I've lost count of the number of times I've landed some piece of gear that has punched way above its pecuniary weight...
So it was that I recently took delivery of a couple of 11', 2.75lb carbon carp rods. Nothing too surprising about that, spec-wise, I admit.
They're fantastically slim, with a shrink-tube abbreviated grip that appeals to me immensely from my own rod-building days (it's how I would build a carp rod now); they're light, powerful, and have a gorgeous parabolic action.
All in all, two cracking rods. But this post is about the idea of value for money, and here, we're in the Major Leagues.
Firstly, they're four piece "travel" rods. This design doesn't compromise their action at all, and as I say, they're wonderfully light and slim. They pack down to just 88cm/34", which means that - using an approach similar to that used by this hunting backpack (my carp rucksack also has tunnels between the main compartment and side pockets, so I've attached a pouch to the bottom of the bag which the rod butts slide into) - the rods barely reach the top of the bag while in transit, meaning that carrying them on public transport is a doddle.
But the clincher is the price.
And here it is.
Less than £21 each! I'd happily have paid three times as much.