I'm after a few bits, rod bag, camera bag and a couple of weigh slings I'm thinking about Cotswold Aquarius anyone use them or should I stay away?
Save yourself some money and look at the speero range in green or dpm, I've had the rod holdall, rucksack and carryall for a good while now, normally fishing once a week in all weather's. Still all in perfect order, well made good padding and items well thought out on the modular items (you can clip on extra bags or cool bags if needed)
I have been very pleased with its performance.
Also have a few of the smaller bits and bobs as well...
I know a few others on here who have equally been impressed with it as a luggage range 😊
I have been very pleased with its performance.
Also have a few of the smaller bits and bobs as well...
I know a few others on here who have equally been impressed with it as a luggage range 😊
In reply to Post #1
Very good kit. I had a load, sold it off to buy cheaper and have ended up buying cotswold again. Expensive yes, but you get what you pay for
Very good kit. I had a load, sold it off to buy cheaper and have ended up buying cotswold again. Expensive yes, but you get what you pay for
In reply to Post #1
I've had my Savoy barrow bag I think it's called since my mid twenties I'm now in my mid fiftys and it's still going strong
I've had my Savoy barrow bag I think it's called since my mid twenties I'm now in my mid fiftys and it's still going strong
In reply to Post #3
See I don't think you do get what you pay for with Cotswold, I think it is very basic gear sold at a massively inflated price on the back of it being, "hand made in the UK".....look how much of it comes up for sale on Ebay with a zip issue or stitching coming undone, you shouldn't get any such problems with a supposed premium brand.
The carryalls have no rigidity so flop about all over the place and the rucksacks are probably the most uncomfortable on the market. The rod transport items are good, I will give them that, well padded and functional but to be honest, are they any better than something less than half the price.....maybe, just marginally but not enough to justify such an outlay.
I seriously looked at the Trident 3-rod recently but side by side up against others there was very little difference, certainly not enough to justify the price tag.
See I don't think you do get what you pay for with Cotswold, I think it is very basic gear sold at a massively inflated price on the back of it being, "hand made in the UK".....look how much of it comes up for sale on Ebay with a zip issue or stitching coming undone, you shouldn't get any such problems with a supposed premium brand.
The carryalls have no rigidity so flop about all over the place and the rucksacks are probably the most uncomfortable on the market. The rod transport items are good, I will give them that, well padded and functional but to be honest, are they any better than something less than half the price.....maybe, just marginally but not enough to justify such an outlay.
I seriously looked at the Trident 3-rod recently but side by side up against others there was very little difference, certainly not enough to justify the price tag.
In reply to Post #5
I can't comment on what come up on ebay, Im only going on my own experience and I've had nothing even remotely like that happen with my kit. I agree the rucksack ls aren't comfy, but that doesn't bother me as I always use a barrow so don't need to put anything on my back. As for being basic, well yeah but then again they are only bags so how complicated can they really be? I've used nash, jrc, gardner, chub, dam, daiwa luggage over the years, probably others I've forgotten too, and the ca kit is far better imo. Each to their own though
I can't comment on what come up on ebay, Im only going on my own experience and I've had nothing even remotely like that happen with my kit. I agree the rucksack ls aren't comfy, but that doesn't bother me as I always use a barrow so don't need to put anything on my back. As for being basic, well yeah but then again they are only bags so how complicated can they really be? I've used nash, jrc, gardner, chub, dam, daiwa luggage over the years, probably others I've forgotten too, and the ca kit is far better imo. Each to their own though
Absolutely mate, personal choice and all that.... 
By basic I was referring to the carryalls in particular....I ordered a Rhino a few years and sent it straight back, virtually just a single skin bag with no padding and no rigidity....awful thing....
By basic I was referring to the carryalls in particular....I ordered a Rhino a few years and sent it straight back, virtually just a single skin bag with no padding and no rigidity....awful thing....
In reply to Post #1
Massively overpriced. Look at the Speero stuff. As good if not better quality for considerably less money.
Massively overpriced. Look at the Speero stuff. As good if not better quality for considerably less money.
In reply to Post #6
Agree. I bought a Savay rod holdall 2nd hand in 2008----it's still going strong 12 years later and has been seriously abused.
Since have bought a couple of other bits - everything has functioned well.
Yes, it's expensive...but it lasts
Agree. I bought a Savay rod holdall 2nd hand in 2008----it's still going strong 12 years later and has been seriously abused.
Since have bought a couple of other bits - everything has functioned well.
Yes, it's expensive...but it lasts
In reply to Post #9
I have a pathfinder rucksack, I think that's the one, I cant fault it, and I do believe in the case of this I got what I paid for. Zips are still good, no holes etc. I do replace the zip tags with split rings to make life easier in the middle of winter. I also have a rod holdall for roving the rivers, it's okay but nothing special, as someone said it's not rigid which can prove an issue for some.
I also have a stalking bag, like a satchel, lovely bit of kit.
I have a pathfinder rucksack, I think that's the one, I cant fault it, and I do believe in the case of this I got what I paid for. Zips are still good, no holes etc. I do replace the zip tags with split rings to make life easier in the middle of winter. I also have a rod holdall for roving the rivers, it's okay but nothing special, as someone said it's not rigid which can prove an issue for some.
I also have a stalking bag, like a satchel, lovely bit of kit.
Using the Pond Creeper DLX. Maxi cool bag dlx and also the 5rod trident rod hold-all. All are as good as the day I got them. Have been through hell and back with them. Yes you pay a premium for them but in this day and age I like to support local manufacturers.
Had cotswold,sold it all.The speero gear is better and alot cheaper
In reply to Post #12
The rod bags are a lot cheaper yes, not so much the carryall and cool bags etc from what I've looked at just now. Seems a lot of bag in a bag kind of gear too, bags and pockets for the sake of it. Why would anyone need a modular cool bag for instance?
The rod bags are a lot cheaper yes, not so much the carryall and cool bags etc from what I've looked at just now. Seems a lot of bag in a bag kind of gear too, bags and pockets for the sake of it. Why would anyone need a modular cool bag for instance?
Has anyone purchased there Coleman double burner storage bag?.
Purchased 2 but never used them so don't really know if quality is everlasting or not.
Purchased 2 but never used them so don't really know if quality is everlasting or not.
In reply to Post #6
Fan myself
Trident, best holdall about for me. Got one as soon as they came out. On my 3rd
First one was torn to bits, walking though undergrowth and brambles etc. Had the zip replaced by Cotswold during its life span. Had a 12'6" specially made to suit some rods, sold that with the rods. Back on a 12 foot DPM one, superb
Using a Vulpine rucksack for me fishing gear, well built, sits rubbish on the back but does what i need it to, only downside i have found to the rucksacks is that, how they hang, had the MK3 roamer too, well made, not good for long walks
British company who will repair or sort any problem out
Fan myself
Trident, best holdall about for me. Got one as soon as they came out. On my 3rd
First one was torn to bits, walking though undergrowth and brambles etc. Had the zip replaced by Cotswold during its life span. Had a 12'6" specially made to suit some rods, sold that with the rods. Back on a 12 foot DPM one, superb
Using a Vulpine rucksack for me fishing gear, well built, sits rubbish on the back but does what i need it to, only downside i have found to the rucksacks is that, how they hang, had the MK3 roamer too, well made, not good for long walks
British company who will repair or sort any problem out