I've decided to go back to an Aqua M3 Bivvy as it will suit me best for the current two lakes I'm fishing for the foreseeable future.
I used to have a Union Jack M3 and overwrap and was exceptionally pleased with it and dearly regretted selling it.
So my question is does the newer version stand up to the Union Jack version in terms of build quality and materials it's made of? Lots of chatter out there about different Aquatex material, lots of comments about Chinese manufacturer and quality control etc etc. Is it urban myth?
I'm torn between lurking around to wait for a mint used Union Jack model to come up for sale or just buy a new one? Not bothered about the rear window in the slightest.
So any helpful comments or observations on the newer M3 versus the older version? Preferably from someone who has owned, used or has first hand experience of of both. I've had virtually every version of Aqua bivvies over the years including an original Bivvy dome bought out of Chris Manifolds living room, so not after general views on domes,Armo, Pioneers etc just M3's and any quality differences.
Cheers
I used to have a Union Jack M3 and overwrap and was exceptionally pleased with it and dearly regretted selling it.
So my question is does the newer version stand up to the Union Jack version in terms of build quality and materials it's made of? Lots of chatter out there about different Aquatex material, lots of comments about Chinese manufacturer and quality control etc etc. Is it urban myth?
I'm torn between lurking around to wait for a mint used Union Jack model to come up for sale or just buy a new one? Not bothered about the rear window in the slightest.
So any helpful comments or observations on the newer M3 versus the older version? Preferably from someone who has owned, used or has first hand experience of of both. I've had virtually every version of Aqua bivvies over the years including an original Bivvy dome bought out of Chris Manifolds living room, so not after general views on domes,Armo, Pioneers etc just M3's and any quality differences.
Cheers
In reply to Post #1
Absolutely not is my answer. The kit they are producing now is pony. I took a break from buying anything from aqua after I had grief with the brolly system when it first got released, then the same with numerous fast and s****, gave them the benefit of the doubt with the atom plus, just because it's the exact shelter I've been after for the last 15 years. Cut a long story short, it was great for 6 months, perfect in fact, then it began falling apart, first 2 pegging points, then a clip for the door (which are cheap plastic and once broken cannot be replaced), then the 2 elasticated straps to hold the sides back, and then at the weekend one of the poles snapped in a 15mph wind. Safe to say, I'm getting my money back, and will vow to never spend a penny with them again. I fish pretty demanding pits both small and huge. Having to worry about if a shelter is going to fall over in a stiff breeze isn't what you need.
Absolutely not is my answer. The kit they are producing now is pony. I took a break from buying anything from aqua after I had grief with the brolly system when it first got released, then the same with numerous fast and s****, gave them the benefit of the doubt with the atom plus, just because it's the exact shelter I've been after for the last 15 years. Cut a long story short, it was great for 6 months, perfect in fact, then it began falling apart, first 2 pegging points, then a clip for the door (which are cheap plastic and once broken cannot be replaced), then the 2 elasticated straps to hold the sides back, and then at the weekend one of the poles snapped in a 15mph wind. Safe to say, I'm getting my money back, and will vow to never spend a penny with them again. I fish pretty demanding pits both small and huge. Having to worry about if a shelter is going to fall over in a stiff breeze isn't what you need.
In reply to Post #1
According to Aqua. Orange is the new green.
In reply to Post #4
That is shocking. Trakker stuff fades real quick now too.
That is shocking. Trakker stuff fades real quick now too.
In reply to Post #3
I used to love his cake
I used to love his cake
Caqua.
In reply to Post #3
A friend of mine used his M3 compact at the weekend and whilst sitting there the seams started falling / peeling off the bivvy In a torrential down pour.......he was not impressed at all!
In reply to Post #6
In reply to Post #6
Battenburg or carrot cake like the pictures.......
Battenburg or carrot cake like the pictures.......
Other than the Snugpak stuff Fortis gear is all generic Chinese tat😂😂😂
If someone would post some pics up for me , I've some cracking pics of a used twice aqua transformer chair
In reply to Post #13
Pm sent mate
Pm sent mate
In reply to Post #1
Sold all my Black Series luggage, total *****, zips breaking, mis stitching etc etc and im really look after my stuff as well.
Went all in Cotswold which is on another level, so well made and in the UK
Sold all my Black Series luggage, total *****, zips breaking, mis stitching etc etc and im really look after my stuff as well.
Went all in Cotswold which is on another level, so well made and in the UK
In reply to Post #3
Orange
Orange
In reply to Post #14
Replied
Replied
Thanks for the useful info so far.
Any more insights?
Any more insights?
I think it looks smart in "Desert camo" Shame there's not many lakes in the desert, Beach Bivvy? 
Shame there's not many lakes in the desert, Beach Bivvy?
In reply to Post #15
And as for the customer service, even worse
And as for the customer service, even worse
In reply to Post #19
Nasty clash with those blue pegs though.
Nasty clash with those blue pegs though.
I've said for a couple of years that I think Aqua are finished as a brand. It only survives as Trakker trade off of its reputation from when it was actually a quality company, making brilliant gear and run by Chris manifold.
