Venture Carp Luggage & Accessories

Zip N Flip Full System Carryall

Medium  RRP £ 74.99
Large      RRP £114.99

We have all had to do it at one time or another. You’ve packed your luggage in rush to get on the bank and whilst setting up you’ve realised that all your essential bits of kit that you need are buried at the bottom of your carryall, making your first job on arriving at the lake the job of unpacking everything rather than getting set up and getting your baits in the water.

However Rob Hughes and his team at Venture Carp came up with a unique solution to this old problem, when they released the Zip N Flip Full Carryall system back in 2008. I know the Zip N Flip has been around for a while now, but I have been using one for several months now and have fallen in love with the total concept of being able to access everything stored in the base without removing everything above.

This has been made possible by dividing the bag into two individual storage sections. You have the stiffened base section which is externally protected by a tough, vinyl, waterproof outer skin. Inside this section you have a black cloth lining and Velcro strips are fitted that run the full length of the Internal and along the two longest side walls, These support and fasten the three padded internal dividers that come supplied.

The base and upper section are connected by the two being machined together and heavy duty straps added to reinforce and strengthen the link between the sections. Then a two way, ¾ length zip is fitted to fully attach the base and create the Zip N Flip section. To protect the zip from long term stress and damage, two heavy duty clips are fixed to straps, these hold the base and top sections securely together.

From the top you have a large padded compartment that will comfortably hold a large F- type tackle box and numerous other essential items. The zipped lid for this section has a mesh pouch attached inside which is ideal for keeping documents you’re your rod licences, syndicate permits etc. At either end of this section is a fully padded zipped pocket, I found these perfect for gas canisters, pop ups or the kettle.

Now the real clever bit, releases the two clips at the front, unfasten the zip and flip the top back to reveal the base storage. On the underside of the top section are four mesh pockets ideal for storing PVA bags or any low profile tackle items. Inside the base you get a rig wallet, spod/marker tube and tackle pouch, making access to all your terminal tackle possible without having to empty everything out to get to it.

Some of the other top features of the Zip N Flip are the Grab and Grip handle attached at one end of the base unit enabling you to pull the carryall towards you rather than leaning forward to lift it out of tight place with a bent back. I personally found the karabiner attachments on the shoulder strap a joy to attach even in freezing conditions and all zips are fitted with Venture pull tags that are very easy to open.

I know many of you are very hard to please so on top of all the features and extra’s you get with the Zip N Flip, this is possibly the only carryall specifically designed to fit aviation hand luggage requirements, so if you are one of the masses of globe trotting carpers who leave our shores every year in search of that fish of a lifetime. Then this has to be the Carryall system for you.

You now have unlimited storage options that will make the accessibility of your kit much simpler than you’d find with standard luggage options. Exceptionally well manufactured, with all fixtures and fittings being used doing there job as required. As you may have guessed, I love the concept of this system and have made it my first choice carryall for most of my session angling, an original product design that makes a difference.

Razor Sling System 

12ft Version – RRP £109.99
13ft Version – RRP £119.99

I first got my hands on the Venture Carp Razor Sling System about six months ago and was instantly impressed with all the features this very stylish sling had to offer the demanding carp angler. The sling has one main compartment which has a full length side access zip and is large enough to house the largest of brolly system or selected compact shelters. Inside the main storage compartment is an internal pocket that has a ¾ length access zip and will comfortably house 3 large bank sticks with ATTs alarms fitted and 3 unloaded bank stick with ease.

The base of the Sling has been fitted with a grab and grip handle which when used in conjunction with the second handle which is attached to the top rod sleeve tensioning strap, will greatly aid the loading and unloading of your vehicle when the sling is fully loaded. To enable the secure attachment of your loaded rod slings, 4 locating sleeves are situated at the bottom of the sling with second retaining strap fitted just above.

Also included in the Razor Sling system is a waterproof black nylon cover that slips over the top of the sling and sleeves to protect against the elements.

To complete the job, 4 large stainless steel D ring anchors are fitted at the slings top edge securely attach the Venture rod sleeves on to.

Now to my personal favourites, the 3 Rod Slings that are supplied with the Razor system are without question, the best all round design I have personally seen and used. Each sleeve has the capacity to house a 12ft, 2 piece rods and an accompanying big pit sizes reel with ease. Just to make the sleeve the whole nine yards, Venture have fitted a clear panel over the reel chamber which makes the identification of your rods a very simple affair, removing the need to take every rod out of its sleeve to find the one you’re looking for a thing of the past.

Rod protection is obviously an issue that Venture Carp take very seriously, this is made obvious when you look at all the numerous changes they have made to improve a conventional rod sleeve. One of the obvious changes that really caught my eye was the introduction of a Circular Hard Hat end cover on all sleeves, in my opinion a totally brilliant idea yet so simple. Another really well thought out design on the Razor Sling System individual rod sleeves is that each sleeve has its own carry strap,  no more bungee straps when you don’t want to carry the sling.

Each strap is attaches by a simple D ring connected to the sling and Karabiner attachment on each end of the strap. Now this connection gives the angler multiple options, when it comes to the transportation of his rods to or from the waters edge.
The first of these options is, you can attach each Rod Sleeve directly to the sling as standard for a conventional set up or an alternative option would be to remove the slings well padded shoulder strap and attaching this directly to the Rod Sleeves D rings, this allow the angler to transport there rods individually.

I have now really put the Razor Sling System well and truly through its paces and apart from a bit of mud, the odd scuff from being thrown about whilst loading the van and the mandatory bird dung, it still performs like the day I first used it. All stitching and manufacture have held up to the rigours of the bank side abuse they go through after a 3 or 4 hard session on the bank. All zips and the well branded pull tags are also in perfect working order.

To the question, “Would I recommend the Venture Carp Razor Sling System to the angler looking to spend his hard earned cash on top quality luggage?” the answer is a simple “yes”

Venture Carp Recovery Sling XL

Extra Large - 120cm x 60cm x25cm                 RRP £36.99
Standard - 90cm x 50cm x 25cm                      RRP £32.99

Without question Venture Carp have got an uncanny knack of releasing product that tick all the boxes and write a few of there own. All the products I have tested by Venture have been totally original in design and features without taking away from the products over all quality and performance. Yet another product to fit in these criteria is the Recovery Sling XL.

This ground breaking sling was the first of its kind when it was released in 2008, incorporating all the usual features of a conventional sling but with three major design changes that make it unique. With the addition of four carry handles rather than the normal two made the whole weighing and returning of carp a much simpler affair for both the angler and the fish.

This all in one weigh sling and short term retaining sling had also had four floats fitted to the top bars of the sling (two at either end) These act as buoyancy aids which allow the fish to be rested in the safety of the lake whilst you prepare yourself for the pictures etc The Recovery Sling sits upright on the surface while the mesh section ensures a good flow of water to the recovering fish.

Last but not least is the addition of a V – section at both ends of the sling. This extra material helps keep the slings bars apart whilst floating and the fish is recovering. More importantly, Venture realised there was a design flaw in the majority of slings already available, this was that many had problems with zips opening during the weighing and fish release process, the introduction of the V- Section resolved this

As I have already said, Venture Carp have well a truly established themselves as a forward thinking company who rectify the faults in a product before they change the working design. The Recovery Sling XL come supplied in a stylish zipped bag with the top sealed with a Velcro strip. This well designed product requires no further etiquette, a great design.

For more information on the products in this review or on any of the other Ventrue Carp range, please click the image below to go to the Venture Carp website.