Photos: Fox
Fish Care Buying Guide · Our take
Fox Carpmaster Welded Mat
Carpmaster Welded Mat (CCC060)
Fox's Carpmaster Welded Mat is built from 100% waterproof welded PVC fabric over a heavily padded, part-inflatable foam mattress, with high sides and a fast-draining rubber mesh base, aimed at anglers who want their unhooking mat to dry quickly and stay hygienic session after session.
- 100% waterproof welded PVC fabric, so it doesn't absorb water and dries quickly
- Heavily padded foam mattress that's also inflatable, for protection and easier packing
- Extra high sides for fish security, with double zipped release flaps at each end
- Large printed ruler (43in / 110cm) on the inner mat for quick length checks
Make sure it’s the right one. Fox also sell a Carpmaster Deluxe range and a Carpmaster Air inflatable mat. This review covers the current Carpmaster Welded Mat, which Fox describe as their first fully waterproof and welded unhooking mat.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A fully waterproof mat built to dry fast and stay hygienic, at the cost of some bulk.
- Product Quality8.8/10
- Performance8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching5.5/10
- Ease of Use7.7/10
- Value for Money7.7/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Anglers who want a mat that dries quickly and stays hygienic. Welded PVC doesn't absorb water the way fabric-covered foam can.
- Session anglers happy to carry a bit more kit for extra fish security. High sides, release flaps and a printed ruler all add convenience on the bank.
Maybe skip if
- Ultra-light travelling or stalking anglers. At 4.45kg and a 55 x 55 x 30cm packed size, it's bulkier than a simple roll mat.
- Anglers who already own a cradle for big fish. A flat mat and a raised cradle solve slightly different problems; check which your fishery requires.
The lowdown
Introducing the Fox Carpmaster Welded Mat
Fox's Carpmaster Welded Mat is built from 100% waterproof welded PVC fabric over a heavily padded, part-inflatable foam mattress, with high sides and a fast-draining rubber mesh base, aimed at anglers who want their unhooking mat to dry quickly and stay hygienic session after session.
- 100% waterproof welded PVC fabric, so it doesn't absorb water and dries quickly
- Heavily padded foam mattress that's also inflatable, for protection and easier packing
- Extra high sides for fish security, with double zipped release flaps at each end
- Large printed ruler (43in / 110cm) on the inner mat for quick length checks
Quick verdict
A Mat Built to Stay Dry and Clean
Fox describe this as their first fully waterproof and welded unhooking mat, and the whole design is built around that idea. Welded PVC fabric means the mat doesn't soak up lake water the way a fabric-covered foam mat can, so it dries faster and stays more hygienic between sessions.
The inner mattress is also inflatable, which Fox say both boosts fish protection and makes the mat easier to pack away, and the base uses a strong, soft rubber mesh so water drains straight through rather than pooling underneath a resting carp.
A fully waterproof mat built to dry fast and stay hygienic, at the cost of some bulk.
- Product Quality
- 8.8/10
- Performance
- 8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 5.5/10
- Ease of Use
- 7.7/10
- Value for Money
- 7.7/10
Welded PVC construction, part-inflatable padding and a rubber mesh base.
High sides, release flaps and a draining base handle big fish well on paper.
Fish care rather than catching, though a quick, safe unhooking matters.
Simple zips and Velcro, but 4.45kg and a bulky packed size to carry.
Reasonable for a fully waterproof mat with this feature list.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Fox
Fox Carpmaster Welded Mat (this one)
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Fox Carpmaster Welded Mat
Right then, let's talk unhooking mats, because it's one corner of the tackle box where cutting corners really isn't worth it. The Fox Carpmaster Welded Mat is, by Fox's own description, their first fully waterproof and welded unhooking mat, and that single change in construction runs right through the rest of the design.