Name one product that aqua have made in the last five years that's better than any offering from another manufacturer?
Bivvys - no. You can buy the same gear from cyprinus from the same factory for half the price. Or a rehash of an old design that's bettered by the tempest anyway.
Luggage - no. Cotswold. Thinking anglers. Speero. Probably Korda all better.
Rods - no.
Mats/slings etc - no. Better available from the likes of Gardner/esp.
Apart for fanboys. What's the point of aqua these days?
Name one product that aqua have made in the last five years that's better than any offering from another manufacturer?
Bivvys - no. You can buy the same gear from cyprinus from the same factory for half the price. Or a rehash of an old design that's bettered by the tempest anyway.
Luggage - no. Cotswold. Thinking anglers. Speero. Probably Korda all better.
Rods - no.
Mats/slings etc - no. Better available from the likes of Gardner/esp.
Apart for fanboys. What's the point of aqua these days?
In reply to Post #22
Nash titan, still king of bivvies.
#pukka pies #steakandkidney #chickenandmushroom.
Nash titan, still king of bivvies.
#pukka pies #steakandkidney #chickenandmushroom.
In reply to Post #21
Agree
Looking more “Argos” by the minute
You wouldn't want to be seen in that if you were a real hardcore carp angler, the shame of it
Agree
Looking more “Argos” by the minute
You wouldn't want to be seen in that if you were a real hardcore carp angler, the shame of it
In reply to Post #19
Could be the next “must have” item, desert Camo
Looking at the picture, I reckon 5 minutes with a can of black paint and a 4 inch brush it would look immense
To be fair, I have never had a problem with an Aqua bivvy myself
Never had a problem with a Titan either
Can't comment on the new Aqua stuff though
I can on Trakker though, everyone I have owned has been **** and that includes the one I have now
Could be the next “must have” item, desert Camo
Looking at the picture, I reckon 5 minutes with a can of black paint and a 4 inch brush it would look immense
To be fair, I have never had a problem with an Aqua bivvy myself
Never had a problem with a Titan either
Can't comment on the new Aqua stuff though
I can on Trakker though, everyone I have owned has been **** and that includes the one I have now
In reply to Post #13
In reply to Post #26
👍🏼Only used twice transforms from a chair to a bed buddy and now apparently also transforms in to a recliner ... £140 🤷♂️. Trakker or to be more precise the umbrella company cipher have destroyed the once best reputation in angling equipment 😡
👍🏼Only used twice transforms from a chair to a bed buddy and now apparently also transforms in to a recliner ... £140 🤷♂️. Trakker or to be more precise the umbrella company cipher have destroyed the once best reputation in angling equipment 😡
In reply to Post #26
Wow. Another quality aqua product. I'm guessing unless you either weigh about 200 stone or decided to use it as a trampoline then this is just another modern piece of poo Aqua product.
I'd love to be able to ask Chris Manifold in private what he really thinks about what trakker have done to the reputation of the company that he sweated blood and risked everything to build from scratch
Wow. Another quality aqua product. I'm guessing unless you either weigh about 200 stone or decided to use it as a trampoline then this is just another modern piece of poo Aqua product.
I'd love to be able to ask Chris Manifold in private what he really thinks about what trakker have done to the reputation of the company that he sweated blood and risked everything to build from scratch
In reply to Post #28
I totally echo the comments below I was an aqua fan boy and loved my u ion jack M3 and I still have a mint armo made in Chorley badge and the quality is exceptional anything I had since then was dire and I've not looked back since changing all my luggage to Cotswold and using a tempest for the vast majority of my fishing
As to what Chris would make of it I'm pretty sure he earned considerably well out of the sale to cipher and so why would he care that's the whole point of selling
I totally echo the comments below I was an aqua fan boy and loved my u ion jack M3 and I still have a mint armo made in Chorley badge and the quality is exceptional anything I had since then was dire and I've not looked back since changing all my luggage to Cotswold and using a tempest for the vast majority of my fishing
As to what Chris would make of it I'm pretty sure he earned considerably well out of the sale to cipher and so why would he care that's the whole point of selling
In reply to Post #25
I've heard a few trakker owners state their disappointment with the newer Bivvies.
I've heard a few trakker owners state their disappointment with the newer Bivvies.
In reply to Post #30
we as anglers are stuck in a position where Trakker, Aqua and Nash are the 'better' options out there. Those RV tents that Ridgemonkey are promoting may fair better in the quality stakes but there insanely expensive and huge and for me personally ugly as sin.
The price point of any bivvy is now crazy. And considering how many they sell, I just cant believe it isn't viable to manufacture, as Aqua did back in the day, in England !!
Trakker & Aqua must sell 1000s of units. The import and delivery charges alone......that saving would, surely, make it realistic to bring it back to the UK and put out, properly quality produced and checked items AND still be profitable.
we as anglers are stuck in a position where Trakker, Aqua and Nash are the 'better' options out there. Those RV tents that Ridgemonkey are promoting may fair better in the quality stakes but there insanely expensive and huge and for me personally ugly as sin.
The price point of any bivvy is now crazy. And considering how many they sell, I just cant believe it isn't viable to manufacture, as Aqua did back in the day, in England !!
