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Guru A-Class poles video - YouTube
Since 12 March 2026
Reviewed
Guru A-Class 13m Pole – Match Pack
Lowest in-stock price
£399.99
from Total Fishing Tackle
Compared across 4 shops, with 2 currently in stock
5 Things To Know
- The Guru A-Class 13m Match Pack is built from Zero 400 tensile carbon with a stiff, responsive action.
- True Extensions take the pole to an exact 11.5m or 13m and have reinforced end sections.
- It comes with a 3.5mm generic match kit, two 3.9m generic 3.5mm match kits and a generic cupping kit.
- UK-made PTFE bushes are fitted, with a carbon wrap for side puller bushes, and everything comes in clear PVC tubes.
- It is featured in our best fishing poles guide.
Guru A-Class 13m Pole – Match Pack Review
Getting into long pole fishing usually means a big outlay, but the Guru A-Class 13m Match Pack brings a full 13m package into far more affordable territory. It's built from Zero 400 tensile carbon, and it comes with extensions and spare kits, so you're not left piecing a setup together after buying the pole.
So, who's it really for? I think it suits anglers moving up from a whip or a short starter pole, along with club anglers who catch more roach, skimmers and F1s than big carp. The match kits are set up for that sort of fishing, and if heavier carp work is more your thing, there's a Power Pack version with power kits instead.
Build quality 8.0/10
Kits & Spares 8.0/10
Performance & Handling 8.0/10
Value for money 9.0/10
How well is it built?
The A-Class is built from Zero 400 tensile carbon, a strong carbon chosen for durability and performance rather than the lightest possible weight.
It also has the Guru Performance Point Alignment System, so you line up the points on each section as you put the pole together, and that stiffens the spine of the carbon so it works as one length rather than a string of joints.
The finishes are a nice touch, with a super glide paint finish on the butt sections and a friction-free matt tape finish on the thinner sections.
Both are there to help the pole slide smoothly through your hands when you're shipping in and out, even when they're wet and sticky with groundbait. The True Extensions have reinforced end sections too, which makes sense because extensions take plenty of knocks on the roller.
To be fair, it isn't a flagship pole, and you won't get the lightness of Guru's dearer poles like the N-Gauge. For an affordable pole, though, I think the build is well thought through, and it earns its 8.
Kits & Spares
For me, the contents are a big part of the appeal. The 13m pole comes with a 3.5mm generic match kit, and you also get two 3.9m generic 3.5mm match kits, a generic cupping kit and True Extensions for 11.5m and 13m.
It all comes in clear PVC tubes with orange Guru caps, which keeps the kits protected and easy to find in a holdall.
That's three match kits in total, which is a sensible number for setting up rigs on two or three lines or keeping a spare ready if you lose one.
UK-made PTFE bushes are already fitted, and there's a carbon wrap for fitting a side puller bush, so getting the kits rigged up is pretty quick.
Why not a 9, then? The extensions are a real plus, but dearer packages often include more top kits, and these are match kits rather than power kits, so they're aimed at lighter fish. For mixed commercial fishing, though, I think this pack covers what you need.
Performance & Handling
At 13m, stiffness matters a lot, because a soft pole bounces at full length and makes it harder to hold a rig still or strike cleanly.
The A-Class 13m is built with a stiff, responsive action for exactly that reason, and with the points aligned and True Extensions taking it to an exact 11.5m or 13m, you should be fishing the same spot at the same length every time you put it together.
The 13m pole weighs 1180g, which for me is a reasonable figure for an affordable pole of this length, but it isn't featherlight, and holding it out at full length through a five-hour match is likely to be harder work than with a flagship pole.
Plenty of commercial fishing is done at shorter lengths anyway, where it should be far easier to manage.
The match kits suit the lighter elastics you'd use for roach and skimmers, while the slick finishes should help you ship back quickly between bites. Overall, I think it handles well for the money, and it's a capable all-rounder rather than a featherweight.
Is it good value for money?
Does it stack up on value? I think it does, and this is where the A-Class earns its highest score.
A full 13m pole with True Extensions at two lengths, three match kits, a cupping kit and fitted bushes is a lot of pole for the money, and the extensions are a feature carried over from Guru's flagship Aventus range.
If you're comparing it with the Preston Superium or the Daiwa Matchman Power Pole, I'd look closely at what comes in the tubes as well as the pole itself, as the extensions and kit count decide how much more you'll need to buy.
A margin pole like the Maver MV RXX Margin Pole is a different tool altogether, built for short-range work in the edge rather than fishing out at 13m.
Overall, I'd recommend the A-Class 13m Match Pack to newer pole anglers stepping up to a full-length pole, and to club anglers on a budget who fish commercials for silvers and F1s. If carp in the edge are your main target, the Power Pack's heavier kits make more sense.
Pros
- Zero 400 tensile carbon with a stiff, responsive action
- True Extensions to exact 11.5m and 13m lengths with reinforced ends
- Three match kits plus a cupping kit in the pack
- Super glide and matt tape finishes help with wet hands
- PTFE bushes fitted and carbon wrapped for side puller bushes
Cons
- Heavier at full length than dearer flagship poles
- Match kits aren't suited to heavy carp work in the margins
Features and Specifications
| Feature | What this means |
|---|---|
| 13m Match Pack | The kit package is aimed at match and lighter commercial work. |
| Zero 400 tensile carbon | Guru uses this carbon construction across the A-Class pole range. |
| Performance Point Alignment | Alignment points help stiffen the pole through its intended spine. |
| Super Glide paint finish | Designed to improve shipping efficiency. |
| Friction-free matt tape finish | Helps handling on thinner sections. |
| True extensions | Useful for fishing accurate competition lengths. |
| UK PTFE bushes | The supplied kits use UK-manufactured PTFE bushes. |
| Side-puller ready sections | Carbon wrapped sections are ready for side-puller fitting. |
| Affordable range role | A-Class sits below premium Guru pole ranges. |
| Match vs Power choice | Anglers should choose the kit pack around their main target species. |
How It Compares
See how the Guru A-Class 13m Pole – Match Pack compares with other poles on overall score and current price.
| Name | Price | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Guru A-Class 13m Pole – Match Pack | £399.99 | |
| Daiwa Airity Pro 16m Pole | £3,749.99 | |
| Matrix MTX5 V2 Pole | £2,800.00 | |
| Daiwa Connoisseur G90 Pro 16m Pole Package More F1 | £2,099.99 | |
| Daiwa Matchman Power Pole | £179.99 | |
| Matrix MTX1 V2 13m Pole | £499.99 | |
| Guru A Class 13m Pole | £499.99 | |
| Drennan Red Range Margin Carp 8m Pole | £109.99 | |
| Matrix Torque Euro Carp Pole | £107.99 |
Useful Information
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Guru A-Class pole range explained video - YouTube
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Guru A-Class 13m Pole – Match Pack best used for?
It is a coarse fishing tackle, chosen for the situations that style of fishing calls for.
What is the 13m Match Pack on the Guru A-Class 13m Pole – Match Pack?
The kit package is aimed at match and lighter commercial work.
What is the Guru A-Class 13m Pole – Match Pack made from?
Guru uses this carbon construction across the A-Class pole range.
What is the Performance Point Alignment on the Guru A-Class 13m Pole – Match Pack?
Alignment points help stiffen the pole through its intended spine.
What is the Super Glide paint finish on the Guru A-Class 13m Pole – Match Pack?
Designed to improve shipping efficiency.
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