Preston Innovations Absolute Pole Roller

How well is it built?

Everything about the Absolute points to a roller made for regular match use. The four legs are double-extending, so each one has two telescopic sections rather than one, and every leg locks with its own handwheel.

A handwheel is easy to grip with cold or wet hands, and it should hold a leg firmly once it's wound tight.

The uprights adjust by push button, and the frame carries a spirit level. It folds down with the legs tucked under the frame and goes into a padded bag, which matters when it's sharing a barrow with a seatbox, a pole and a stack of top kits.

To be fair, it's a big frame, so it won't pack as small as a compact flat roller like the Preston Innovations Inception Flat Roller. For a roller that'll be set up week in, week out, though, I think the build is first class and well worth the 9.0.

Performance & Handling

How should it handle a pole? With the centre upright fitted, the Absolute is split into two rolling halves, and once that upright is out the whole length becomes one open roller.

That choice is handy, because some anglers like a wide, open roller for a long pole, while others prefer to keep the sections apart.

The outer uprights angle inwards for windy conditions, and that's a detail I really like. On a blowy commercial, a pole resting on a roller can lift or skate sideways, and angled uprights are built to trap it and stop it rolling off the end.

That's one less thing to worry about when you're shipping back quickly with a fish on.

For me, the adjustable uprights are the main reason it scores so highly for handling. It's set up to suit the angler who ships back in one piece and the one who breaks down at different joints, and I think the 9.0 is fair.

Stability & Footing

Is it stable on a tricky bank? This is where the Absolute really earns its place. Each of the four legs has two angle settings, so you can splay them to match the contours of a sloping or uneven bank, and the double-extending legs give it a huge height range.

That height matters more than you might think. On a high bank or behind a raised platform, a short roller leaves the pole dipping, whereas the Absolute can go right up to 1,150mm to keep it level with your shipping line.

The spirit level then helps you get it square, so the pole doesn't drift towards one end as it rolls.

The handwheel locks should keep each leg exactly where you set it, too, even with a long pole rolling back and forth across the top. Steep banks, soft ground and awkward pegs are all covered, and I'd rate it as one of the steadiest four-leg rollers you can buy.

Is it good value for money?

The Absolute is one of the dearer pole rollers you can buy, so it isn't an impulse purchase.

It still costs less than the six-leg Daiwa Rockin Roller, though, and for that money you get the height range, the handwheel leg locks, the removable centre upright and a padded bag, which is a lot of roller. It's built to see you through plenty of seasons, too.

The MAP Dual Pole Roller Mk11 costs a little less but tops out at 92cm, while the Preston Innovations Ignition Pole Roller costs about a third as much and is a sound choice on a tighter budget.

If you mostly fish flat, level pegs, the extra height is money you may not need to spend.

Overall, I'd recommend the Absolute to match and commercial anglers who fish a mix of venues, especially steep or uneven banks, and want one roller that'll handle pretty much any peg.