Five reasons why you'll want Guru's new seatbox
It’s one of the worst kept secrets of the year, but Guru’s new ST Limited Edition seatbox – created in collaboration with the lads at box genius Rive – is about to hit the shops.
Keen-eyed match anglers flicking through their social media feeds or bumping into match aces Pemb Wrighting, Matt Godfrey and Adam Rooney on the bank will have spotted early prototypes over the past couple of seasons, but now we can all get our hands on the finished article.
Liveried in the progressive company’s black and orange glory, it’s the result of over two years of work for the Guru team.
Attention to detail is evident in each part, from the hand-made cushion to the solid footplate and metal frontages to the drawers.
This bit of kit is built to serve the most demanding of matchmen, and even with our brief acquaintance of the £1,149 RRP box, we can tell it’s something special.
Trust us, if you’re serious about your fishing, you’ll want one. Here’s why…
1) It’s comfier than a new sofa
Guru wasn’t happy with a standard cushion so it commissioned a new, handcrafted style christened the ‘Dream’ cushion. Built by master saddlers in Strasbourg, it looks the part and is made to last. It also features a tough pole butt rest for those who like to fish hands-free with a front bar.
The cushion is thicker than a doorstep bacon butty and just as satisfying, from the time you first sit on it to when you get off five hours later. Those with longer legs can easily get comfy by adding clip-in trays beneath the seat.
2) It’s solid… as a rock
The box has a wide stance and rides low to the ground on six 36mm diameter legs for total stability. Each leg has 25mm telescopic inserts for easy adjustments and levelling.
The patented HSP (High Stability Footplate) distributes weight across four legs, while unique clips ensures the footplate won’t move.
Each drawer features a metal fascia (and easy-grip knob) so its always easy to open even when you’ve got a big lad sat on the box. Even the paint covering the frame is toughened for a longerlife.
3) You can get a lot of kit in it
Under the seat you’ll find a 3ins deep, front-opening drawer and a shallower, full-length side drawer. There’s also a spare under-box cassette and carry lid, which clips securely into the frame and can be added to from the range of extra trays available for tons of extra storage.
To be fair, if you’re filling it you’re probably taking too much kit!
4) You’ll stand out on the bank!
Just look at it! Guru isn’t noted for its muted choice ofcolours and, let’s be honest, we’re not stalking wild trout on gin-clear chalkstreams here so a bit of colour on the bank will make you stand out from the crowd – in a classy way, of course.
The matt black finish is punctuated by a personalised Guru/Rive backplate, unique to the box, while each drawer features a colour-coded fascia.
5) It’s adaptable
Once you’ve got your box sitting perfectly in your peg, it can be a pain shifting it to add attachments or make micro adjustments to the height – but the ST’s patented open leg system allows legs to be removed without moving the box out of position. This also makes it quick and easy to unclip the legs for transport in your car.
We’ve seen this on boxes before, but few have been as solid as on this version – you can’t overtighten these legs either! The Open Cap System on the legs will host various Rive arms and other attachments.