Solar Tackle P1 range
There’s a plague that’s currently taking over the modern buzzer bar and bankstick – it’s called the Black Plague, where everything’s drenched in matt black paint. Thankfully, Solar’s new P1 is the remedy we’ve all been waiting for
Solar is on a mission. For the last few years the Kent-based company has been a little quiet, but now they return with an almighty clatter as they smash their brand-new, precision-engineered, P1 stainless range together. It’s stylish, it’s functional, it’s machined down to the thousandth of a degree, and best of all, it’s entirely British-made.
The big questions
Whoa! It looks beautiful…
Hell yeah it does! Over the years we’ve been lucky to be able to hold some outrageously well-made bars and sticks but nothing comes close to this. CAD designed, precision-engineered, made from the best stainless steel and the little trim bits of carbon fibre thrown in for fancy-measure. This really is the absolute best money can buy when it comes to stainless.
Big statement – can you back that up?
We most certainly can. Solar was the original stainless brand. They have a thirty-year strong heritage. They’ve always made everything on our fine shores. And this new collection, the P1, has been designed from a blank sheet of paper upwards; every item has been meticulously handcrafted to the same exacting standard that we’ve come to expect from Solar. No stone has been left unturned in the refining of the new collection. Indeed, many of the P1 products boast ‘world first’ design features.
‘World firsts’ you say – like what?
Where do we begin? Whilst the Pozi-Loc isn’t new to Solar’s bars and sticks, they were the company to invent this feature. This clever alignment feature has been incorporated into all of the P1 buzzer bars, and whilst it has now been ‘borrowed’ by many other companies, it’s never been bettered – until now! The new Taper-Loc feature on the buzzer bars has been further refined, ensuring that the Screwless Adjustment system provides faultless, secure aligned adjustment and a streamlined finish throughout the range. Coupled with the unique, 5-spoke, diamond-knurled, super grip collars, the P1 range is unmistakable and unquestionable desirable.
What’s the build quality like?
Think Rolls Royce and Bentley quality. As we’ve previously mentioned, it’s all made right here in England from the highest quality stainless steel components. Subtle 1k carbon detailing runs throughout the range which has been integrated with the stainless and each finished item will not only give you reliability, but it will last a lifetime.
And how does the range look?
The ‘first wave’ of P1 items has now been rolled out to all Solar Tackle stockists, starting with this comprehensive range: Worldwide Pod, Euro Worldwide Pod, (along with various conversion kits and short sticks for both of those pods), 2- and 3-Rod Buzzer Bars, Travel-Lite Banksticks in five lengths and Anti-Twist Banksticks in four lengths, but there’s loads more exciting new products due to be added to the P1 range over the coming year and beyond.
How much are we talking?
Prices start at £20.99 for the Travel-Lite Banksticks and £45.99 for the 2-Rod Buzzer Bars, which, we’ll grant you isn’t the type of spare cash you’ll find down the back of the sofa. But remember: these are all British-made and have been designed for the specialist angler who demands the absolute best from his ‘tools’, even in the toughest conditions. Buy these and they’ll last you a lifetime. Buy cheap, and you’ll buy twice. solartackle.co.uk
Stainless Adjustable Back Rest
Recognise the product name? You will do, these retro looking butt rests have been around for donkey’s years, but this is the new, more compact, more clever version of the originals. Where previously you added discs to get your rod to fit snugly between the arms, now a hidden Allen key fitting at the base does away with these, making them ultra compact and far easier to use. Two sizes available. “GIMME”: £19.99