Photos: Sonik · supplied retailer imagery
Chairs · Recliners · Our take
Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner
Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner EC0030
A supportive, well-specced carp chair with a tall back, proper padding and clever leg adjustment. Ideal for long sessions when a standard low chair just won’t cut it.
- Product code: EC0030
- Seat height adjusts from 40–52 cm, with a 55 cm seat width and depth
- Multi-point reclining mechanism with a 78 cm back height
- Spring-loaded Grip-Lok adjustable legs and a maximum capacity of 150 kg
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner, product code EC0030, rather than the wider Bank-Tek chair range.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A well-equipped comfort chair that earns its keep on long carp sessions, with weight and packed size the main compromises.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance8.9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.4/10
- Ease of Use8.8/10
- Value for Money8.8/10
Price alerts are coming soon — we don't track live retailer prices yet, so we'll never guess one.
If you buy through our links, we might get a small kickback, but it won’t cost you a penny extra. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The full story
Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Carp anglers fishing long days or nights. The high back, recline positions and padded mattress make it much easier to stay comfortable while waiting for a screaming take.
- Anglers who fish uneven, sloping swims. The spring-loaded Grip-Lok legs offer useful adjustment when the peg is anything but flat.
Maybe skip if
- Mobile roving anglers. At 8.2 kg and with a fairly chunky folded footprint, it’s not the chair you’ll fancy carrying round all day.
- Short-session anglers who only need a basic seat. You’re paying for support, padding and adjustment that may be unnecessary if you’re rarely settled in for long.
The lowdown
Introducing the Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner
A supportive, well-specced carp chair with a tall back, proper padding and clever leg adjustment. Ideal for long sessions when a standard low chair just won’t cut it.
- Product code: EC0030
- Seat height adjusts from 40–52 cm, with a 55 cm seat width and depth
- Multi-point reclining mechanism with a 78 cm back height
- Spring-loaded Grip-Lok adjustable legs and a maximum capacity of 150 kg
Quick verdict
The verdict
The Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner looks like a cracking choice for anglers who want a proper sit on the bank. Its tall back, padded armrests and dual-density foam mattress are all aimed at keeping you comfortable through long bite-time waits.
It’s not the lightest chair in the world, and the transport size needs a bit of thought in a packed-up car. But if comfort, support and easy adjustment matter more than shaving every kilo, this is a bob-on bit of kit.
A well-equipped comfort chair that earns its keep on long carp sessions, with weight and packed size the main compromises.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 8.9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.4/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.8/10
- Value for Money
- 8.8/10
The padded construction, dual-density mattress, Grip-Lok legs and 150 kg capacity give it a reassuringly solid brief.
The adjustable height and multi-point recline should make it easy to find a comfortable position across different swims.
It won’t catch fish for you, but staying comfortable and alert can help you remain focused through long waits.
Spring-loaded leg adjustment and a reversible pocket are practical touches, though the chair’s weight limits mobile use.
For its price bracket, the combination of high-back support, padding and adjustment makes a strong comfort-focused package.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Sonik
Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner (this one)
Top scorer
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 Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner
A decent chair can make or break a session, mate. Spend ten hours perched on something a bit naff and you’ll know about it when you’re packing up. The Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner takes the opposite approach. It’s built for anglers who want to settle in properly, get the rods on the spot and stay comfortable while the lake does its thing.
This is a full-on carp chair rather than a lightweight perch. You get a tall 78 cm back, a generously sized 55 cm seat and a multi-point reclining mechanism. That gives you a choice of sitting positions, whether you’re staying upright and watching the water or leaning back with a brew while waiting for a bite-time window.
The dual-density foam mattress is one of the more appealing bits. It should give the chair a supportive feel without turning it into a rock-hard office seat. The micro-fleece mattress cover adds a softer, warmer contact point too, which is dead handy when the temperature drops and the damp starts creeping into everything on the bank.
Then there are the padded armrest covers. Small detail, perhaps, but these are the bits you notice during a long session. Rest your arms, settle into the chair and you’re not constantly shifting about trying to find a comfortable position. It’s the sort of thing that makes a big difference between enjoying the wait and feeling like you need to stand up every twenty minutes.
The chair’s height adjustment runs from 40 to 52 cm. That’s a useful spread rather than a token bit of movement. You can set it lower for a more relaxed, tucked-in feel, or raise it when you want easier access to your rods and tackle. On a sloping peg, that extra adjustment can be the difference between sitting square and leaning like a wonky garden chair.
Sonik has fitted spring-loaded Grip-Lok adjustable legs, which are particularly useful on proper fishing ground. Banks aren’t usually billiard-table flat, are they? Roots, stones, soft spots and little drops are all part of the game. Being able to get the legs adjusted quickly means less faff when you’re trying to get comfortable before the rods are off.
The side pocket is removable and reversible, giving you somewhere sensible for a phone, receiver, keys, scissors or a cheeky packet of hooks. Because it can be moved around, you’re not forced to keep everything on the side that feels awkward for you. It’s not going to replace a tackle box, but it keeps the little essentials close.
There is a trade-off, and it’s the weight. At 8.2 kg, this is firmly in the comfort-chair camp. That won’t bother you if it’s travelling from the car to a settled swim, but a roving angler covering the whole lake may find it a bit much. The packed dimensions of 67 × 85 × 22 cm also need a fair bit of room in the motor.
