Korda Black Singlez Anodised Aluminium Uprights

How well is it built?

Each upright is CNC machined from a solid billet of aluminium by JAG in the UK, which is a high level of precision for small bankware.

The outer has a super-hard anodised satin-black finish, and the inside is anodised black too, so the finish covers the parts you don't see as well as the parts you do.

The knurled locking collar is engineered to match, and the threaded base screws into Singlez buzz bars and stage stands.

Elsewhere in the Black Singlez set-up, the ground-spike points and the stabiliser are stainless steel, which puts the toughest metal where the kit meets the ground.

To be fair, they're aluminium rather than the stainless steel of the original uprights, so they're the lighter build rather than the heavier-duty one.

For precise UK machining and a hard, non-glare finish, though, I think the 8.5 is well deserved, and they should keep their looks for a long time.

Stability & Footing

How firm is a set-up built on them? The uprights work with ground-level buzz bars and a stabiliser for a firm set-up in gravel, so the bars sit low and the uprights only have to hold the alarms and rear rests at the right height.

The short 3.5in to 6.5in lengths help, as a low upright has less leverage on the bar below it.

The knurled locking collar holds each upright at the height you set, and the stainless ground-spike points give the system a hard-wearing contact with the bank.

On a platform, they screw into a Singlez stage stand such as the Korda Singlez Stage Stand, which gives them a stainless base on the boards.

Next to the ESP Stage Stand Set, which screws its foot plates to the timber, the Black Singlez rely on the system around them for their footing. I think the 8.2 is fair, as the uprights are only as steady as the bars, spikes and stands you pair them with.

Ease of Use

Height adjustment uses an engineered knurled locking collar, so setting each upright should only take a quick twist, and the knurling gives you grip with cold or wet hands.

Lengths of 3.5in, 5in and 6.5in let you run the front and rear supports at different heights, and they suit both two-rod and three-rod Singlez set-ups.

Because they screw into Singlez buzz bars and stage stands, the same uprights can move from a gravel bank to a platform without changing the alarms or rests on top. The satin-black, non-glare finish is a nice touch as well, as it keeps the set-up low-key in the margins.

Are there any limits? They're built to work with Singlez bars, spikes and stands, so they aren't a stand-alone stick in the way the Solar Tackle Black-Lite Bankstick is. Within the system they're made for, though, they're quick and easy to set, and I think the 8.3 is fair.

Is it good value for money?

They're cheaper than the Korda Singlez Stage Stand, but you're still paying for UK CNC machining and a super-hard anodised finish, so they're not a budget option either.

The value depends on what you already own, because the uprights make most sense alongside Singlez buzz bars, ground spikes, a stabiliser or a stage stand.

If you've already got a stainless Singlez set-up, the Black Singlez uprights are an easy way to add a lighter, non-glare option.

If you're starting from scratch, the cost of the whole system adds up, and a stand-alone stick such as the Solar Tackle Black-Lite Bankstick is a simpler place to begin.

For me, the 8.2 is fair, as the build is excellent but the uprights only pay their way inside the wider Singlez system.

Overall, I'd recommend the Korda Black Singlez Anodised Aluminium Uprights to carp anglers who already use Singlez, or plan to, and want lighter, non-glare uprights for two-rod or three-rod set-ups on gravel banks and platforms.