Preston Dura Slip Catapult

How well is it built?

The key part of the build is the PTFE bushes where the elastic meets the frame. PTFE is a slick, hard-wearing material, so the elastic should run smoothly and resist tangling, and it's a more refined set-up than a plain hole through the plastic.

The grip is soft-touch and moulded, which should stay comfortable over a long match, and the pouch has a fixed cord so there's nothing to come loose.

The frame is light too, which matters when you're picking it up and putting it down all day on the pole, and it means less strain on your wrist when you're feeding every put-in from the whistle to the final bell.

Will it last? The quick-change fitting means a worn elastic is a quick swap rather than the end of the pult, and that's the main reason it scores 8.5 for build. It's a tidy, well-thought-out catapult for the money.

Accuracy & Range

This is a pole-fishing pult, so it's built for accuracy at pole range rather than for reaching a distant waggler line.

The Light/Medium version suits feeding close in, where a gentle pull and tight grouping matter most, and the Medium/Heavy gives you more power for the far end of a long pole.

The small pouch is made for modest pouchfuls of pellets, casters or hemp, and it should help keep them together as they go out. The anti-tangle bushes also help, because an elastic that isn't twisted releases the same way every time.

Pole fishing is all about little and often, and a light, consistent pult suits that rhythm better than a powerful long-range one.

So, why 8.0 rather than higher? It's a short-range tool, and it won't match the Guru Incredible 'Pult for distance. For accurate feeding on the pole line, though, I think it does everything you need.

Ease of Use

How easy is it to live with? Very, mainly because of the quick-change fitting. When the elastic starts to wear, you should be able to swap it without a tricky rethreading job, and that's a real time saver for a busy match angler.

The PTFE-bushed anti-tangle design should mean less time untwisting the elastic and more time watching the float, while the soft-touch moulded grip keeps a firm hold in wet weather. The fixed-cord pouch is easy to find and pull back too.

It's the kind of catapult you can leave on the side tray and pick up without thinking, which is exactly what you want when the fish are feeding hard.

To be fair, you still need to choose between Light/Medium and Medium/Heavy when you buy. Once you have the right one, though, it's a very easy catapult to use and maintain, and the 8.5 reflects that.

Is it good value for money?

It costs about the same as the Drennan Pole Line Pellet Pult and a little less than the Guru Incredible 'Pult, so it sits at the cheaper end of match catapults. For that you get PTFE bushes, a moulded grip and quick-change elastic, which is a lot of thought in a small pult.

Next to the Drennan Match Catapults it's a touch dearer, but I'd say that small step up is well worth it.

The long-term value is the strong point. Being able to replace the Dura Slip elastic quickly should keep it in your bag for many seasons, rather than you replacing the whole catapult when the elastic goes.

I'd recommend the Dura Slip to match and pleasure anglers who feed on the pole line and want a pult they can keep running for years. If you need to feed further out on the waggler, the Guru Incredible 'Pult is the better choice.