Best fishing seatboxes under £350

As many anglers are aware, you can spend upwards of £1000 on the best seatbox, but this is out of the price bracket of many anglers and some of the best fishing seatboxes under £350 are truly incredible in terms of features and performance. Not all anglers need a really premium box, they need something to sit on and hold items of tackle. If you fish waters where longer walks are required a cheaper box is usually better, as the more expensive boxes are ridiculously heavy and not designed to be carried.

Just because a seatbox is cheaper doesn't mean you won't get a quality product, as many manufacturers have designed some fantastic systems to cater for all budgets. You'll still get a lot of the features you'll see on more premium boxes but you usually get less drawers and in some cases a slightly more compact seatbox. Depending on the company, the best seatboxes under £350 will still allow you to attach all their aftermarket products onto them such as feeder arms, brolly attachments and side trays, so you can still customise them exactly how you want to.

Best fishing seatboxes under £350 at a glance:

• Best In Class Seatbox Under £350 - Preston Innovations Inception Station - View offer on Fishing Tackle and Bait

• Best Lightweight Design Seatbox Under £350 - MAP H30 Lite Seatbox - View offer on eBay

• Best Overall Commercial Seatbox Under £350 - Matrix S25 Super Box - View offer on Total Fishing Tackle

• Best Compact Design Seatbox Under £350 - Maver Signature SXI 36 Compact Seatbox - View offer on eBay

Whether you're a serious match angler or an angler who gets out when they can, having a stable base to fish from is paramount, not only will it prevent you falling and breaking things, it will help support your back when fishing for longer periods of time. They also save lots of time and make your angling more efficient by keeping everything to hand with drawers, and with the ability to attach whatever you need to them, it becomes an all-in-one fishing station. Here is a guide to some of the best fishing seatboxes under £350...

What to look for in a seatbox under £350

There really are some fantastic fishing seatboxes under £350 available to anglers, all with various features depending on the manufacturer. There are a few important things to consider when choosing a seatbox, such as comfort, stability and the option to add things onto the box if you decide you want to.

As you're usually sat on the box for considerable amounts of time, it's wise to get one that has a comfortable seat to start with, as there is nothing worse than an uncomfortable one. If you fish a wide range of venues, we suggest choosing a box that has a strong frame and adjustable legs, as this will allow you to create a very safe and stable setup. The last thing you should be worrying about is if your box is going to collapse or cause you to fall, if you have doubts about your box, you will not fish to the best of your ability.

If you like to keep things at hand, then a box that has drawers or the ability to add them is always preferable. You can keep essential items in there to prevent you having to get up constantly to locate them, as very often the more you move around, the more likely you are to break other items of tackle like rods and poles. Lastly, the weight of the box is a considerable factor, especially if you are going to carry it. If it's too heavy and cumbersome for you to carry, then it's useless.

Glossary

Seatbox: A box designed to be sat on and fished from, often with adjustable legs and drawer units.

Footplate: A flat, plastic base that sits in front of the seatbox that allows you to rest your feet on.

Legs: Steel poles that are located in the corners of the seatbox that can be adjusted and locked into place.

Drawer unit: A sliding drawer that is located under the seat and can be slid in and out whilst the box is being sat on.

Storage unit: A large, deep area located under the seat to store bigger items of tackle such as reels.

Pole seat: A seat that has a recess moulded into it, often with a leather strap over it to allow you to sit a pole into.

Mudfeet: Large metal or plastic cylindrical discs that sit on the end of the legs to prevent the box sinking into wet ground.

Locking nuts: Screw fixtures that when tightened secure the legs in place and prevent them slipping.

Frequently asked questions about seatboxes

What is a fishing seatbox?

A fishing seatbox is a box that allows you to sit comfortably on the bank, often incorporating adjustable legs and a footplate to allow you to create a level and secure station to fish efficiently from. Some have drawer units to store frequently used items of tackle in for easy access, whilst others have deeper units located under the seat for larger tackle items like reels and bait. They are particularly useful for pole fishing, as they allow you to manoeuvre easily allowing you to ship the pole in and out with minimal fuss.

How do you set up a seatbox?

Whilst they make look complicated, setting up a seatbox couldn't be easier thanks to their adjustable legs. Place the box down on your chosen peg/bankside and begin to individually alter the legs by loosening the thumbscrews that lock the legs into place. Once your leg has extended to the position you feel it needs to be in to level the seatbox, tighten it back up and repeat until the box is sat how you want it to be. Some boxes even have spirit levels incorporated into the legs to aid this process further.

How many drawers does a seatbox need?

The amount if drawers a seatbox needs is simply determined by the angler using it, some anglers like to have lots of drawers to organise their tackle, whilst others don't see the need for them. We would recommend choosing a box with at least one draw or the option to add a draw, as they are very useful to have and they make the process of fishing much more efficient by keeping essential items of tackle close at hand.

Is a footplate essential on a seatbox?

In short, no. You don't need a footplate on a seatbox but they do help in making the box much more comfortable to sit on. They help keep your legs up in a 90 degree position, which is very useful when using a pole and stop you over extending your legs to try and gain some stability whilst sat down. The only time they are required other than that is if you're fishing a very steep bank of are wading into the water, as your legs will not touch the ground and you don't want your legs to be dangling as its very uncomfortable and often unsafe.

Author Aidan Bordiukis an enthusiastic angler who enjoys all fishing disciplines from match fishing to beach casting. He is currently occupying the position of Commercial Content Writer at Angling Times.