Landing net handles can often be a bit of an afterthought when purchasing fishing tackle. We seem happy to buy seatboxes, rods, and poles at the top of our budget, but not much thought goes into the humble landing net handle. I was the same until I decided to try the Preston Innovations Monster X Power Landing Net Handle.

Many of us are happy to make do with whatever landing net handle is currently in the rod holdall or choose the cheapest possible option in the tackle shop when buying a new one. If you listen to match anglers, however, many of them will tell you that a good quality landing net handle is essential. I often thought that was their way of convincing themselves that their £100 (£180 in the case of the Guru Aventus) had been well spent.

I was happy with the Westlake 3m handle I bought for around £20, and Brian had been using a 20-year-old DAM telescopic handle without any problems. We were still catching plenty of fish, even double-figure carp. That was until we both managed to buy the same Monster X Power handle, without even realising that we had both chosen the same one. The difference that a strong, lightweight, and well-balanced handle made was surprising.

The Preston Monster X handle is available in three options: A 2.5m and 3m take-apart, and a 3m telescopic. For clarity, this review covers the 3m take-apart version that Brian and I both own and have used for several months.

The Monster X Power handles aren’t a new product. It was released three years ago as a good, but low-priced handle. The fact that it is still available in tackle shops today speaks volumes about the quality of the product. Priced at just £30, it sits at the lower mid-range of the market.

There are cheaper options available, but in most cases, they will either be lightweight and floppy or strong but heavy; neither of which is ideal. At the opposite end of the scale, several handles are stronger, lighter, and longer and come with two threaded sections to cover different situations. Unfortunately, those handles normally come at a premium price.

For many anglers, the more expensive options might be out of their budget. Or maybe they don’t feel that the additional cost is justified for the amount of fishing they do. If you’re looking for a cheaper option that can hold its own in most situations and offers real value for money, the Monster X could be exactly what you’re looking for.

The Monster X handle is supplied in 3 take-apart sections that can be placed inside each other and stored in the supplied Preston Innovations bag for easy transport. The business end of the handle features a glued and pinned thread to keep your landing net head firmly in place. Another great feature is the foam/rubber grip placed near the thread that helps you to hold the handle tightly without applying too much pressure when attaching and unscrewing your net.

One of the best points of the handle is its strength and durability. After months of use on the bank, my handle has been stood on, tripped over, bashed against my seatbox legs, and most importantly landed plenty of fish. Even after lots of abuse, the handle itself is free from cracks or signs of damage. The joints on each section still fit snuggly, and the thread grips just as securely as the first time I used it.

On a busy day’s fishing, your landing net will get a lot of use, so you want something light to use. The Monster X handle weighs around 250 grams without a net, so it is easy to hold at full length in one hand and won’t give you an arm ache at the end of a session. I couldn’t say that was the case with my cheap Westlake handle. Yes, it was strong, but that came at the expense of additional weight.

It’s also important that the handle is strong enough to bring in big fish with confidence. The biggest fish we have caught to date using the Monster X was a 13lb carp. Even with a fish that size flipping around in the net, the Monster X made light work of absorbing the force that was being applied to it.

It’s not a broom handle and will bend under the weight of a heavier fish in the net, but it never feels like you’re in danger of the thread working itself loose, or the carbon shattering. That’s certainly not the case with some cheaper or similarly priced handles that remble a banana when anything over 4lb is in the net Ask Brian, he made do with the situation that for a while before making the switch.

The finish of the handle is also a big advantage of budget options. Similar to the finish on an Edge Monster margin pole, it is smooth enough that it can easily glide over your knee and through the hand. At the same time, however, it isn’t so slippery that it will be hard to use in wet conditions. It also features a nice sleek design with a smart logo for all you tackle tarts out there.