Nash Scope OPS Recon Rucksack

How well is it built?

The Recon is made from 900D heavy-duty fabric, which is pretty much as tough as carp luggage gets, and it should take years of being thrown in the car, dragged through brambles and dumped on gravel.

The base is stiffened, padded PVC, so it holds the bag's shape and keeps the wet out when you set it down on a soggy margin.

There's Hypalon in the mix too, a tough rubberised fabric, along with aluminium parts and the magnets for the tray system.

The compression webbings and elastic loops are part of the design from the start rather than an afterthought, and that shows in how much the bag can carry on the outside.

For me, the build is the Recon's strongest suit. It's a rugged, purpose-made rucksack with a lot of engineering in it, and I think the 9.0 is well deserved.

Storage & Organisation

So, how does the workstation side work? Once the back panel is folded down and clipped to the base, the magnetic tray sits on a level surface, and you can tie rigs or rebait while still reaching into the main compartment.

The magnets should keep hooks, swivels and other small bits from sliding off, which is handy on a breezy bank.

Each side has a full-length, extra-deep pocket sized for Nash modular storage pouches, with three sets of elastic loops for banksticks and alarms. The loops can also support banksticks and alarms on concrete or wooden staging, where a bankstick won't go into the ground.

Inside, a mesh organiser pocket keeps the smaller items apart from everything else.

If you need more room for a longer stay, Scope OPS Expansion Packs clip to the top or base, although they're sold separately. It's one of the cleverest storage set-ups on any carp rucksack.

Comfort & Fit Rating

Four compression webbings let you strap a roll-up unhooking mat or spare clothing to the outside, so everything travels as one load on your back instead of a mat tucked under your arm.

That's a real help when you're stalking or moving swims on foot and want both hands free for the rods and net.

The fold-out base is a comfort feature of a different kind. It unzips into a waterproof seat or kneeling pad, which is ideal when you're crouched at the edge of a muddy margin waiting for a fish to come back, and it saves carrying a separate pad.

The Trakker NXG Deluxe adds a waist belt and lumbar support, which should spread a heavy load better on a long walk, and that's why the Recon sits at 8.5 rather than higher. For the short, mobile sessions it's built for, though, it should carry very comfortably.

Is it good value for money?

Is it worth it? It costs a fair bit more than the Trakker NXG Deluxe, and the Expansion Packs add to that if you want the extra capacity for longer sessions. That's the reason value comes in at 7.5, below the rest of the Recon's ratings.

What you get for the money is the fold-down work surface, the magnetic tray, the 900D build and the seat, and none of those are gimmicks if you fish on the move.

To be fair, the Trakker gives you a table lid and a fuller carrying system for less, so it's worth weighing up how often you'll use the seat and tray. If you mostly fish long sessions from a barrow, the Carp Life Eclipse Camo Elite 60L is built for that kind of fishing.

Overall, I'd recommend the Recon to mobile carp anglers who stalk, move swims often or fish short sessions from staging and hard banks, and who want to tie rigs without unpacking the whole bag.