Here's the problem it's solving. A lot of unhooking mats use a fabric cover wrapped around a foam core. That's fine in the dry, but the moment you're wetting the mat before a fish goes on, as you absolutely should, the fabric starts soaking up lake water. Over a weekend session, or worse, across a whole summer of use, that mat can end up permanently a bit damp, a bit smelly and slower to pack away. Welded PVC fabric sidesteps that entirely: it simply doesn't absorb water in the same way, so it dries faster and stays more hygienic between trips.
Underneath that waterproof outer sits a heavily padded foam mattress, and Fox have made it inflatable as well. That does two jobs at once. The added air gives extra cushioning for a big, thrashing carp, and it also helps the mat pack down smaller once you deflate it, which is handy if you're trying to fit everything back into a barrow or rucksack at the end of a session.
Fish security is clearly a big focus of the design. The sides are built extra high, specifically to stop a lively fish flapping its way off the edge of the mat during unhooking or weighing. At each end there's a double zipped release flap, so you can let the fish go, or get it back into the water, without having to lift it bodily off the mat and risk dropping it. A removable cover, held in place with Velcro, protects the padded inner mattress and can be taken off and cleaned separately, which is a sensible touch for keeping the whole setup properly hygienic.
There are a few smaller details worth knowing too. A large ruler is printed directly onto the inner mat, marked in both 43 inches and 110cm, so you can get a quick length reading without digging a tape measure out of your rucksack. The base uses a strong but soft rubber mesh, designed to let water drain away quickly rather than pooling underneath a resting fish, and there are two extra-strong carry handles plus four PVC D-rings so you can either carry the whole mat securely or peg it down if the wind picks up mid-session.
In terms of numbers, Fox list the inner mat at up to 105cm long and 55cm wide, with the total mat, including the padded sides, coming in at 115cm by 65cm. Packed away, it measures 55 x 55 x 30cm and weighs a stated 4.45kg. That's noticeably bulkier and heavier than a simple roll-up foam mat, which is the honest trade-off for all the extra fish-security features and the fully waterproof build.
So who's it aimed at? On paper, this suits anglers who want their unhooking mat to dry quickly, stay clean, and offer a bit more reassurance with bigger or livelier fish, without going all the way up to a full raised cradle. If you're travelling light and stalking between swims, the size and weight might feel like overkill, and a simpler mat, or a cradle if your venue requires raised fish care, may suit better. For session anglers who set up and stay put, the extra bulk matters a lot less.
In the rest of this review we'll run through the full spec in detail, who it suits best, how it compares with a raised cradle option, and the questions anglers commonly ask before choosing an unhooking mat like this one.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Model
- CCC060
- From the maker
- Outer material
- 100% waterproof welded PVC fabric
- From the maker
- Padding
- Heavily padded foam mattress, also inflatable
- From the maker
- Base
- Rubber mesh for fast drainage
- From the maker
- Inner length
- Up to 105cm
- From the maker
- Inner width
- 55cm
- From the maker
- Total length
- 115cm
- From the maker
- Total width
- 65cm
- From the maker
- Packed dimensions
- 55 x 55 x 30cm
- From the maker
- Weight
- 4.45kg
- From the maker
- Ruler
- Printed 43in / 110cm on the inner mat
- From the maker
- Fixings
- Removable cover with Velcro; 2 carry handles; 4 PVC D-rings for pegging
- From the maker
Specs checked with Fox, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
High Sides and a Printed Ruler for Quick, Safe Handling
The extra high sides are there to stop a lively fish flapping its way off the mat, and the double zipped release flaps at each end let you free the fish without lifting it out and back in. A removable cover, held on with Velcro, keeps the inner mattress protected and easy to clean separately.
Having a large printed ruler built into the inner mat, marked in both 43 inches and 110cm, saves fumbling for a tape measure, and the two extra-strong handles plus four PVC D-rings mean you can carry it securely or peg it down in the wind.
What you're actually buying
Waterproof welding instead of absorbent fabric
The headline feature is the welded PVC construction: rather than a fabric cover over foam, which can soak up lake water and take a long time to dry, the whole outer is waterproof and welded. Fox pair that with a heavily padded, part-inflatable mattress, extra high sides, and a rubber mesh base so water drains away from a resting fish quickly.
