Pole Elastic Explained

By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026

Pole elastic is the shock absorber threaded through the top sections of a pole. The size you need depends on the fish you expect, the type of elastic and the brand, because size numbers mean different things from one maker to the next. A Preston Hollo 13H measures 2.3mm, a Drennan Bungee 14-16 measures 2.5mm and a Matrix Slik 16-18 measures 2.2mm.

The elastic runs inside the top kit, from a bung at the bottom to a bush at the tip. It stretches on the strike and as a fish runs, so you can land fish on hooklengths a fixed line would snap.

Start with the type, because that decides how the elastic behaves.

Solid, Hollow, Hybrid and Hydro Elastic: How Each Behaves

Two packets of pole elastic with the same number can feel completely different on the bank. The difference is what the elastic is made of, and how far it stretches before it pulls back hard.

Type	How it is made	Approx stretch	Strengths	Watch out for	Example ranges
Solid	Solid round latex	About 4x	Durable, powerful, simple	Less forgiving, lower stretch	Preston Slip, Preston Dura Slip
Hollow	Latex tube	Up to about 8x	Soft, cushioned stretch	Can stiffen in cold water; air bubbles	Preston Hollo, Drennan Bungee
Hybrid	Between solid and hollow	About 6x	Middle ground, all-rounder	Can go sticky without lubricant	Matrix Slik, Drennan Power Pull
Hydro	Fluid-filled	Not published	Resistance builds as it stretches	Few published size charts	Check current ranges

The stretch figures are approximate retailer guidance. Use them to compare types, not as exact measurements.

Hollow elastic gives the softest, longest stretch, which is why the Angling Times test panel favours it for big commercial carp. The same panel rates hybrid elastic as the year-round all-rounder for mixed species. Solid elastic is the simple, cheaper option for small fish and colder water, where hollow can stiffen.

If you fish mixed commercials all year, a hybrid is the easiest place to start.

Why Pole Elastic Sizes Don’t Match Between Brands

Someone tells you to use a 12. You buy a 12 from a different brand and it feels nothing like they described. There is no industry standard for pole elastic sizes, and each maker numbers its range its own way.

Preston uses single numbers, with H for Hollo. A 13H sits between a normal 12 and 14.
Drennan Bungee uses a colour plus a range, such as Pink 14-16.
Matrix Slik uses ranges, such as Green 16-18.

Side by side, the mismatch is plain:

Preston Hollo 13H: 2.3mm
Drennan Bungee Pink 14-16: 2.5mm
Matrix Slik Green 16-18: 2.2mm

The highest number of the three is the thinnest elastic. The one figure you can compare across brands is the diameter in millimetres on the packet, and it also decides whether the elastic will run through your bush and tip (see the fitting section below).

Diameter is not the whole story. A hollow and a solid of the same mm pull differently, and Drennan notes its diameters are nominal because natural latex can vary slightly. Compare by mm and type, never by the number alone.

Pole Elastic Size Chart by Brand (Diameter in mm)

Here is a pole elastic size chart for the most common UK elastics, one table per brand. The figures come from the maker or a major UK retailer listing, checked in October 2026. Ranges change, so check the packet before you buy.

Drennan Bungee (hollow, twin-walled)

Source: Drennan. Drennan describes these diameters as nominal.

Colour	Rating	Diameter
Aqua	4-6 (F1 and silverfish)	1.5mm
Green	6-8	1.8mm
Yellow	10-12	2.1mm
Pink	14-16	2.5mm
Red	18-20	2.9mm
Orange	25+ (Power Bungee)	3.6mm

The Orange Power Bungee comes in a 2.6m length.

Preston Hollo (hollow)

Source: Angling Direct product listing. Sold in 3m packs, and the listing says it needs no lubricant.

Size	Diameter
9H	1.9mm
11H	2.1mm
13H	2.3mm
15H	2.6mm
17H	2.8mm
19H	3.0mm

Matrix Slik (hybrid)

Source: Angling Direct product listing. Sold in 3m packs. Smaller sizes exist, so check the packet for their diameters.

