Trakker NXG 5 Rod Sleeve 12ft

How well is it built?

For me, a five-rod sleeve has to be tough, because it's carrying a lot of expensive gear in one go.

Trakker have used their hard-wearing n-dura fabric for the outer, and the main zip is a twin-direction heavy-duty zip, so it opens from either end and should stand up to plenty of use.

The photos show a clean, plain green finish, with the main zip running straight down the front and through the middle of the reel pouch. There's also a D-clip at the top, so you can hang it up at home rather than leave it propped in a corner.

Overall, I think it's well made and sensibly specced.

It isn't quite as polished as the Solar SP C-Tech, which gives every rod its own zipped compartment, but there's very little to pick at here, and the fabric and zip are the right choices for a sleeve that'll be loaded and unloaded every trip.

Protection

With five rods sharing one sleeve, things could easily end up knocking together, but Trakker have packed this one with padding.

Inside, padded dividers and securing straps hold each rod in place, and the tip sections are widened for 50mm K-series guides, which matters because a cramped tip end is where rings get bent.

The reel pouch is oversized and heavily padded, at 40 x 35 x 38cm. Is there room for five big reels in there? It's built to take the largest big-pit reels, so I think there's plenty of space to spread them out.

There's even a strap and elastic loop inside to hold a throwing stick, so it isn't rattling about against your blanks. Overall, for a soft sleeve carrying five rods, I don't think you could ask much more of it.

Ease of Use

At 3.10kg and 195 x 35 x 21cm, it isn't a featherweight, but for five rods that's about what you'd expect.

Trakker have clearly thought about carrying it, with a removable adjustable shoulder strap, a balanced central handle and two grab handles placed so the reels stay upright when you load it into the car.

The storage is where it really scores. Large zipped pockets either side hold retention slings, landing nets and storm poles, a smaller pocket takes net handles or distance sticks, and a pocket below the main zip keeps leads separate. Still short of space?

The rear base pocket and tension straps take additional NXG sleeves.

To be fair, with every pocket filled it'll be a heavy load, so I'd save the shoulder strap for short trips from the car. Overall, though, it's a very practical sleeve to live with.

Is it good value for money?

On price, it's towards the dearer end for a rod sleeve. It's not cheap, but it costs less than the Solar SP C-Tech and the Fox Camolite 6, and it carries five made-up rods to the Solar's three, which puts it in a strong position if you need five rods in one bag.

You get heavy padding, padded dividers, widened tips, an oversized reel pouch, loads of pockets and room to add more NXG sleeves, so it works as the centre of a whole luggage setup rather than just a rod bag.

For me, the weight and the bulk once it's loaded are the only real downsides.

Overall, I'd recommend it to carp anglers who carry four or five 12ft rods with big-pit reels and want everything in one sleeve. If you only take two or three rods, a smaller sleeve will be far easier to carry.