- Weight
- 4.45kg
- Packed size
- 55 x 55 x 30cm
- Total size
- 115 x 65cm
- Base
- Rubber mesh
Worth knowing. The cover is removable and fixed with Velcro, so it can be cleaned separately from the padded inner mattress.
Who it suits
Who should actually buy this
Great if you’re…
- Anglers who want a mat that dries quickly and stays hygienic. Welded PVC doesn't absorb water the way fabric-covered foam can.
- Session anglers happy to carry a bit more kit for extra fish security. High sides, release flaps and a printed ruler all add convenience on the bank.
Maybe skip if you’re…
- Ultra-light travelling or stalking anglers. At 4.45kg and a 55 x 55 x 30cm packed size, it's bulkier than a simple roll mat.
- Anglers who already own a cradle for big fish. A flat mat and a raised cradle solve slightly different problems; check which your fishery requires.
FAQs in full
The questions anglers actually ask
Even with a fully waterproof mat, it's still worth wetting the surface before a fish goes on it, since that's about protecting the fish's protective slime coating rather than keeping the mat dry.
The inflatable element of the mattress is there to add protection and help packing, not to replace the foam padding entirely, so treat it as a mat that combines both foam and air rather than a pure air mat.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Welded PVC fabric is fully waterproof, so it dries faster and doesn't carry lake water home.
- Inflatable inner mattress adds protection and packs down smaller.
- Extra high sides and double zipped release flaps help keep a big fish secure.
- Built-in ruler saves getting a tape measure out.
- Rubber mesh base drains quickly between fish.
Worth knowing
- At 4.45kg packed it's heavier than a simple roll-up foam mat.
- Packed size of 55 x 55 x 30cm takes up more barrow space than a basic mat.
- The inflatable element means there's a valve to manage alongside the usual zips and Velcro.
Want one?
Add it to your Wanted list or join a Group Buy — shops see anonymous totals only.
Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Is the Carpmaster Welded Mat actually waterproof?
Yes, Fox say it's 100% waterproof welded PVC fabric.
Is the Carpmaster Welded Mat actually waterproof?
Yes, Fox say it's 100% waterproof welded PVC fabric.
Fox describe it as their first fully waterproof and welded unhooking mat, which they say makes it quick-drying and means it doesn't absorb water like a fabric-covered foam mat would.
02How big is it unfolded?
Inner length up to 105cm, total length 115cm.
How big is it unfolded?
Inner length up to 105cm, total length 115cm.
The inner mat measures up to 105cm long and 55cm wide, with the total mat at 115cm by 65cm once you include the padded sides.
03How heavy is it to carry?
A stated 4.45kg.
How heavy is it to carry?
A stated 4.45kg.
That's the weight Fox list for the complete Carpmaster Welded Mat, which packs to 55 x 55 x 30cm.
04Does it have a built-in ruler?
Yes, printed on the inner mat.
Does it have a built-in ruler?
Yes, printed on the inner mat.
Fox print a ruler reading up to 43 inches and 110cm directly onto the inner mat, so you can get a length reading without a separate tape measure.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a mat built to stay dry and clean. The strongest reasons to choose it are welded pvc fabric is fully waterproof, so it dries faster and doesn't carry lake water home. and inflatable inner mattress adds protection and packs down smaller.; the main trade-off is at 4.45kg packed it's heavier than a simple roll-up foam mat..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Welded PVC fabric is fully waterproof, so it dries faster and doesn't carry lake water home.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Anglers who want a mat that dries quickly and stays hygienic: Welded PVC doesn't absorb water the way fabric-covered foam can.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “At 4.45kg packed it's heavier than a simple roll-up foam mat.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Fox Carpmaster Welded Mat
No angler score yet — nobody's reviewed Fox Carpmaster Welded Mat here. Be the first and get the score started.
Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Fox Carpmaster Welded Mat. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
No owner reports yet.
Alternatives & go-withs
