i use to have a matchbox. change to a Rive RX36 for one reason only. The matcbox was not stable enuff as i fish alot of uneven terrain, rivers, lakes and kanals. The rive is good but not £1000 good… If i was fishing commercials in UK i would have keept the matchbox as 99.9% of all the pegs are flat as a dance floor.

Yes i could have got a good platform but got the rive for not much more than a matchbox so i change.

I had a Matchbox then went to a Rive ST which was very stable and comfy but too big + heavy and was only really any good for commercials as couldn’t carry it, so went for a Daiwa Tournament then to a Milo M1100 and now have a Brilo Scotthorne that is perfect and i wish i hadn’t wasted my time and money on the Rive, Milo and Daiwa. Have a look at the Brilo boxes mate they are class and British built.

I had a matchbox, and still have in case I fish any of the long walk rivers as it’s easier to transport. But I’d always use it on a platform now. 99.9% of the time I use my Rive d25 st comp. I switched after my matchbox came within a hairs bredth of sending me into a fen drain in the dead of winter, after that I lost all faith in it. I am however well over 6ft and 17 stone.

The rive is as stable as anything, but is heavy. I would look at your build, and if you have stability issues with your matchbox currently. Also think what venues you are fishing. If they involve long walks, especially over uneven ground such as the severn, stick with your matchbox or look at the fox. UNsure of how heavy the fox is, but probably nowhere near a rive.

However, if you fish commercials,drains, canals with not huge walks, and lots of lakes seriously consider a rive. The tray sysatem is genious, though you could always carry a stack with you for your poles rigs and use a different box.

They fit on the fox, and daiwa, platform barrows. I have a fox, it does make it top heavy though so I rarely use it. I’m thankfully quite strong, so can easily carry my rive for a fair distance. A good barrow conversion is available for a rive, see http://www.gt-precision-angling.co.uk/home.aspx so also factor that in.

Cost is what puts lots of people off rive boxes. Plenty of good ones come up second hand on here, so this would be the best way in if you’re unsure but like the look of them. They do really seem to hold their value well, especially the trays for them.

If you go for a d36 one, be warned you will have to buy rive brand accessories and these cost loads. Preston stuff fits the d25 fine. The fox accessories are similarly expensive like the rive, but again preston do insterts to fit both the round and square legged foxes.

Hope this helps

before you take the plunge and get a rive, get yourself sat on the new Drennan Matchbox World Class boxes.
i’ve gone from the Pyramid, to the ‘s’ class and now the Drennan and the progression and developement is excellent.
the new boxes with 25mm round legs, bigger frame and leg blocks are super stable.
IMO matchboxes (mid frame) are far better than the bottom frame boxes as they take any deviations in the bank easily as the back legs rise up, and the footplate legs drop down!! easy!
Give one a try, they are excellent!!