ESP Boiliepult Catapult

How well is it built?

The cone pouch is the standout part of the build. It's a perforated cone with a finger loop at its base, and that shape keeps the boilies sitting in a tight bunch rather than spreading out across a flat pouch. The handle has a camo-patterned, shaped grip that joins an open frame.

The elastic is twin-walled natural latex, and natural latex has plenty of power and stretch. To be fair, it isn't the hardest-wearing material and needs swapping regularly, so you'll want a spare set in your tackle bag.

Does the latex wear count against it? A little, but every natural latex pult has the same trade-off, and replacement pouches and latex are easy to get hold of. The cone itself is the clever part, and that's what lifts the build above a basic pult.

For a specialist boilie catapult, I think 8.5 is a fair build score.

Accuracy & Range

This is where the Boiliepult earns its keep. A cone keeps ten or so 18mm boilies together as they're released, so they should fly as a group rather than scattering, and that's what you want when you're building a bed of bait over one spot.

Around 40 metres is a realistic grouping range with practice, and you can push further by loading fewer baits, accepting a smaller group in exchange for the extra distance.

The long 38cm latex sections should give a smooth, steady acceleration, which helps keep each pull consistent from one to the next.

How does that compare? The Korda Katapult Heavy is also made for long-range boilie work, but it uses a small conventional pouch. The cone is the more specialised answer for grouping, and for me that's the Boiliepult's strongest point.

It's not a pult for spraying particles, but for tight boilie groups the 8.5 is well earned.

Ease of Use

Loading is quick, as the cone takes a handful of boilies and holds them in place, so there's less fumbling and fewer baits dropping at your feet. The finger loop gives you a secure hold on the pouch as you draw back, and the shaped handle sits comfortably in the palm.

The long latex means a long draw, and that suits a smooth, steady pull rather than a short snatch. It may take a session or two to get your release and angle consistent at range, but that's true of any boilie pult.

The main bit of upkeep is the latex itself. Keep an eye on it, swap it before it perishes and you won't lose a pull halfway through baiting. A spare pouch is worth carrying too, so a worn one doesn't cut your baiting short.

Overall, it's straightforward to use for boilie work, and I think 8.5 is fair.

Is it good value for money?

Is it worth the money? It costs a little less than the Korda Katapult and slightly less than the Trakker Boilie Pult, and you're getting a pult that does one job really well.

Spare pouches and latex are sold separately, so you can keep it going rather than replacing the whole thing when the elastic tires. That keeps running costs modest, as you only buy the parts that wear.

Next to the Gardner UltraPult, it costs a little more, but the UltraPult's Boilie version uses a medium pouch rather than a cone. If tight grouping at range is your priority, the cone is worth the small extra outlay.

Overall, I'd recommend the ESP Boiliepult to carp anglers who fish boilies over a spot and want them landing in a tight group out to around 40 metres. If you want one pult for particles and boilies, the Korda Katapult or Gardner UltraPult will suit you better.