Preston Innovations Superium 8m System Whip

How well is it built?

Why does a slim blank matter on a whip? An 8m whip spends most of the day held out over the water, and a slimmer profile catches less wind and feels lighter in the hand than a chunky one.

The Superium's blank is slim, stiff and crisp, so it should stay straight and firm even at full length.

Balance is the other big strength, as it's designed to stay well balanced at all lengths. That means it shouldn't turn tip-heavy whether you're fishing the full 8m or a section or two shorter, and that's a hard thing to get right on a take-apart whip.

The rotating Dacron-style connector is integrated into the flick tip, so there's no separate fitting to come loose, and the spare Hollow Top 3 kit means you've got a back-up top in the bag. Overall, it's a beautifully engineered whip, and a 9 for build is fair.

Performance & Handling

So, what earns it a 9.5 for handling? A stiff, crisp blank sends the strike straight down to the flick tip, and that's exactly what you want when you're speed fishing for bleak, dace and small roach and every second matters.

Because it's light and crisp, it should also be quick to lift and swing without much effort.

The integrated rotating connector should stop the rig twisting as you swing fish in one after another, which keeps your presentation right on a fast river. On a slow canal or stillwater, the same crisp response helps you connect with quick, shy bites from roach and skimmers.

When bigger fish move in, the spare Hollow Top 3 kit lets you fish short lengths of elastic and land chub rather than bumping them on the swing. For me, that mix of speed and adaptability puts it right at the top of the take-apart whips I'd look at.

Ease of Use

The lower sections are marked with their length, 8M, 7M and 6M, so you always know which length you're fishing when you take it apart. Dropping a section or two on a tight canal peg or an overgrown river swim is quick and simple.

Rig changes are easy too, as the integrated connector takes a rig in seconds without any extra fiddling. The balance helps over a long day, because a whip that sits nicely in the hand is far less tiring to hold out for hours, especially when the fish are coming thick and fast.

To be fair, it comes with a single flick tip, so you'll need to buy extra tips if you like to switch between strengths as the conditions change. That's the main reason it sits at 8.5, but it's still a very easy whip to get along with.

Is it good value for money?

Is the Superium good value? It costs a bit more than the Guru Aventus Zero 600 System Whip, and the Guru comes with three solid tips to the Superium's one, so on paper you get less in the box for more money. That's why it scores an 8 for value rather than higher.

What you're really paying for is that slim, balanced blank and the integrated connector, and for an angler who fishes the whip week in, week out, those are the things that count. The spare Hollow Top 3 kit softens the blow a little too.

If you're newer to whip fishing, the Preston Innovations Response Whip is a far cheaper way to start.

Overall, I'd recommend the Superium 8m System Whip to experienced match anglers who fish canals, rivers and stillwaters for silverfish and want a premium take-apart whip with real finesse and the option of elastic for chub.