Short-Sleeve Solutions

The craze for shorter carp rods with retracting butt sections perhaps took the tackle industry a little by surprise, meaning luggage options for these smaller tools lagged behind a bit. Not so anymore, as Sonik ably demonstrate with these sleeves for 9ft and 10ft semi-telescopic rods. 

I recognise the Xtractor name…
Yep, that’s the sub-brand Sonik bestow on all their super-compact kit, like shorter rods with telescopic butt sections and matching items like luggage and nets.

Okay, so are these rod sleeves or rod holdalls?
They’re a bit of a hybrid of both, really. They have the simplicity and small size of a rod sleeve, with some of the rigidity and protection of a rod holdall. They also have storage options on the outside, which makes them a bit more versatile than a traditional sleeve. For instance, there’s a side utility pocket and strap which can house a landing net and handle, another space for a pair of banksticks and an expansion pocket on the rear with straps to accommodate larger accessories. 

And they’re designed for 9ft and 10ft rods?
They’re designed for 9ft and 10ft rods with retractable butt sections, so do bear that in mind. Your rods will need to have the smaller packdown lengths of 44- or 50-inches respectively.

How many rods do they hold?
There are two-rod and three-rod options available for both 9ft and 10ft models. Both are compatible with big-pit reels and 50mm butt rings, so don’t think that just because they’re compact they’ll crush your precious cargo. Both versions are constructed from heavy-duty 600D PVC-backed SK-Tek Camo material and come with a padded adjustable shoulder strap.

What if I’ve got two rods now but might be upgrading to a third later?
Part of the beauty of these sleeves is that they come with external connector points to which you can attach additional single sleeves, so you can add more rods as easily as stacking Lego bricks. 

This is Sonik, so I’m guessing they’re keenly priced?
You’re an astute observer! These sleeves start at just £59.99 for the 9ft two-rod version and go up to £109.99 for the 10ft three-rod option.

Xtractor Rod Sleeves
If a single sleeve is all you need, or you want to increase the carrying capacity of one of the multi-rod options seen elsewhere on this spread then this is what you’re after. Available in sizes to fit 6ft, 9ft and 10ft rods with retractable butts, these sleeves offer plenty of flexibility. On the outside, they can house a pair of banksticks plus a landing net and handle. They also have a handy zipped pocket for stashing your lead in transit to stop it bashing against your rod blank. 

Cleverly, these sleeves can be attached to one another with Sonik’s unique connector points, allowing your rods to be braced in the same direction or with the reels at different ends for an even more compact solution. They will accommodate big-pit reels and 50mm butt rings and are made from hard-wearing 600D PVC-backed material with Sonik’s SK-Tek Camo pattern. A back-facing zip prevents line snagging and they have dual central carry handles.

£24.99, £27.99 and £28.99