Claw Traps Compared Talpex .v. Flatpack

[Le Braconnier 49]

A while back I posted a question asking about the claw traps that are made by Flatpack and given the lack of responses I reckon that not many of you have come across them. Flatpack are a Yorkshire based company known to mole trappers for their excellent tunnel traps. They also advertise a claw trap and I ordered a couple to try them alongside the more widely known Talpex claw traps I have had for about 6 months.

 

 

First impressions straight from the box were that the Flatpack trap shown on the left was lower and wider than the Talpex. When measured side by side however they were virtually identical in size. The Flatpack trap is very solid and built to last. It has a slightly shorter throw than the Talpex when arming it and it is a little bit harder to squeeze the handles together. You can get a tool to aid setting at £3.46. Most of the dimensions appear to be similar except for the jaws. On the Flatpack the jaws are 50mm across the gape, whereas the Talpex is slightly wider, about 58mm. Also the Talpex has a slightly taller arch as can be seen in the photo.

 

 

The wider gape of the Talpex (shown on the right) means that the jaws are better concealed in the mole tunnel. You can see that there is quite some metal on the Flatpack, being more heavily built. The other main difference in geometry is that the trigger plate on the Flatpack trap is slightly higher than the Talpex when set.

 

 

This could be altered by bending the plate.

 

When setting the Talpex or Flatpack claw trap it is necessary to allow for the retaining bar to swing out of the way of the handle it retains. Both traps have similar sized retaining bars and a groove in the hole such as this is sufficient to allow the trap to spring open.

 

 

 

The jaws on the Flatpack is at least as powerful as the Talpex if not more so. The trap is probably better constructed from a durability point of view, but in my own opinion I do prefer the wider, higher arch of the Talpex that allows the jaws to remain better hidden in the walls of the tunnel. In the short time that I have had the Flatpack claw traps they have caught at the same rate as the Talpex so maybe my opinion is not shared by the moles themselves.

 

The Flatpack claw trap is £8.46 inc. VAT and the Talpex is 6 pence cheaper.

 

I have no connection with either company other than as a satisfied customer of both.

[J Darcy 5,871]

Well, IMO you won't get better than magnum trap co's Talpa.............on price or quality... give them a go.

[nod 285]

just something for you to try, instead of making a gap for the trigger to fire upwards, just lean the trap backwards, thats what i use to to when i used them, 90% of my traps are tunnels now

[davedavedave 69]

Well, IMO you won't get better than magnum trap co's Talpa.............on price or quality... give them a go.

 

Well I bought some genuine Talpex (from Raitbait) and Talpa traps (from the Magnum Trap Co) 3 years ago. The Talpex traps still look as good as new whilst the Talpa traps have rusted - some quire badly. Therefore I would give the Talpa a miss.

 

Dave.

[Le Braconnier 49]

just something for you to try, instead of making a gap for the trigger to fire upwards, just lean the trap backwards, thats what i use to to when i used them, 90% of my traps are tunnels now

 

Thanks. I do that sometimes. It all depends on the situation. If there are roots or stones all over the place I go for a straight up and down hole rather than lean the trap back.