Korda Compac Retainer Sling

How well is it built?

The frame is where the Compac Retainer feels like a premium sling.

Its tempered, rigid aluminium bars give the body a solid structure, so it should hold its shape when you lift a heavy fish rather than folding in on itself, and the low-profile buoyant supports sit beneath them to keep it afloat without bulking out the top.

The fittings match that standard. You get metal weighing loops rather than plain webbing, a machined stainless-steel bank stick attachment for the retaining cord, and reflective markers that should pick up a head torch beam after dark.

The mesh is light and soft, and it comes supplied in a stink bag for the journey home.

To be fair, none of this is flashy, and it isn't meant to be. With tempered bars, metal loops and a machined stainless fitting, I think a 9.0 for build is well earned.

Fish Care

Why does full mesh matter so much in a retainer? A carp held in the margins needs water moving around it, and a mesh body lets that happen from every side.

Full mesh also does away with the seams and folds where a fin could get trapped, so there are no potential pinch points in the body.

The mesh itself is light and soft, so it cradles the fish rather than pressing on it, and it promotes airflow once the sling comes out for the weighing stage.

The buoyant supports keep the sling at the surface, which should help a fish stay upright and stop the whole thing sinking into silt.

Before a fish goes in, wet the sling and zero your scales with it wet. Most fisheries and clubs have rules on how long you can retain a carp, so keep to them. For pure fish care, I think it's very hard to fault, and the 9.2 reflects that.

Ease of Use

On the bank, it's a very easy sling to live with. The 6m hi-vis cord has a dedicated pocket on the sling, so it's always there when you need it rather than tangled up in a carryall.

That length gives you room to stake the sling out in a little more depth, and the stainless bank stick attachment makes fixing it quick.

Metal weighing loops mean you can go straight from retaining to weighing without swapping slings, and the mesh body should shed water fast when you lift it out. When the session's over, it goes back in its stink bag, which keeps a wet, smelly sling away from the rest of your kit.

Rigid bars can't fold away like foam arms, though, so it won't pack down as small as a roll-up sling. Overall, it's simple and well thought out, and 8.6 is a fair score.

Is it good value for money?

This sits among the dearer retention slings, so is it worth the extra? I think it is if you retain fish regularly, because the money goes on a full soft-mesh body, tempered aluminium bars, metal loops and a machined stainless fitting rather than on a logo.

The Trakker Sanctuary Retention Sling V2 also has full fast-draining mesh and four floats, and it's a sound mid-priced alternative if the budget's tighter.

If you only ever weigh fish and never retain them, a dedicated weigh sling such as the Korda Compac Weigh Sling makes more sense. What holds the score at 8.1 is simply the price, as everything else about the sling is aimed at doing the job properly.

I'd recommend the Compac Retainer to carp anglers who retain fish for photos on a regular basis and want a sling that puts fish care first, with fittings built to last.