- Joined
- Jun 14, 2006
- Messages
- 1,039
I’ve had this a few months now and thought I’d write a review. I’ve had plenty of boxes over the years but I cannot believe I need to spend over £400 on a box! I saw a guy recently on a fully kitted out new Octbox (not having a go at Octbox) which probably cost £700+ fishing and struggling to control a £300 pole, think that equation is the wrong way round in terms of fish caught at the end of the day.
My box before the H30 was a Matrix F25. That was a great box similar to the H30 in design and nice and compact which suited my vehicle. The F25 served me well but I always felt everything was a bit close at hand and it could be more stable if it was wider. When I changed vehicle a wider box was possible and I started looking around. Weight is an issue so the H frame style boxes were always likely to be my purchase. I looked at the Prestons Inception and while I thought it was a very good box the deep tray which could not be moved put me off.
I bought the H30 for under £300 from my excellent small shop (Lobbys tackle in Stonehouse). He’d had it on the shelf a while (they came out in 2018) and there was some dust on it, bought the standard box with a deep and shallow drawer. I had intended to use the shallow drawer for winders but the fixed dividers ruled that out so I bought an additional winder tray (and fitted with Boxtrays winder holders). I do now like having a shallow tray for bits and bobs. I have also bought another deep drawer (I was going to get a deep tray but getting a drawer is better). I bought a £3 circular spirit level off eBay and stuck it on the frame at the back in the middle, this has worked brilliantly. Now a real benefit of the extra trays means that the Preston Inception shuttle brackets (with a tiny modification) perfectly hold the box on my shuttle.
My only other modification is that I had 2x25mm leg extenders for the matrix. I have put these on the left hand side and my Matrix extending tray attaches front and back to these (on a Preston tray support arm). I like my tray high up, I’m 6ft tall but find most boxes as sold mean the tray is too low (even seen this with top anglers). The other benefit is my tray now has 3 anchoring points available on the outside of the tray and I tend to put my Matrix bait brolly in the middle one (using the 22mm insert that comes with the brolly arm). I hope the photo makes this clearer although the bait brolly isn’t in the photo.
good points about the box:
- it’s very stable and I notice how the larger footprint helps over the F25
- its got 30mm legs, so no need to buy new brackets. I think for the vast majority of anglers 36mm legs are unnecessary.
- the leg extension knobs are very secure and easy to apply, no slipping to date
- the main frame knobs are great and can be used in 180 degrees of position to manage space
- the seat is firm, jurys out on it but so far I’ve not noticed a numb bum
- being that bit bigger than the f25 I leave some brackets attached during transportation rather than carrying separately
- the footplate is a good size, there are 2sprung holders but I don’t really use them, just slide in and out
- the clips on the trays are as good as I’ve used, positive and secure.
- it comes with a cover which I’ll never use.
- I think it looks good!
areas for improvement
- could have had spirit level fitted (wasn’t difficult to sort)
- a shallow side drawer without fixed dividers would be good.
Is it light as it’s name suggests? No non angler would pick it up and say it’s light! It’s heavier than the F25, but you’d expect that being bigger. I realise I haven’t helped myself with extra drawers although the second deep drawer only has hook boxes and my glasses in. I don’t know what it weighs, the strap is excellent however I hardly use it, just lifting off the shuttle at the peg. Assume the Z30 and Z36 type boxes are heavier, definitely not for me. I don’t think any modern style box is light especially when we fill it except perhaps Matchbox (which doesn’t have a sliding footplate).
As you can probably tell I’m very happy with it 9/10 from me. I’ve tried to attach some photos after I’d washed it down, one photo does look like there is some scratching on the footplate which there isn’t, it’s just the light and water.
My box before the H30 was a Matrix F25. That was a great box similar to the H30 in design and nice and compact which suited my vehicle. The F25 served me well but I always felt everything was a bit close at hand and it could be more stable if it was wider. When I changed vehicle a wider box was possible and I started looking around. Weight is an issue so the H frame style boxes were always likely to be my purchase. I looked at the Prestons Inception and while I thought it was a very good box the deep tray which could not be moved put me off.
I bought the H30 for under £300 from my excellent small shop (Lobbys tackle in Stonehouse). He’d had it on the shelf a while (they came out in 2018) and there was some dust on it, bought the standard box with a deep and shallow drawer. I had intended to use the shallow drawer for winders but the fixed dividers ruled that out so I bought an additional winder tray (and fitted with Boxtrays winder holders). I do now like having a shallow tray for bits and bobs. I have also bought another deep drawer (I was going to get a deep tray but getting a drawer is better). I bought a £3 circular spirit level off eBay and stuck it on the frame at the back in the middle, this has worked brilliantly. Now a real benefit of the extra trays means that the Preston Inception shuttle brackets (with a tiny modification) perfectly hold the box on my shuttle.
My only other modification is that I had 2x25mm leg extenders for the matrix. I have put these on the left hand side and my Matrix extending tray attaches front and back to these (on a Preston tray support arm). I like my tray high up, I’m 6ft tall but find most boxes as sold mean the tray is too low (even seen this with top anglers). The other benefit is my tray now has 3 anchoring points available on the outside of the tray and I tend to put my Matrix bait brolly in the middle one (using the 22mm insert that comes with the brolly arm). I hope the photo makes this clearer although the bait brolly isn’t in the photo.
good points about the box:
- it’s very stable and I notice how the larger footprint helps over the F25
- its got 30mm legs, so no need to buy new brackets. I think for the vast majority of anglers 36mm legs are unnecessary.
- the leg extension knobs are very secure and easy to apply, no slipping to date
- the main frame knobs are great and can be used in 180 degrees of position to manage space
- the seat is firm, jurys out on it but so far I’ve not noticed a numb bum
- being that bit bigger than the f25 I leave some brackets attached during transportation rather than carrying separately
- the footplate is a good size, there are 2sprung holders but I don’t really use them, just slide in and out
- the clips on the trays are as good as I’ve used, positive and secure.
- it comes with a cover which I’ll never use.
- I think it looks good!
areas for improvement
- could have had spirit level fitted (wasn’t difficult to sort)
- a shallow side drawer without fixed dividers would be good.
Is it light as it’s name suggests? No non angler would pick it up and say it’s light! It’s heavier than the F25, but you’d expect that being bigger. I realise I haven’t helped myself with extra drawers although the second deep drawer only has hook boxes and my glasses in. I don’t know what it weighs, the strap is excellent however I hardly use it, just lifting off the shuttle at the peg. Assume the Z30 and Z36 type boxes are heavier, definitely not for me. I don’t think any modern style box is light especially when we fill it except perhaps Matchbox (which doesn’t have a sliding footplate).
As you can probably tell I’m very happy with it 9/10 from me. I’ve tried to attach some photos after I’d washed it down, one photo does look like there is some scratching on the footplate which there isn’t, it’s just the light and water.
