Sonik Airdrop Carbon Throwing Stick 24mm

How well is it built?

The Airdrop's core is low-resin C6 carbon, and that's there for extra stiffness. Less resin generally means more carbon fibre doing the work, which is how you get a stick that's both light and rigid.

Over the top sits a robust 3K weave, giving the tube a tough outer skin for life on the bank.

It's supplied with a padded sleeve and a tip protection stopper, and both are worth having. The stopper plugs the neck so it can't get knocked or squashed, while the sleeve keeps the carbon covered in a holdall or the back of the car.

That kind of protection matters with carbon, which can crack if it takes a heavy knock.

To be fair, it isn't the lightest carbon stick around, as a few premium sticks weigh a good deal less. The build is very well specified for a stick in this price bracket, though, and 8.5 feels fair.

Range & Accuracy

Stiffness is what turns arm speed into range, and the low-resin core should help the Airdrop build speed without flexing. At 92cm, it's a mid-length stick, long enough to reach a fair way but short enough to stay controllable for most anglers.

Matching it to the right boilie size helps too, as a bait that fits properly leaves the stick cleanly.

What about accuracy? The Triangulator grip is there for exactly that, adding accuracy and comfort so you can fire multiple baits on target one after another.

Accuracy still comes down to a consistent throw, but a grip that sits the same way in your hand every time makes a repeatable action much easier to find.

It won't match a 120cm stick for sheer distance, so it sits a little below the long-range specialists. For mid-range baiting with boilies up to 22mm, it's very capable, and the 8.5 is about right.

Ease of Use

The base loader is the headline feature for ease of use. It gives you a quick, easy load without losing focus on the target area, so your eyes can stay on the spot while you reload from the bottom of the stick.

The Triangulator grip adds comfort as well as accuracy, which helps when you're putting out a lot of bait in one go. At 92cm, it's light and manageable, so it shouldn't wear you out or feel unwieldy in a busy swim, and it's a sensible length to learn on if you're new to carbon.

The sleeve and stopper also make it quick to pack away at the end of a session. That's a small thing, but it adds up over a season of short trips.

For me, it's one of the easier carbon sticks to pick up and use well. There's very little to get wrong, and the 8.5 reflects that.

Is it good value for money?

For a carbon stick, the Airdrop 24mm sits at the cheaper end, yet it comes with C6 carbon, a low-resin core, a 3K outer, a base loader, the Triangulator grip, a padded sleeve and a tip stopper. That's a full spec at a price that's easy to justify.

Next to the Fox Rangemaster C20, it takes slightly bigger baits and loads from the base rather than above the grip. Next to the 120cm Avid Extremity XR, it gives up some reach, but it's a lot easier to handle in an average swim.

If your boilies are bigger than 22mm, the Sonik Airdrop Carbon 29mm is the same idea for baits up to 28mm.

I'd recommend the Airdrop Carbon 24mm to carp anglers who want their first carbon stick, or a sensibly priced spare, for boilies up to 22mm at short to mid range.