Trakker NXG Deluxe Rucksack

How well is it built?

The NXG Deluxe is made from N-dura polyester fabric, a hard-wearing material that should shrug off being dragged in and out of the car and dumped on a muddy bank.

The base is waterproof, so you can set it down on wet grass without the contents getting damp, and there are lifting handles for when you'd rather not swing it onto your back.

The zips are heavy-duty and twin-direction, which matters more than people think on a rucksack. A zip is usually the first thing to fail on cheap luggage, and two-way pullers let you open a pocket from whichever end is easier to reach when the bag is lying on its side.

To be fair, the Nash Scope OPS Recon goes a step further, with 900D fabric and a stiffened, padded PVC base that doubles as a seat. For a rucksack at this price, though, I think the NXG Deluxe is very well made, and it should handle years of regular sessions.

Storage & Organisation

This is where the NXG Deluxe earns its top score. The large main compartment has an extra zipped pocket inside, the lid carries two zipped mesh pockets for small bits, and there are three large external pockets on top of that.

For me, the full-length external pocket is the clever part, as it has a padded divider to keep alarms and buzz bars apart and elasticated loops to hold banksticks.

The lid is the other big feature. It turns into a self-supported table, held up by the opening and the shoulder straps, and the removable EVA tray secures in several positions or comes out altogether when you want to tie rigs away from the bag.

Lay the rucksack flat on a barrow and you can still get into the key areas, which is handy on a longer session.

It's pretty much a complete mobile workstation, and I'd struggle to ask for more from a carp rucksack.

Comfort & Fit Rating

So, how should it carry? The shoulder straps are padded and adjustable, and there's a waist belt and lumbar support too, which is more than a lot of carp rucksacks offer.

A waist belt makes a real difference with a full bag, because it takes some of the load off your shoulders and stops the rucksack swinging about on the walk to the swim.

The central breather section on the back panel lets air move between you and the bag, so you should arrive a bit less hot and bothered. At 58 x 48 x 20cm it's also slim, which keeps the weight close to your back rather than pulling you backwards.

What holds the score back is the bag's own weight. It weighs 3.3kg before you've packed anything, and that's a fair chunk on top of a full load. Still, with that carrying system, I think it should stay comfortable over a decent walk.

Is it good value for money?

Is it worth the money? It sits at the upper end for a carp rucksack, but for that you get 55 litres, a proper table lid, a removable EVA tray and a full waist belt and lumbar set-up.

The Nash Scope OPS Recon costs a fair bit more, and while it adds a magnetic tray and a fold-out seat, the NXG Deluxe matches it on most of what matters.

If you want something smaller, the Trakker NXG Scout costs around a third less and holds about 45 litres, though it's a simpler bag, with its rig tray in a top pocket rather than a table lid.

For short day sessions, a 30-litre pack like the Korda Compac Rucksack 30 makes more sense again.

Overall, I'd recommend the NXG Deluxe to carp anglers who move swims through a session, and to anyone who wants one rucksack for overnighters and longer stays that still tucks away under the bedchair.