It has been asked on several forums... but lets come up with the definative advice on which pole at which price...

Post in here which pole you use and why you chose it and what price you paid.. then we can build up a list of the preffered tools and the price people should expect to pay -

Personally I ended up with a Daiwa Tournament Pro, paid £2200 for the 16M version with 6 top kits and 3 top 4's ... had the Maver K57 for 2 weeks in which time it broke twice (one number 4 and the 13M section) and ended up sending it back for a refund...

£1000 pole, I would back the G8. I've droped this pole on rocks and hit the legs of my box yet havn't broken anything in 8 months (quite good for me).
If you are heavy handed this is a good buy. Spares quite cheap as well.

I've got Garbolino Superlegion 16m comes with 3 match top 3's and 3 power top 2's, also a cupping kit and a holdall. (I would of prefered all match tops, and removed the No 1's)
I paid £1250 for it and have had 14months, I've been really happy with it.
Would of liked a better finish on it, like the finish on the Shimano's.
Because it can be a bit of a pain shipping in and out in the rain.
The other poles I considered in the price range were, the Shimano speedmaster (the original one)along with one of the Preston GIS poles.
The only other pole that I would swop it for at the moment (If I could of afforded it)would be is the Daiwa Tournament Pro.

Slightly off topic, but the best value pole I've ever bought is the Maver H31. Hmm, about 4 years ago? Maybe 5 years. 14.5m, 3 match kits, 2 power kits, top 4, fighting no4, cupping kit, cups, holdall. RRP 999, 840 quid in readys. I still have it, and still use it on the cut, it's still in pretty mint nick with just one section repaired (I dropped it) I've not seen anything substantially better in the last 4 years in the 800-1200 quid bracket to make it worth replacing. I do like the G796 very much though....

Top of the line I recon the tourney pro can't be beat at the moment and bottom of the line I recon shimano technium for about 200 quid may never be beat

I agree with you there Paul, I can't believe how good the Shimano technium is for the money.

The soundest advice Ive had in years was off carpmagic when I asked him about the Technium because I couldn't afford a lot, absolutely brilliant pull an house over.Ive passed the word on and know to at least 9 people buying one on his word, 5 in our club.Had the power section and extension included for £267.
If I could afford one it would be the Speedmaster.

I reckon the tournament pro is over rated myself when I had a look at the new speed master and compared it to the t.pro there wasn't much difference @ 14 1/2 mtrs.

Maver Resolution - 14.5m paid >300 GBP inc delivery.
Totally new to the pole game, and managed to break the bottom of the power top two with a 5LB carp! Hopefully Maver will be replacing this ASAP.

Hasn't done a lot for my confidence in pole angling - but we'll see.

have the diawa tourn pro 3 spare top fours 2 power tops, 2 short no 4 half x superb pole had the tourn X before but this pole is even better.