ESP Cryogen Curve Shanx Hooks

How well is it built?

The Curve Shanx has a smooth, consistent curve from the eye down to the bend, and that profile carries across all six sizes.

Consistency matters, because a curve shank relies on its shape to turn, and a pattern that changes from size to size can behave differently on the same rig.

The hooks are finished with a PTFE Tufflon coating, which gives them a dull, dark look and a slippery surface. That slippery finish helps the point slide in with less resistance, and the dark colour won't flash on the lake bed.

With barbed and barbless versions across the range, you can match the hook to the venue rules without changing the pattern you trust.

To be fair, it's a straightforward, well-proven build rather than a premium one like the Korda Kamakura Krank, and that's the gap between a 9.0 and an 8.5. For me, though, it's a solid, well-made curve shank, and I think 8.5 is fair.

Sharpness

How sharp is the point? It's very sharp out of the packet, and the coating lets it slide into the skin of the mouth with less drag.

A curve shank needs a point that catches at the slightest touch, as the hook has to start pricking before it can turn and set, so that sharpness is important.

On gravel or stones, any fine point can turn over, so it's worth checking it after each fish and every time you recast onto a hard bottom. Swap it straight away if the point won't catch on your nail, because a curve shank with a dull point loses most of its advantage.

Overall, it's sharp enough to use without any extra work, but it isn't sharpened again after production like the Kamakura Krank. That's why it scores 8.5 rather than 9.0, and I think that's about right.

Hooking & Hold

This is the curve shank's strength. The curved profile makes the hook turn as the hooklink tightens, so the point flips down and catches in the bottom lip, which is one of the firmest places for a hook to land.

That turning action is why curve shanks are so widely used on pop-up rigs, such as hinged stiff rigs, multi-rigs and spinner rigs.

It also works for bottom baits and wafters, ideally with a kicker or line aligner to exaggerate the turn. With six sizes, you can match the hook to anything from a small pop-up to a bigger double bait, and the curve doesn't change from one size to the next.

Is it as secure as a wide gape once it's in? Not quite, as a short-shanked wide gape like the Korda Wide Gape gives a fish less to lever against. That's a small gap, though, and for most carp fishing I think it's a fast, positive hooker, so 8.5 is fair.

Is it good value for money?

It's a mid-priced carp hook with ten in a packet, and you get the coating, a sharp point and an unusually broad size range for the money. That's a fair deal, but there's nothing about it that makes it a bargain, and that's why value is its lowest score at 8.0.

Next to the Korda Kamakura Krank, it's a far more sensible everyday hook, though it doesn't have the Kamakura's extra-fine point.

Against the Fox Edges Armapoint Curve Shank, which has an in-turned eye and a straight needle point, the Curve Shanx stands out for its wider spread of sizes from 2 to 10. If money is tight, the Korda Basix Kurv Shank is one of the cheaper curve shank options.

Overall, I'd recommend the Cryogen Curve Shanx to carp anglers who fish pop-ups and bottom baits on curve shank rigs, and who like to match their hook size closely to their bait, barbed or barbless.