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Coarse fishing with a pole is one of the best tactics for consistent fishing success on lakes, canals, and slow-moving rivers. You can set up your feed and keep your hooked bait in the zone at all times, but owning a pole is an expensive investment and one you will want to protect.
This article examines pole socks, an affordable accessory that keeps your pole safe while shipping to land a fish or re-bait your hook. Everyone who fishes with a pole should have one, but a quick search online will have you inundated with too many options.
Our Best Pole Socks
Luckily, we have narrowed the options down and reviewed only the best five pole socks on the market so you can quickly decide which one is right for you.
- Preston Innovations Pole Safe Combo – My Best Overall Pick!
- Preston Innovations Pole Safe Sock
- Guru Reaper Pole Section Retainer – My Best For Multiple Pole Sections
- Tubertini Pole Holder – My Best Budget Pick!
- Daiwa Single Pole Sock – My Best Lightweight Pick!
Preston Innovations Pole Safe Combo – My Best Overall Pick!
The Preston Innovations Pole Safe Combo is more than just a pole sock as being a combo it also comes with a handy grip, giving you everything you need to keep your pole safe in one great product.
The pole sock and tulip grip are built with high-quality materials that last and measure up to excellent quality. Preston Innovations continues to deliver coarse anglers to us. If you treat it right, you will own this combo for a long time!
The combo is light and compact, making carrying to and from the bank a breeze, and setting it up is really easy. You can add it to a cross arm or offbox ripple bar with the included thread, so it is in the perfect position for shipping. You also have the option to use the included snaplock fitting for a close setup.
The sock is wide and colourful, making it easy to find while removing pole sections when playing a fish. Plus, it is padded and features durable netting, so you know it will be safe once your pole section is in there. Once you have landed a fish or need to re-bait, you can use the pole grip for the short section, which makes your life easy and protects your pole from accidents.
This all-around sock combo keeps your pole safe in all fishing scenarios; the only downside is that it is a little more expensive than other simpler designs, but I think it is worth the few quid extra for the combo.
Pros
- Clips onto your seat box accessory bars easily
- Multiple fitting options – Fits both left and right side
- It comes with a tulip grip and a sock
- The sock is padded for pole protection
- The grip is handy for shorter sections
- Built with quality materials
- Long-lasting durability
- Very affordable
- Lightweight and compact for portability
Cons
- It costs a bit more than some others
Specs
Weight: 381 grams
Dimensions: 29.6 x 26.6 x 6.4 cm
Material: Polyester/polyurethane
Padded: Yes
Preston Innovations Pole Safe Sock
If you are looking for just the pole sock without the tulip gripper, you can buy the alternative option with just the sock. This comes at a slightly lower price than the pole combo. The sock is exactly the same as the combo version.
Guru Reaper Pole Section Retainer – My Best Pick For Multiple Pole Sections!
The Guru Reaper Pole Section Retainer isn’t your average pole sock either, as it comes with two socks and a tulip grip in the middle, allowing you to safely store multiple sections with ease.
This excellent design means storing the first section you remove in the right sock and the second in the left and using the tulip grip for your end section when you need to re-rig or re-bait. Life couldn’t be easier for those anglers using long 14+ meter poles.
The large diameter of the Guru pole sock ensures you can safely store anything between a single number four section to a full 16m pole minus the top three. Plus, the bright orange colour means finding your sock while fighting a fish is as easy as possible.
The socks are well made using metal, EVA foam, and a PU mesh so that they will last, and the foam padding ensures that your pole is well protected once stored.
Adding it to your seat box is incredibly simple using the included thread, and you can place it in the perfect place for shipping while doing so.
To top it all off, the Guru Reaper is super light and small for portability, not adding much weight to your already heavy gear bag. The one downside is that it is a bit more expensive than a basic pole sock, but you are getting a lot for the money with two socks and a tulip grip.
