Sonik Bank-Tek Carryall

How well is it built?

The Bank-Tek has a rigid, free-standing body, which is the feature I'd put first on any carryall. It means the bag doesn't fold in on itself when you unzip it, and you're not holding one side open with a hand while you dig out a pouch with the other.

The outer is HD 600D fabric with a PVC backing, which should keep showers and damp grass out, and it's reinforced at the key wear areas where a bag rubs on a barrow or the boot of a car.

The outer and lining are both polyester, with polyethylene padding in between, and the HD waterproof base keeps wet ground at bay.

So, why not a higher score? It's a fabric carryall rather than one with the moulded EVA lid and base of the Avid RVS Deluxe Hard-Top, and that harder shell is what lifts a bag above an 8.0 for me. For a tough fabric carryall, though, it's very well made.

Storage & Organisation

This is where the Bank-Tek earns its keep. The modular pockets are sized to take most accessory pouches, which cuts out the wasted space you get with baggy pockets, and internal organisation elastics hold the contents of the main compartment in place.

The three sizes cover most needs. The Compact measures 49 x 32 x 25cm overall with a 33 x 24 x 24cm main compartment, which is plenty for a day session or a short overnighter.

The Medium is 58 x 32 x 32cm with a 42 x 24 x 30cm main compartment, and the Large is 70 x 35 x 32cm, with a 52 x 27 x 30cm main compartment for a full weekend of tackle, bait and cooking kit.

Which size should you buy? I think the Medium suits most carp anglers, but go Large if you barrow everything for longer sessions. Whichever you pick, it's a well-organised bag, and the 8.5 is fair.

Ease of Use

Because it stands up on its own and stays open, the Bank-Tek is easy to work from once you're set up in the swim. You can unzip the main compartment and leave it open beside the bedchair, and the elastics stop things tumbling about as you take items out.

Carrying is done with a padded, removable shoulder strap, and the Large adds extra side grab handles for lifting it on and off a barrow. That's the size that needs them most, as a fully loaded 70cm carryall is a heavy thing to manhandle by the top.

To be fair, it would be nice to have side handles on the Compact and Medium too, as even a smaller bag is easier to load with them. Even so, the rigid shape, stays-open body and waterproof base make it a very easy carryall to live with, and the 8.5 fits.

Is it good value for money?

It sits in the middle on price, costing a little less than the Avid RVS Deluxe Hard-Top and a little more than the JRC Defender II Carryall.

Against the Avid, you give up the moulded lid and base, but you get modular pockets and internal elastics that make the Sonik the more organised bag inside.

The JRC Defender II is built around its own Defender pouches and costs a touch less, but its 500D polyester is a lower denier than the Bank-Tek's PVC-backed 600D, and it's a softer bag.

Overall, I'd recommend the Bank-Tek to carp anglers who want a rigid, free-standing carryall that's well organised inside and comes in a size to suit their sessions.

It's pretty much everything most people need from a carryall at a mid price, and the choice of three sizes is a real bonus.