106cm for carrying.

Wowzers, that's seriously impressive for a net at under £35.

The 42" spreader arms are made from a composite material which keeps them nice and light, but doesn't compromise with strength either. They taper elegantly and the ABS spreader block is a simple design, but it's good at keeping everything nice and locked into place. The mesh is fish-friendly and gentle on scales, although it isn't quite as strong as some of the more upmarket options.

That's really the only compromise with this net, other than the simple ABS handle connector.

As a net for beginners or budget anglers, the Avenger has got everything covered. You're not missing out on any of the features or safety you need, and you can land your fish with full confidence. It's also a great option for having as a spare net, or even to take out and lend to your mates when they come fishing with you.

The build quality is well above what you'd expect for the price and the handle behaves itself like a handle costing twice the price.

The Avenger graphics also go well with Prologic's range of rods if you're that way inclined. But what matters most is that the Avenger has really shown that you don't need to spend loads of money to get something that's reliable and good to use.

If you've been on the lookout for a new landing net this one is an absolute no-brainer at this price point.

Available at £129.99, the Solar A1 Bow LOC brings proper high-end specification down to a more affordable price. It's Solar's attempt to bring the magic of their Bow-Loc quick-release mechanism down to earth, without the £250 price tag of their top-end P1 model.

And they've bloody well done it.

Bow-Loc, the main selling point, is the clever bit of business at the heart of the A1. Press a button and the arms fold themselves in to a compact storage shape. Extend them out and internal steel rods lock the whole thing in place, you'd have to snap the carbon arms before that mechanism gave way. It makes setting up and striking camp so quick and easy, you'll wonder how you ever fished without it.

The 3K carbon handle is dead stiff with no give at all, even when extended fully. Two sections of 3 feet means 6ft of reach and a total weight of just 1.15kg. Shrink-wrap grip on the handle gives a great purchase with wet hands and the laser-etched butt cap will protect the carbon from knocks at the bank-side.

It's proper kit.

The only place where Solar have cut the costs is the spreader block, it's glass-filled nylon, with stainless steel components rather than machined metal. But it's a smart place to save weight without losing strength. The deep soft mesh is fish friendly, the 42 inch arms are made of stiff carbon and you even get a waterproof PVC stink bag included with welded seams.

The A1 Bow LOC is serious value for anglers who are serious about fishing on a regular basis. There's no doubt that once you've tried the convenience of the Bow-Loc mechanism, it genuinely improves every fishing session, and the overall build quality is up to Solar's usual standard and should see you through for years of reliable service.

The ESP Onyx Quickdraw is a genuinely unique item compared to anything else on the market. The star of the show has to be the telescopic twist-lock handle. It telescopes from 44 inches to a full 6'3" and can be locked off at any point in between.

That is innovation.

Snookered in a tight swim with overhanging branches? Lock it off at 4 feet. Open water with fish feeding out of your reach? Extend to the max. Fishing from a boat? Lock it off somewhere in the middle. You'll never go without this level of flexibility once you've tried it. The twist-lock mechanism is simple to use, extend the handle to the desired length, twist it firmly to lock it and it's completely rigid even with a big fish thrashing around in the net.

Collapsed at just 44 inches, it's a great length to transport too. Same length as a 9-foot Quickdraw rod, so they can be strapped together. Super handy for anglers who walk to their swims or have limited space in their cars.

ESP's stainless steel spreader block is made in their UK factory in Oxford and is top notch. The high modulus carbon handle is also super stiff, with no flex in it at all.

The only real compromise on the Onyx Quickdraw is the mesh. It's a decent quality, deep olive colour, soft for the fish, good depth, but it's a few rungs down the quality ladder from the super premium handle and spreader block. At this price you'd want mesh of a similar quality throughout if it were possible, but you are really paying for the telescopic mechanism.

If you are the sort of angler that catches fish in a wide variety of situations, tight swims, boat fishing, open water then the Onyx Quickdraw has genuine value. The adjustability of the length will overcome some real practical issues that a normal fixed length net just can't solve.

It's a really good piece of kit and makes the task of landing a fish that much easier when you find yourself in awkward positions.

The Kaizen Green is the little brother to the Spring Bow and at £114.99, you are getting the same basic product for just over half the price. It's the reverse taper carbon handle that is stiff without being heavy, it's the floating for not having to worry about a net float and it's the stainless steel spike for holding fish in the margins.

The above are all authentic Spring Bow features but a lot cheaper. The main difference is the spreader block.

Instead of the machined aluminium JAG block you get on the Spring Bow, you have injection moulded plastic with an aluminium insert. Does it look as premium? No.

Does it perform just as well? Yes. The 6ft handle balances nicely and there is zero flex when lifting under fish.

The lack of flex is due to that reverse taper handle, it looks a bit chunkier than more modern slim poles, but all the engineering under the surface is just as good. The 42 inches with the shallow mesh as standard is fine for 99% of carp fishing in the UK.

If you prefer a deep mesh then Korda sell a deep mesh to fit it. The isotope slot in the spreader block holds a Korda Mini Stow-Lite for making the pole visible at night.

Included is the premium nylon sleeve, which is not always the case at this price. If you are already into the Kaizen Green rod range, then this one completes the range, coming in the same matt black and green colouring.

If you are an angler who likes the idea of proven Spring Bow tech, but the £229 price tag was way too much then the Kaizen Green is the one to go for. It is not quite as refined as the Spring Bow, but for the purpose of getting out and actually fishing, it will do everything you will need.

Priced at £59.99, the Gardner GTN offers great value as an affordable landing net. For under sixty quid you get a full carbon handle, decent 42-inch mesh and a workable nylon spreader block.

That's no cheapo handle, either, it's a proper carbon one, albeit not 3K carbon that you'll find on some premium nets. The spreader block is heavy duty nylon and not machined aluminium.

But it is worth noting that these are the only areas that Gardner have scrimped on to get the price down. And neither are issues that detract from the net's performance in any way shape or form.

Quite the contrary in fact. In terms of performance, the thing that really stands out with the GTN is how quick and easy it is to assemble.

The nylon spreader block has large entry holes for the arms, so they simply slot into place without any pushing or shoving required. I've used nets three times the price that have been more fiddly to put together.

The mesh is also impressive for the money. It's a universal gauge throughout, so it will run through the water without adding any drag, and it's also kind on fish with soft knotless construction.

It's a tad on the heavy side compared to high-end nets, and that is noticeable if you are holding it outstretched for any length of time, but for everyday netting situations it is fine. It also comes with a carry bag included, which is a nice touch at this price.

Against the majority of budget carp landing nets it wins by a nose on assembly time and mesh quality. If you've got £200 to spend then by all means spend it on something premium.

But if you are on a tighter budget and want a proper working landing net then the Gardner GTN is a very hard one to beat.