The best affordable carp rods

Launched in the spring of this year, Extremis are mightily impressive rods for the cash. They look great in full duplon or cork handle options and cover the most popular test curves of 3lb, 3.25lb and 3.5lb. They all have 50mm butt rings and anti-frap tip rings to aid casting. The blanks are lightweight and constructed from a high-modulus carbon – which ultimately means less resin for a more responsive blank. A gem of a rod.

The Horizon family is ruled by the mighty X5, but, like Kodex, Fox has also brought that design ethos into a cheaper product with the new X3. These look great, with glossy details and a choice of cork or abbreviated handles. And, being Fox, they also perform very well indeed. They're certainly not outright casting tools (none of the rods featured in this guide are), but they have surprising power if really pushed.

Another new rod, this time from the experts at Daiwa. Few, if any, companies can match Daiwa's manufacturing expertise, so you know you're in safe hands with these rods. More than powerful enough to cope with PVA bags or the largest Method feeders, these rods will also help marshal fish to the bank without any fuss. They look great with the 1k carbon weave and the subtle Daiwa logo just below the butt ring.

It's hard to break into the UK market unless you have something special to offer, and relative newcomer Carp Spirit certainly does. Well established in mainland Europe, the brand has a huge range of products including these Magnum X1 rods. Boasting a mix of 36 and 30-ton carbon, these rods have a 'semi-fast' action which lends itself to all round use. They also look great – definitely up there with the GT4s as best on test in that regard.carpspirit.com

New for 2019, the Exodus range stopped us dead in our tracks when we first saw them and their price tag. The 12ft 3lb version has an RRP of £54.99 and we can't think of a better rod on the market for the price. Slim, lightweight and responsive, the blanks have all the aesthetic touches modern carpers want. They have a forgiving fish-playing action and nice touches like a built-in line clip and laser-etched butt caps. Incredible value. anglingdirect.co.uk

A couple of years ago, Kodex launched a £450 rod in the shape of the KX-i. It was an astonishing piece of kit from a company normally associated with more wallet-friendly products, but it was a showcase of the firm's talents and the trickle-down effect is in evidence with the CX-i. Looks-wise, they have a real custom-built feel to them and the lightweight carbon blank offers a great blend of casting power and fish-playing abilities. kodextackle.com

We almost had to bend the rules to get this one into the affordable category, but the excellent Prodigy GT4 is in a range that's been around for a few years now, hence the price drop, but it's still a really great-performing rod. One of the best lookers, and performers, on test, it's sleek and slim yet powerful, and has a 3k carbon weave. The G-Lite guides keep the weight and balance just right.

Sonik is a master of producing great value kit. The cheaper VaderX rod is brilliant for the money and this, its pricier brother, is even better. It's 10 per cent stiffer in the butt and five per cent stiffer in the tip than the VaderX and it really shows in its casting prowess: it has a great recoil for long, accurate casts. It's also got the spec to match, including a built-in line clip, Fuji reel seat (rare at this price), flared handle and anti-frap tip ring.