JRC Defender II 3 Plus 3 Rod Holdall 12ft

How well is it built?

Let's start with the materials. JRC have used a green 500D polyester for the outer, which is hard-wearing and water resistant, and they've fitted heavy-duty zips throughout rather than the flimsy ones you sometimes get at this end of the market.

A lightweight strengthening pole runs along the holdall too, so it holds its line when you pick it up instead of folding in the middle.

The padded shoulder strap and webbing carry handle are plain but sturdy, and I'd much rather have simple webbing that lasts than a fancy handle that tears. Is it as tough as a rigid hardcase? No, and it isn't trying to be, because it's a soft holdall at a much lower price.

Overall, I think the build is honest and solid for the money. It won't feel as premium as the dearer Fox or Solar holdalls, but I can't see anything here that looks likely to let you down in a hurry.

Protection

Inside, internal dividers keep the rods apart, and the three made-up rods sit side by side with their reels on, as the photos show. That stops a reel grinding against the blank next to it on the journey, which is the main thing you want from any holdall carrying made-up rods.

The three bare rods go in without reels, and their reels live in the big reel pockets, so they're kept away from the blanks rather than loose in the bottom of a rucksack.

From the photos, the dividers look like soft fabric panels rather than stiff baffles, so I'd call the protection decent rather than heavy.

So, will it keep six rods safe? For car-to-swim trips and a barrow ride round the lake, I think it will. Overall, it's a fair level of protection for a soft holdall, but if your rods take real knocks in the back of a van, a hardcase is the safer bet.

Ease of Use

Day to day, the Defender II is easy to get along with. A full-length interior zip opens the whole thing up, so you can lay it down in the swim and lift out a made-up rod without wrestling it past the others.

The two outside pockets are well chosen, with one for an umbrella or bivvy and one for a buzzer bar or banksticks, and it means the awkward bits of a carp setup travel with the rods instead of rolling round the boot.

You get a padded shoulder strap for the walk and a webbing handle for lifting it in and out of the car.

The only catch I can see is the bulk once six rods, the spare reels, a brolly and the bars are all on board, because that's a lot to hang off one shoulder.

Overall, though, it's quick to load, easy to work out and simple to carry, and I think that's what most weekend anglers want.

Is it good value for money?

Value is where the Defender II really makes its case. It's a lower mid-priced holdall, yet it carries six rods, takes your brolly and buzzer bars, and has the heavy-duty zips and water-resistant outer you'd want on a holdall that gets used every week.

The NGT Quickfish Six Rod Holdall uses the same three-plus-three idea for less money, but the JRC is the better-made bag, and the extra spend buys a 500D outer, heavy-duty zips and a strengthening pole.

If you want more padding than either, you'll need to look at the dearer sleeves and hardcases.

Overall, I'd recommend the Defender II to carp anglers who fish weekends or longer sessions with a second set of rods ready to go, and to anyone moving on from a starter holdall who wants something tougher without paying hardcase prices.