Got a little Chub S-Plus bivvy, it's fine but fitting the groundsheet can be a pain. I never fish without it so would it be feasible to permanently fix it, if so what's best, glue or staples etc?

In reply to Post #1
I would think of all the disadvantages first !

when you have fished in a storm and the groundsheet is all soaking wet and muddy its great to pack up your bivvy without a muddy groundsheet rolled up in the middle for a start
personally I dont think its worth saving the 3 to 5 mins it takes to put it in once the shelter is up

In reply to Post #1
Why don't you put the groundsheet out first then set the bivvy up on top of it then once pegged out go inside and tuck the skirts in. I do it this way every time, a lot easier then putting the groundsheet in after putting the bivvy up. Not that I use a groundsheet often .

It's partly that fitting it is a pain, but also as it's only Velcroed at a few points there seems to be breeze-friendly gaps at times.

I can see that laying it down first could be an option but maybe less easy in a wind - would have to put gear on top to pin it down as there's no pegging points on it. If that works I could maybe add additional velcro round the edges.

I realise it's an entry-level bivvy but is this not a common problem with most of them, I haven't seen many with the fitted groundsheet?

In reply to Post #1
You can buy self adhesive velcro that you can cut to size and may solve your problems.

In reply to Post #1
ditch the groundsheet - there's no need for it this time of year, if at all. I haven't used one for years.

In reply to Post #6
funny how we are all different I hate not having the luxury of a groundsheet and always use one unless Im day fishing I use one all the time to me it dont make any difference what time of year it is

In reply to Post #7
Same here

In reply to Post #7
Same here n'all. It's complete comfort then.

So does anyone else find them a pain to fit or do you just live with it?

In reply to Post #10
I haven't used a groundsheet in years but when I did I cannot recall it ever being a pain. It takes like 30 secs iirc?

In reply to Post #10
I have an Aqua M3 and it fits like a carpet.

In reply to Post #10
how long does it take you ???

It takes maybe 5-10 minutes, my knees aren't the best and sometimes the pieces with the velcro can be hard to find round the edge. Just find it generally awkward.

Thinking about it, just about every modern tent I've ever seen has a fitted groundsheet; surely the campers can suffer from water/mud almost as much as us, if it was such a bad idea why do all the tents have it?

In reply to Post #14
there are brollys and bivvies with built in groundsheets ?

I have a Fox Easydome thats got a built in groundsheet but I find you need to put a groundsheet ( now known as footprint) down first then pitch it on top to save trying to pack away a muddy groundsheet thats attached to the bivvy when you have finished I dont use it much

but a lot of people dont like them you have a choice personally I get my rods out then got all day to sort the shelter out
Unless its raining of course then I bung everything under it wait until it stops then sort it out

In reply to Post #4
I have a few bivvies, or brolly systems and all are velcro or clip in groundsheets, and for carp fishing I always use it. It helps stop me losing items of tackle in the grass!

Put the groundsheet down first, with something heavy on top if the wind is a pain, then put the brolly up and velcro or clip it to the groundsheet.
I put my tackle box, rod holdall, bivvy bag, food bag and rucksack to help stop wind coming up from groundlevel over the join.
Packing away I just roll the brolly up with the groundsheet round the brolly.

When setting up if it is raining I put the brolly up first, put everything under it, sort the rods out, then sort the groundsheet and brolly out, with overwrap if needed.

I did have a Fox Easydome, brilliant, but a dirty wet fitted groundsheet as you packed up was not nice to handle.
At Nazeing someone left a double duvet on the bank, that went under the bivvy a few times in winter.

In reply to Post #1
I have one of those bivvys aswell
Can't say it's a real pain to fit either
But tbf I haven't used it in years

I'll do a bit of lawn testing, putting groundsheet down first. The best solution would probably be a zip, but my skills def wouldn't run to fitting one of those!

I also use a groundsheet. Tried a bivvy couple years back (jrc tx 2g) with a velcro groundsheet and as it was low heighted, it was a faff sorting the groundsheet crawling around on my knees.

If you don't like doing it or want a fitted groundsheet then that's your choice, go for it. There are self adhesive options or get someone to stitch it in for you.

Worst case, buy a bivvy with it sewn in and have worry free setups going forward.

I sold the tx as it was too low for me and I never liked the velcro in groundsheet either. Changed to a chubb bivvy, sewn in inner capsule that can be removed and also came with an undersheet / footprint so best of both world's. Since first putting it up and putting the inner capsule in, I've not taken it out

Good to hear that someone else has the same problem, that's it it's cos it's quite low at the back and sides and you are fishing around for flaps with little bits of velcro it can be done but takes almost as long as setting up the rest of the bivvy and can leave air gaps as well.

I guess the best solution is some kind of semi permanent fixing so I will look and see what can be done

In reply to Post #20
It might sound odd, but how are you putting it in? Just chucking it in and trying to smooth it out? I always put mine in after the bivvy is up. To make it easier, I keep it folded in half as I put it in the bivvy. Velcro down one side first, which is much easier to manoeuvre than the whole sheet, then unfold the other half and and velcro in place.

hi, sew a few loops of thick elastic on the ground sheet near pegging points , fold over a small section or sew on a thicker patch and then sew to that the elastic loops, then just pull the loop with the bivvy loops when you peg it down

I'll try these suggestions but I feel the best thing would be a semi-permanent fix, ie if it's nice and dry you can just roll the whole bivvy up, if not then option of detaching the groundsheet is still there

Did bit of testing, velcro not an option. The whole point is to keep the groundsheet in place esp when you are erecting and packing it away, the velcro isn't reliable enough for that.

Got me thinking is there any reason you couldn't just staple it in, then if it needed adjusted or you didn't like it just remove them?

In reply to Post #24
The staples will make holes and will over time probably get bigger (the holes)

If you're comfortable doing this then why not. Else maybe look to glue it or just add far more velcro tabs.

In reply to Post #1
A mate of mine used a big bead of stick likes sh1t on his to attach the groundsheet, hes never had a problem with it since he did it.

In reply to Post #26
Sounds like an idea as long is it doesn't go too stiff etc

Army Andy will fit one for you

I have the same bivvy and always put the groundsheet down first then put bivvy up on top of it, before I put all the pegs in I strap the Velcro bits together takes a few mins and it's sorted. Find it easier with pegs not all in as can make it fit easier that way.