Pros
- Connects to your seat box easily
- Brightly coloured so you don’t miss
- Dual socks for multiple sections
- Padded to protect your pole after shipping
- Large and will house big sections
- Durable build that lasts
- Small and light for portability
- The tulip grip is great when re-baiting
- Excellent value
Cons
- More expensive than other options
Specs
Weight: 100 grams
Dimensions: 22.9 x 22.3 x 7.1 cm
Material: Metal, EVA Foam
Padded: Yes
Tubertini Pole Holder – My Best Budget Pick!
The Tubertini Pole Holder couldn’t feature a simpler design as it is simply a single pole sock with a thread at the bottom for attaching to your seat box attachments. It is not a combo like the two products we looked at above.
The simplicity of the design makes the Tubertini sock incredibly affordable, and thus, it is perfect for any angler shopping on a super tight budget. You lose some quality and functionality with the lower price, but it is still very much fit for purpose.
The pole holder comes with a bright yellow rim so you can find it easily, and it has some padding for protection but not as much as the others. The netting is top quality, as is everything else used to make this pole sock, so you are still getting a durable product despite the awesome affordability.
Another great thing about this pole sock is how light and small it is; it couldn’t be more portable! It is a great beginner’s pole sock or for those that only pole fish rarely.
Pros
- Incredibly affordable
- Easily attaches to a stand
- Good diameter for larger sections
- Well-made with quality materials
- Long-lasting durability
- The yellow rim makes it easy to find
- Super light and small for portability
Cons
- Not as well padded as the other pole socks
- It only functions as a sock and nothing else
Specs
Weight: 60 grams
Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 4 cm
Material: Metal, Polyester
Padded: Semi
Daiwa Single Pole Sock – My Best Lightweight Pick!
The Daiwa Single Pole Sock is a step up from the Tubertini option, featuring a similar design and still being ridiculously affordable.
When you buy something from Daiwa, you know you’re getting a quality product; the same goes for the Daiwa Single. Made from a combination of PU, polyester, Eva foam, and metal, this is made to last and to ensure your pole stays safe and protected.
The padding around the rim is excellent, as is the netting, plus adding it to a stand or seat box couldn’t be easier. To add to the great features, it is also very small and light, so it won’t unnecessarily weigh you down.
It would, however, be a little better if it had brighter colours so it was easier to find and a large diameter for holding larger sections, but overall, it is a great pole sock at an amazing price.
Pros
- Excellent build quality and durable
- Padded for excellent pole protection
- Super compact and light for portability
- Simple and easy-to-use design
- Attaches to a stand or seat box with ease
- It comes at an affordable price
Cons
- The colours could be a bit brighter
- Not the biggest diameter
Specs
Weight: 50 grams
Dimensions: 17 x 17 x 5 cm
Material: PU/Polyester/Eva Foam/Metal
Padded: Yes
Pole Sock FAQ
What Are Pole Socks For?
Pole socks keep your pole by your side at arm’s reach. Their main purpose is to prevent the pole from sliding into the water whilst fishing. The unit fits easily with a snap-lock fitting or can be screwed directly into your bank stick.
Should I Buy A Single Pole Sock Or A Two Pole Sock?
A single pole sock is perfect if you fish with a short pole of 10 meters or less. When you use a very long pole with multiple sections then two socks are best, this allows the pole sections to have enough space to fit nicely into each sock.
What Is A Mini Pole Sock?
A mini pole sock is much smaller and is used only for small-diameter poles or one or two sections of poles. They are a little harder to place your pole section into, and most anglers prefer the standard pole sock.
Will Pole Socks Fit Onto My Fishing Box?
All pole socks from any manufacturer will fit on any tackle box, accessory arm, or bank stick. The thread and inserts are standard with every type of fittings or diameter.
Shipping Out
Thanks very much for reading my article. I hope you enjoyed it, found it useful, and discovered the right pole sock. They are a great bit of kit and a super affordable way to protect your expensive pole. My pick for the best overall is, without a doubt, the Preston Pole Safe Combo, which is a tremendous buy due to its double sock and the centre tulip roost.
Please share the article with your fishing buddies, and if you enjoyed it, why not read my article on the best margin pole and my in-depth review on the best pole rollers available to match up with your pole sock.
Steve holds a special place in his heart for the mighty Carp and the elusive Tench
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