The 150 kg maximum capacity gives the chair a reassuringly robust brief, while the 100% polyester cover and polyurethane lining are suited to regular bank use. Overall, this is a chair aimed at proper comfort rather than minimum weight. If your sessions involve long waits, cold mornings and plenty of time sitting behind the rods, it looks a very sensible place to park your backside.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Product code
- EC0030
- Transport dimensions
- 67 × 85 × 22 cm
- Seat height
- 40–52 cm
- Seat width and depth
- 55 × 55 cm
- Back height and weight
- 78 cm back height; 8.2 kg
- Capacity and materials
- Maximum capacity 150 kg; 100% polyester cover with polyurethane lining
Specs checked with Sonik, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Our angle
The big selling point here is simple: this is a chair for settling in. The high back and reclining mechanism make it much more useful than a basic bucket-style seat when you’re fishing long days, overnight sessions or chilly winter campaigns.
It’s a comfort-first carp chair with enough adjustment to cope with awkward swims, uneven ground and those moments when you want to sit upright watching the tips before leaning back for a brew.
Comfort-first carp furniture
A tall, padded recliner for long sessions
The Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner is all about support. Its 78 cm back height gives you more upper-body support than a low-profile chair, while the 55 cm seat width and depth leave enough room to get properly settled. The dual-density foam mattress should offer a useful balance between cushioning and support, and the micro-fleece covering adds a warmer, softer feel.
The multi-point reclining mechanism lets you change your position through the session. Sit more upright while watching the rods, then lean back once everything’s clipped up and the swim is ticking along. Padded armrest covers make those long waits more comfortable, especially when you’re wrapped up against a chilly morning.
Height adjustment is handled by spring-loaded Grip-Lok legs, with the seat moving from 40 to 52 cm. That’s useful on uneven pegs and also lets you tune the chair to your own preferred sitting position. The removable, reversible side pocket gives you a handy home for small essentials.
Worth knowing. This is a proper comfort chair, not a minimal carry-around seat. The 8.2 kg weight and 67 × 85 × 22 cm transport dimensions are the price of the padding, high back and adjustment.
Find your fit
Best for anglers who like to get comfortable
If you fish established carp swims and carry your gear from the car or barrow, this chair makes plenty of sense. It’s designed for sitting behind the rods for hours, whether that means a full day session, an overnight or a winter campaign where comfort matters even more.
It also suits anglers who struggle with basic chairs that offer little back support. The high back and recline positions give you more ways to get comfortable, while the adjustable legs help when your swim slopes down towards the water or has a few awkward lumps underfoot.
It’s less ideal for a roving approach. If you’re stalking the margins, moving between pegs or walking miles with minimal kit, the weight and folded size could become a pain. For that style of fishing, a lighter stool or compact chair is likely the better shout.
Worth knowing. Set the legs before you fully settle in, and keep the side pocket on the hand you naturally use. Those two little tweaks save faff when the rods are away and a take suddenly kicks off.
The stuff you’ll want to know
Quick answers before you buy
Is it suitable for bigger anglers? The stated maximum capacity is 150 kg, so it has a solid capacity for a wide range of anglers. The 55 cm seat width also gives it a more spacious feel than a narrow folding chair.
Will it work on rough banks? That’s one of its stronger use cases. The Grip-Lok adjustable legs let you level the chair on uneven ground, although you should always make sure each leg is firmly planted before leaning back.
Does it pack small enough for a barrow? It folds down to 67 × 85 × 22 cm. That’s manageable alongside normal carp kit, but it isn’t an ultra-compact chair, so allow proper space when loading your barrow or car.
Worth knowing. The chair’s appeal grows with session length. For a quick hour after work, it may feel more chair than you need. For a long wait on a winter lake, the padding and recline are much easier to appreciate.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Tall, supportive back for proper long-session comfort
- Dual-density foam mattress with micro-fleece covering feels warm and inviting
- Multi-point reclining mechanism gives plenty of sitting positions
- Grip-Lok legs make levelling the chair on uneven ground straightforward
- Reversible, removable side pocket is handy for bits and bobs
Worth knowing
- At 8.2 kg, it’s more of a comfort chair than a lightweight roamer
- The 67 × 85 × 22 cm transport size will take up a fair chunk of boot space
- A high-back recliner can feel like overkill for short, mobile day sessions
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.
01Does the Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner recline?
Does the Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner recline?
Yes. It uses a multi-point reclining mechanism, so you can set the back at different angles rather than being stuck in one upright position.
02How high is the seat?
How high is the seat?
The seat height adjusts from 40 cm to 52 cm, giving you useful flexibility for comfort and different bank positions.
03Is the side pocket removable?
Is the side pocket removable?
Yes. The side pocket is removable and reversible, so you can position it where it best suits your swim and dominant hand.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: the verdict. The strongest reasons to choose it are tall, supportive back for proper long-session comfort and dual-density foam mattress with micro-fleece covering feels warm and inviting; the main trade-off is at 8.2 kg, it’s more of a comfort chair than a lightweight roamer.
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Tall, supportive back for proper long-session comfort”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Carp anglers fishing long days or nights: The high back, recline positions and padded mattress make it much easier to stay comfortable while waiting for a screaming take.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “At 8.2 kg, it’s more of a comfort chair than a lightweight roamer”
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 Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner
No angler score yet — nobody's reviewed Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner 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 Sonik Bank-Tek Hi-Back Recliner. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
No owner reports yet.
Alternatives & go-withs
