NGT XPR Floatation Sling

How well is it built?

I'll be honest, build is the XPR's lowest score at 7.8, and it's a budget sling in the way it's put together. The fittings are plainer than on a dearer sling such as the RidgeMonkey ProCare Retainer Sling, which has branded YKK zips and aluminium bars.

That said, nothing important is missing. A double zip with a locking clip keeps the opening shut, two removable bars hold the sling open, and four carry handles share the load when a heavy fish is lifted.

The full-length net float runs along the sling to keep it buoyant, and reflective strips help you find it at night.

The bars come out, which makes it easier to pack into the Mesh/PVC carry case at the end of a session. For a sling at this price, I think the build is perfectly sound, even if it won't feel as refined as the dearer options.

Fish Care

So, is it kind to the fish? The fine, fish-friendly mesh runs along the bottom of the sling, where it drains water quickly when you lift and lets water flow through while a fish is retained.

The two removable bars hold the sling open in the water, so there's room for water and oxygen to reach the fish rather than the material folding in around it.

The full-length net float keeps the sling on the surface even in rough conditions, and that's what you want, as it stops the sling sinking and should help keep the fish upright. The double zip and locking clip stop a carp pushing its way out while you get the camera ready.

The mesh is in the base rather than the whole body, which is why it scores 8.0 rather than higher. Wet it before the fish goes in and keep retention short, and I think it'll look after a carp well.

Ease of Use

Four carry handles are a real plus on a sling this size, as one person can lift it or two people can share the weight of a big fish on the way back to the water.

The reflective strips make it easier to find in the margin after dark, and the double zip with its locking clip is simple to open and close.

The 2m rope with its bank-stick adaptor is the weak spot. Two metres doesn't give you much reach in a deep or awkward margin, so you may want to add a longer cord. At the end of the session, the bars come out and the sling goes into its Mesh/PVC carry case.

As with any sling, zero the scales with it wet before you weigh. Overall, I think 8.1 is about right, because it's pretty much as simple as a sling gets, with the short rope the only real niggle.

Is it good value for money?

Value is where the XPR really scores, at 8.8. It's one of the cheapest slings that both weighs and retains, and you still get a full-length float, a double zip with a locking clip, removable bars, four handles, reflective strips, a rope with a bank-stick adaptor and a carry case.

Is it worth paying more? If you fish for very big carp every week, a mid-priced sling such as the Fox Carpmaster STR Weigh Sling adds a longer cord, steel weighing loops and a slim roll-up design. For most anglers, though, the XPR does the same basic jobs for far less.

Overall, I'd recommend the XPR Floatation Sling to anglers starting out in carp fishing, those on a tight budget and anyone who wants a spare sling to keep in the car, as long as they don't mind adding a longer cord.