Nash Subterfuge Carryall

How well is it built?

So, what keeps it rigid? Internal struts work with a rigid base to stop the bag sagging when it's only half full, which should make finding a lead clip or a spare spool much easier at night.

The base is reinforced, waterproof and wipe clean as well, so wet grass, a damp barrow or a puddle in the boat shouldn't soak through.

The lid is stiffened with EVA rather than left as soft fabric, and the raised lip adds a bit more strength to the top. The carry handles are EVA too, and the shoulder strap is padded, adjustable and detachable.

Overall, it's a properly sturdy carryall, and the struts and rigid base put it a step ahead of softer bags like the Fox Camolite Compact Carryall.

It isn't quite as heavily built as the Solar SP C-Tech, with its densely padded walls and moulded EVA base, but I think the 8.5 is fair.

Storage & Organisation

There's a size for most carp anglers, with the Small at 30 litres, the Medium at 50, the Large at 65 and the XL at 90. That's a big spread, and the two largest will take the bulk of the kit for a long session, from bait and food to cooking gear and spare clothes.

Three full-width external pockets run around the outside, and they're made to work with Nash boxes and accessory bags, so if you already use Nash luggage it should all slot in neatly.

Under the lid, a zipped mesh pocket holds the flatter bits that would otherwise get lost at the bottom of the main compartment.

For me, it's a practical layout rather than a clever one. There are fewer pockets than the five on the Korda Compac Carryall, but full-width ones swallow bigger boxes and bags, and overall I think it's very well organised.

Ease of Use

Is it easy to live with on the bank? I think so, mainly because of the three-sided zipped lid. It opens wide, and because the struts hold the sides up, you're not fighting a collapsing bag to see what's inside.

That's a real help in a boat, where space is tight and you want to see everything at a glance. Closed, the raised-lip lid becomes a work surface for a receiver or hookbaits beside the bedchair.

Carrying is well covered too. Twin EVA carry handles take it from the car, the padded shoulder strap adjusts and detaches, and the Medium and Large also get twin EVA loading handles for lifting it on and off a barrow or in and out of a boat.

To be fair, the loading handles only come on those two sizes. Overall, though, it's a carryall that's simple to open, pack and move, and the 8.5 reflects that.

Is it good value for money?

On price, it sits just below the Korda Compac Carryall and a touch above the Fox Camolite Compact Carryall, and for that I think you get a lot of bag.

Rigid struts, a waterproof base and an EVA lid are the kind of features that usually push a carryall further up the price scale, and the 90-litre XL gives long-stay anglers room that most compact carryalls can't match.

Next to the Solar SP C-Tech, it costs a good deal less and comes in more sizes, although the Solar's padded walls and moulded base are a step up in build. Is the Solar worth the extra? For most carp anglers, I don't think it is.

Overall, I'd recommend the Subterfuge to carp anglers who barrow their kit or fish from boats and want a rigid carryall that stays open and gives them a small work surface. If you just want a cheap bag for a few boxes, the Avid RVS Carryall does the job for far less.