The top picture represents both mats, they're the same shape, just different in size. John is holding the large one, in its bag, in the picture so you get an idea of the length of it from that.
The mats don't inflate tight, like a balloon, or the fish would just roll off. They inflate enough to prevent a large fish from sagging the top surface to meet the bottom, if you see what I mean - the fish lies in a nice hollow.
Thats an impressive bit of kit like you say Graham and compact enough that people like me who don't normally cart an unhooking mat around will have no excuses.
Hehehe! Had mine done, Graham. It was the stoney step that gave me a pain in the aris. But then I rarely forget anything, that was a senior moment I was going through.
I've looked at the normal Korum mats for a long time. The shape and thought that has gone into them is good.
I know that the mats dimensions were given at the start of the reveiw but it would still be nice to actually see different fish on one,instead of trying to get a mental picture.
It definately sounds good though and i will take a look at one,with a veiw to using it on the ouse for barbel this coming season.
Martyn: The Large one is perfectly suitable for carp.
Evan: There is no mechanism as such. When you remove the valve cover it just sucks in air. As I said earlier, it doesn't inflate like a balloon, it just takes in enough air to form a soft cushion.
I have been trying to source one of the smaller ones and I can't find a single site that sells them. I would have thought something as good as this would have many outlets but no, not one apart from a big one up for auction on Ebay.