Like mentioned the free spirit ctx 10fts are great, I have used them for while and just got some 10ft aviators but the ctx are amazing, I will say my friend uses the tx2 10fts and they are great little rods

In reply to Post #1
Tackle Box Darent Valley Specimen Rod 10ft 3lb - my son has the 11ft version and they are absolutely superb value for money !! £52 each as well.

future fishing own rods are stunning, I have the 9ft 2.75 and they bend in 2 with fish on,great fun,they do 10ft rods aswell....beautiful rods

In reply to Post #5
Another vote for the Rod Hutchinson rods. Bought a pair for my stepson as a starter set and they're great for the price.

Gerry - I know you like a bargain.... check out a company called home-un-leisure on ebay. I got some rods from there for pennies plus postage. They also do sonik stuff and the wychwood riot rods which I also considered

Shimano tx2 10ft rods are good for the money or sonik xtractor/insurgents also decent and some bargains to be had at the moment in the sales.

In reply to Post #20
Had a bend of the new Free Spirit Helical at jack frosts in Crawley - felt bloody awful... But then i also had a bend of the new Korda rod - and that felt lika a pole vault.

Korum have a new range called Omega out, bound to be good value...

Tackle box stuff seems always be 'good value'.

Depends on budget and what you want from a rod.

Always suggest go second hand.

Picked up 3 second hand YAC ballista (2x2,5lb + 3lb) yesterday for just €75,00 total. Fuji reel seats and rings. The usual signs of wear but for the price it makes best budget rods for me.

I think it now seems a choice
between the Sonic and Diawa BUDGET rods both can be bought for around fifty quid a rod and thats his budget !
thanks for the replies and suggestions folks

I got a pair of diawa crosscast 10ft 3lb and they are great value for money. Had 2 30lb cats on them the other weekend and they held up fine. I think they are around £60 each. Might be worth a look.

In reply to Post #23
Don't know if they are still manufactured but the chub outkast were a belting entry level rod for the price. Won a lot of rave reviews years ago about the quality.

I still have a few of mine buried away and use them every so often when fishing more ferral waters in the Manchester area

Update after loads of research and taking on board all your suggestions
TODAY
I advised him to buy 3 Daiwa Vertice carp rods 10ft 3lb

Angling4less have easter deal 15% off making £137.67 for 3 rods ( £45.89 each) free delivery so nicely inside his £50 a rod budget and his Shimano baitrunner reels will be perfect

wonder if anyone is using this particular model ?