Gardner Asylum Unhooking Mat

How well is it built?

For me, the Asylum feels like a proper, well-thought-out piece of fish care kit. The body is heavy-duty 420D PVC-backed polyester, the sides are padded, and the corners zip up to form the walls, with heavy-duty clips that Gardner say support the zips around an active fish.

The removable mattress sits snugly in the cradle base, so it doesn't slide about, and the handles are heavy-duty webbing with foam grips. Drainage mesh is built into the base section, which I think is a smart idea because water runs out rather than pooling under the fish.

It isn't as feature-packed as the RidgeMonkey ProCare, which has a replaceable inflatable tube and a full top cover, but there's also less to go wrong. Overall, I'd expect it to stand up to regular use as long as you rinse the mesh and let it dry properly between trips.

Protection

Protection is the Asylum's strong point, and it's why it scores so well here. The 25cm sides are higher than the 200mm walls on the RidgeMonkey ProCare and only a touch lower than the Solar SP's, so a carp that thrashes is very unlikely to end up on the bank.

Because the sides are padded rather than inflated, there's nothing to puncture either.

The removable mattress gives a soft, cushioned bed, and the integrated flap can help keep the fish in place or act as a kneeling pad while you unhook. For me, that's a really handy feature, as it does two jobs.

The drainage mesh helps too, because the fish isn't left lying in a puddle once you've wetted the mat. The cradle measures 102 x 61cm, which I think suits most UK carp, although if you target really big fish, the larger ProCare gives you more room.

Ease of Setup & Portability

Is it quick to set up? Pretty much, yes. There's no pump and no valves to deal with, so you unfold it, zip up the corners and it's ready. Packing away is the same in reverse, and the whole lot goes into the heavy-duty zipped carry bag.

Gardner list the packed size as 96 x 58 x 15cm, so it's a flat, fairly large package rather than a small roll, and you'll want space for it on the barrow or in the car. The weight of 3.5kg including the bag is a lot more manageable than the 5.0kg RidgeMonkey ProCare, though.

The webbing handles with foam grips make it easy to move about in the swim, and to carry a fish in it when you need to. Overall, I think it's easy enough for session anglers, but if you rove a lot, a roll-up mat like the Nash Scope Ops packs far smaller.

Is it good value for money?

So, is it good value? It costs a fair bit less than the RidgeMonkey ProCare and the Solar SP, and about the same as the Nash Scope Ops, and for that you get cradle-style sides, a removable mattress with a flap, drainage mesh and a carry bag.

The Wychwood Walled mat costs less again and also has walls and a cover, so the Asylum isn't the cheapest way to get high sides. For me, the extra money goes on the folding cradle design, the drainage mesh and Gardner's build, which I think is worth it if you'll use it a lot.

Overall, I'd recommend the Asylum to carp anglers who want proper walled protection without a framed cradle or an inflatable to pump up, and who have room in the car for a flat pack. If you fish short, mobile sessions, I'd look at a roll-up mat instead.