Love them or hate them, there’s no denying that RidgeMonkey has become one of the biggest brands in carp fishing over the last decade.
They’ve built a reputation for doing things differently, launching products that often make anglers think, “Why didn’t someone invent that years ago?”
But with every new release comes the same debate…
Are RidgeMonkey genuinely one of the most innovative companies in carp fishing, or are they simply brilliant at marketing?
Here’s our take.
They Don’t Just Copy Everyone Else
One thing that’s hard to argue with is that RidgeMonkey have introduced some genuinely original ideas to the carp scene.
Instead of releasing another set of alarms or another green bivvy, they’ve often focused on solving everyday problems anglers actually face on the bank.
Some products have become so popular that other manufacturers have eventually released their own versions.
Whether that’s coincidence or flattery is up for debate.
The Sandwich Toaster… An Absolute Classic
If there’s one RidgeMonkey product that deserves legendary status, it’s surely the Connect Sandwich Toaster.
It seems almost every carp angler owns one.
Whether you’re making bacon sandwiches, toasties, burgers, wraps, pizza, hash browns or even a full English breakfast, it just works.
The detachable handles make it easy to pack away, the non-stick coating makes cleaning simple, and the heat distribution is excellent.
Plenty of anglers buy one for fishing and then end up using it at home or while camping.
It’s one of those rare products that genuinely lives up to the hype.
Buckets Done Properly
Another product that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves is the RidgeMonkey bucket range.
It sounds ridiculous to get excited about a bucket…
…until you’ve used one.
The square design makes them easier to stack in the garage, easier to fit on a barrow and far more efficient inside the boot of your car compared to traditional round buckets.
They’re sturdy, well made and have become a favourite for storing bait, tackle and food.
Sometimes innovation isn’t about inventing something completely new—it’s about improving something we’ve all been using for years.
The Bait Boats
Their bait boats have also proven incredibly popular.
With features such as GPS, echo sounders and app connectivity, RidgeMonkey have pushed technology forward and helped make advanced bait boats more accessible to everyday anglers.
Whether bait boats are your thing or not, it’s difficult to argue they haven’t had a major impact on the market.
But They’re Not Perfect…
As much as we rate a lot of RidgeMonkey’s gear, not everything has been a home run.
For us, the bivvies have never quite reached the same level as the rest of the range.
They’re undoubtedly well made, but compared to some of the competition from Fox, Trakker and Nash, we’ve always found them a little cumbersome.
Setup can feel more involved than it needs to be, and once erected they don’t quite have the same practical feel as some rival shelters.
That doesn’t mean they’re bad bivvies—far from it—but they’re probably not the first RidgeMonkey product we’d recommend.
Premium Prices… Premium Quality?
One criticism occasionally aimed at RidgeMonkey is price.
Many of their products sit towards the premium end of the market.
However, in fairness, the build quality usually reflects that.
Most RidgeMonkey gear feels solid, well engineered and designed to last, which probably explains why so many anglers continue buying into the brand.
Our Verdict
For us, RidgeMonkey are far more than clever marketers.
Yes, they’re excellent at branding. Their products are instantly recognisable, the packaging looks great and they know exactly how to launch something new.
But marketing alone doesn’t keep anglers coming back.
Products like the Connect Sandwich Toaster, square bucket system and much of their cookware have become genuine bank-side favourites because they actually solve problems and make life easier.
That said, we don’t think every product is a winner. The bivvies, while well built, have never quite matched the practicality and ease of use offered by some competing shelters.
Overall though, RidgeMonkey have earned their place as one of the industry’s most innovative brands.
What Do You Think?
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What’s the best RidgeMonkey product you’ve ever bought?
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Have you used one of their bivvies?
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Are they genuinely innovative, or just brilliant at marketing?
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Is there anything they’ve released that disappointed you?
Drop your thoughts below—we’re interested to hear whether the CarpTalk community agrees or completely disagrees!