Size	Colour	Diameter
16-18	Green	2.2mm
18-20	Red	2.4mm
20-22	Orange	2.6mm

Other common ranges

Drennan Power Pull (hybrid): 6m packs, enough for two top-2 kits. Drennan lists eight sizes, starting at 1.0mm (Aqua, rated 3-5), and its own page confirms sizes up to 2.4mm. Retailers list heavier sizes too, so check the current range before relying on them.
Preston Slip (solid): sizes 2 to 16 in 5m packs, colour coded.
Preston Dura Slip (solid): sizes 5 to 23, pre-coated with slip oil.

Two quick cross-brand matches: 2.1mm is a Drennan Yellow 10-12 or a Preston 11H, and 2.6mm is a Preston 15H or a Matrix Slik Orange 20-22. Same thickness, different labels.

Which Elastic Size for Which Fish and Venue

Get the size wrong and you lose fish either way. Too light, and a carp stretches the elastic to its limit and snaps the hooklength. Too heavy, and small fish bump off or the hook pulls.

Treat these pole elastic bands as rough guides. Ratings vary by brand, so read them alongside the mm figures in the size chart above.

Target fish / situation	Type to consider	Rough rating band	Notes
Roach, skimmers and small silvers on canals and natural waters	Light solid or light hollow	Solid about 3-8, hollow about 1-5	Fine hooklengths need a soft elastic
F1s and mixed commercial fish	Mid-light hollow or hybrid	Mid-light, check the brand’s chart	Drennan markets its Aqua 4-6 Bungee for F1s and silverfish
Carp over about 6lb (2.7kg) on commercials	Hollow or hybrid	Hollow about 6-12 and up	Angling Times says Preston Hollo 13H is a favourite of top UK pole anglers
Carp and chub near snags	Heavier solid	About 8-20	More power to stop fish reaching cover
Rivers and bigger fish	Hollow	12 and up	Rule-of-thumb band for big fish and river work

Between two ratings, go lighter. A softer elastic keeps hooks in, and you can always play a fish for longer.

In winter, hollow can stiffen, so a solid or hybrid may suit cold-water silvers better. Whatever you choose, stay inside your top kit’s maximum elastic rating, which your pole maker publishes.

New to the method? The guide to pole fishing for beginners covers the rest of the setup. If you only buy one elastic, buy it for the fish you catch most.

Fitting Elastic to Your Top Kit, and When to Replace It

Most fitting problems come down to one thing: a bush too small for the elastic. Fit a bush slightly larger than the pole elastic’s diameter, which is why the mm figures in the size chart matter.

Makers and retailers commonly advise that heavier or hollow elastics may need the tip cut back, or a larger internal or external bush. Follow your pole maker’s guidance and the elastic packet before cutting anything, and check the kit’s maximum rating at the same time.

The fitting process, in outline:

Fit a bush slightly larger than the elastic.
Trim and sand the tip so the bush fits.
Fit a bung at the bottom of the kit.
Thread the elastic through with a threader.
Add a bead and a stop knot.
Attach a connector: Dacron, crow’s foot or plastic.
Pull some elastic out to soften it before fishing.

Hybrids can go sticky without lubricant, and hollow can develop air bubbles, so dry your top kits before storing them. Re-elasticate if the elastic stays sticky after lubricating, is visibly nicked or bubbled, or no longer returns smoothly. A 3m pack does one top kit and a 6m pack does two.

For bushes, bungs and connectors, see the other tackle explainers.

Frequently asked questions

What size pole elastic do I need?

Match the elastic to the fish you expect and stay inside your top kit's maximum rating. Light elastic suits roach and small silvers, mid-light suits F1s, and heavier hollow or hybrid suits commercial carp. Compare brands by the mm diameter on the packet, not the number. The fish and venue table on this page gives rough bands.

Is hollow elastic better than solid?

Not better, just different. Hollow elastic stretches further, up to about eight times its length, and suits bigger commercial carp, but it can stiffen in cold water. Solid is simpler and cheaper, and suits small fish and winter fishing. Hybrid sits between the two and works as a year-round all-rounder for mixed species.

Are pole elastic sizes the same across brands?

No. There is no industry standard, so each brand numbers its range differently. A Preston Hollo 13H is 2.3mm, a Drennan Bungee Pink 14-16 is 2.5mm and a Matrix Slik 16-18 is 2.2mm. Use the diameter in mm as the common reference, as in the size chart on this page.