Trakker & Aqua must sell 1000s of units. The import and delivery charges alone......that saving would, surely, make it realistic to bring it back to the UK and put out, properly quality produced and checked items AND still be profitable.
In reply to Post #31
The tackle box bivvy is a superb bit of kit,well thought out and very well made.Im sure army Andy had something to do with the design of it,if I was buying a bivvy it would be that one
The tackle box bivvy is a superb bit of kit,well thought out and very well made.Im sure army Andy had something to do with the design of it,if I was buying a bivvy it would be that one
In reply to Post #32
In reply to Post #33
Only seen one on the bank and was amazed how good it was.Its really good value with the overwrap at the moment too.Do you own one
Only seen one on the bank and was amazed how good it was.Its really good value with the overwrap at the moment too.Do you own one
In reply to Post #29
I still use a Chorley made Aqualite, it's showing it's age a bit, were you fold the two sides in to pack away it leaks a bit - but it's no issue just wear over the years of use.
But I don't have a ground sheet for it, and if i intend to keep doing over-nighters through winter I'm going to need a Bivvy with a ground sheet.
It's probably the Sonic AXS Bivvy I'll be getting, as I liked my old JRC Bloxx , but with the AXS the design has improved even further.
(James who used to work for JRC, he then moved to Sonic- hence the similar design)
I still use a Chorley made Aqualite, it's showing it's age a bit, were you fold the two sides in to pack away it leaks a bit - but it's no issue just wear over the years of use.
But I don't have a ground sheet for it, and if i intend to keep doing over-nighters through winter I'm going to need a Bivvy with a ground sheet.
It's probably the Sonic AXS Bivvy I'll be getting, as I liked my old JRC Bloxx , but with the AXS the design has improved even further.
(James who used to work for JRC, he then moved to Sonic- hence the similar design)
In reply to Post #34
In reply to Post #36
Really Paul! Afraid the days of waking up with frost covering the inside of the bivvy and top of the sleeping bag too - I'm not that stupid enough not use a Ground sheet anymore
Please let me know if you have one, still think I'll get an AXS as well - after having a early JRC Bloxx, with what Sonic have done to improve the design it's probably as near perfect a Bivvy design as it can get for my needs (Quick over-nighters)
Really Paul! Afraid the days of waking up with frost covering the inside of the bivvy and top of the sleeping bag too - I'm not that stupid enough not use a Ground sheet anymore
Please let me know if you have one, still think I'll get an AXS as well - after having a early JRC Bloxx, with what Sonic have done to improve the design it's probably as near perfect a Bivvy design as it can get for my needs (Quick over-nighters)
In reply to Post #34
It looks like the angling intelligence iws shelter but with a front i have gone back to using mine instead of my tempest air as it is to heavy
It looks like the angling intelligence iws shelter but with a front i have gone back to using mine instead of my tempest air as it is to heavy
In reply to Post #31
we need someone Cotswold Aquarius to make a bivvy. Made in England, the quality would be unsurpassed !
we need someone Cotswold Aquarius to make a bivvy. Made in England, the quality would be unsurpassed !
In reply to Post #39
Cotswold quality is overated
Cotswold quality is overated
In reply to Post #36
Are you pleased with it mate,any issues at all
Are you pleased with it mate,any issues at all
In reply to Post #40
Yeh you see plenty written about stitching coming undone.
Yeh you see plenty written about stitching coming undone.
In reply to Post #41
In reply to Post #43
Cheers mate,think I'm going order one 👍
There was rumours they were working on a new bivvy,im wondering if i should wait to see
Cheers mate,think I'm going order one 👍
There was rumours they were working on a new bivvy,im wondering if i should wait to see
In reply to Post #44
When are people going to wake up Chris manifold is aqua he is it he is a master craftsmen the stuff they sell now is Chinese tat so why buy it ?
When are people going to wake up Chris manifold is aqua he is it he is a master craftsmen the stuff they sell now is Chinese tat so why buy it ?
In reply to Post #26
That hasn't gone on a weld or a joint, that's the tube totally ripped on both sides at the same time after 2 uses
Hard to believe.
That hasn't gone on a weld or a joint, that's the tube totally ripped on both sides at the same time after 2 uses
Hard to believe.
In reply to Post #46
I sold the chair to a chap after I used it once because I didn't like it. He claimed he used it for the first time last weekend . He said he sat back in it and just kept going backward . The tube walling isn't that thick and quite plausible , that had happened . So I'm not going to call the chap a liar. I contacted the retailer for him. They laughed at it but said it was not on for a £140 chair and that Aqua told the retailer to replace it. The replacement arrived today and awaiting collection 🤷♂️
I sold the chair to a chap after I used it once because I didn't like it. He claimed he used it for the first time last weekend . He said he sat back in it and just kept going backward . The tube walling isn't that thick and quite plausible , that had happened . So I'm not going to call the chap a liar. I contacted the retailer for him. They laughed at it but said it was not on for a £140 chair and that Aqua told the retailer to replace it. The replacement arrived today and awaiting collection 🤷♂️
In reply to Post #45
I'm not
I'm not
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