the 18x16 is the one I have. My issues with it are as follows: In the picture it looks like the top end of the net is framed as well as the sides, it is not. The two sides have posts that support the net but the net is suspended from the points of these along the front. This means that if you half way net a fish, he pulls down on the center of that end, which makes the net into a v and causes the sides to torque. This puts a lot of pressure on the plastic latch that you pull down to fold the net. Ultimately a badly netted 2-3lb bowfin put an end to my net because he was halfway in and it was too much for the latch, which snapped and now the net won't stay open. It would be a great net for small mountain trout or dink bass, but even an average bass bends the net visibly. It just isn't built strong. When you go to the store, open the net and put a few bank sinkers off of the shelves in it. I recommend doing this with any folding net. so you can get a feel for how much it can handle. I understand that there is a trade off when you need storage space, and if I was hiking and mountain trout fishing then I would consider it again, but for anything else it's just not up to par in my opinion.
). I've read plastic better than nylon, too? 
