Korda Black & White Indicators

How well is it built?

Start with the body, because that's the clever bit. Most of it is solid colour, and the front section is crystal clear, so the isotope sits behind a clear face and its glow shows straight through the front rather than through a narrow slot cut into the side.

It's a simple idea, but it makes the head look tidy and purposeful.

Everything else is matched in black, from the chains to the line clip, and the hockey stick uses a magnetic bayonet fitting, which is a more modern way of connecting a hanger than the usual screw thread.

It's compatible with Korda's Stow range too, which is handy if you already use it, and the small sizes run on light 6in and 9in chains, so the whole setup stays slim under the alarm.

To be fair, it's still a simple hanger with no electronics. That's partly the point, though, and I think the 8.5 is fair for a well-matched set that's built to last.

Sensitivity & Visibility

How sensitive is a plain hanger like this? The key is the way the line runs freely through the adjustable clip rather than being held by it.

When a carp picks up the bait and moves off, the indicator should lift cleanly, and when the line falls slack on a drop-back, it should drop just as cleanly rather than catching on the clip.

The small indicators come with 5g and 8g weights, so you can run them light for short range and slack lines, or add a bit more weight when you're fishing tighter at medium range.

Very long range on tight lines needs a heavier head, such as the Fox Black Label Dumpy Bobbin with its brass insert.

Visibility is where the name earns its keep. A white body stands out against dark water and a shaded margin, and a black one is easy to pick out against a bright sky, while the clear front shows off an isotope at night. Overall, it's a practical setup, and the 8.5 fits.

Ease of Use

Setting these up is pretty much as simple as it gets. The hockey stick fits beneath the alarm, the chain hangs from it and the line drops into the clip, so there's nothing to plug in, charge or pair with a receiver.

The clip is adjustable too, so you can set it to suit the line you're using on each rod.

The magnetic bayonet is the part I like most. It means the indicator can come off the hockey stick for packing away without unscrewing anything, which should save a bit of fumbling when you're packing up in the dark or moving swims at short notice.

On a mobile session, that kind of small saving adds up.

Is there anything fiddly about it? You'll want to pick a chain length to suit how high your alarms sit, and changing the weights takes a moment. Neither is a real problem, though, and I think an 8.5 is fair for a hanger this easy to live with.

Is it good value for money?

So, is it worth the money? It's a mid-priced hanger, so it isn't the cheapest way to hang a bobbin under your alarms, but it's a long way short of what illuminated LED hangers cost.

For that, you get a matched set of body, chain, weights and a magnetic hockey stick, rather than a bare head that needs extra parts.

Next to the Trakker Clinga Standard Kit, it has the smarter hockey stick and a choice of two weights, while the Clinga is the simpler, lighter bobbin.

The Wolf ICON Smart LED Hanger lights up in your alarm's colour, which the Korda doesn't do, so it really comes down to whether you want electronics or not.

I'd recommend the Black & White Indicators to carp anglers fishing short to medium range on club and day-ticket lakes who want a tidy, reliable hanger that works by day and, with an isotope fitted, at night.

If you fish long range on tight lines, a heavier head is the better choice.