100 model £499
150 model £569

Imagine if you bought one in the last month

🤦‍♂️

In reply to Post #1
I've tried for several minutes to imagine me buying one last month. But I just can't picture myself being that stupid.

In reply to Post #2
or even this month

In reply to Post #3
Or next month

Valid point gents.

Where have you seen that, all appear to be as previously priced as far as I can see...

In reply to Post #1
. . .ooeer. Do fancy a 150 matron . . .Bristol Angling?

In reply to Post #6
Tackle tavern, Bristol angling, park field, all will follow tomorrow

Can only presume that this is because of the new super duper Aquatexx being released next year.....

Am tempted by a 150....

In reply to Post #9
Or it hasn't sold well enough and they will discontinue manufacture?

In reply to Post #10
Possibly mate....

Always thought they would bring out an Aqua version of the Tempest, slightly tweaked to make it a bit different to the Trakker version....

In reply to Post #1
Oh dear, I've had my eyes on one of these for a while but have always been put off by the price. I had an original Pioneer and have regretted selling it ever since. If a new ticket I've been waiting for drops through the letterbox in the new year I think I'll be tempted...

In reply to Post #12
. . .I don't need one . . .I just want one!

Still using my Ultralite as my go-to bivvy (I've got a decent one Gerry and have looked after it!) but do fancy a Tempest 150 . . .however a lad on my syndy has the new Pio 150 and skull cap and it is a quality bit of kit in the flesh . . .yes its heavy but the material is canvas like (heavier than my Ultralite Aquatexx) and these still remain the most 'carpy' (whatever that means) shelter of all time IMHO . . . .

Anyone found any reductions on the skull cap?

Is the Pioneer worth it compared to a Nash T1 camo?

In reply to Post #14
Yes . . .cos its a Pioneer
Yes . . .cos its not Gash
Yes . . .cos its not Camo (unless you go for the DPM)
Yes . . .cos its now cheaper

In reply to Post #15
Nash T1 (non Camo) = £400,8 in my country

Must...resist....must stop looking at Pioneers.....must remember I have 3 perfectly good and virtually new bivvies already.........

It's tempting for me too

But how good is the ground sheet of the Pioneer 150, does it fit well with the bivvy so that you don't get any grass or so through it? (too bad it's not a zip in ground sheet)

In reply to Post #17
I really like the look of the frontier... If it stands the test of time I think it will be better than most

In reply to Post #19
Me too and a big plus for me is the inner capsule and height, and the windows that you can open / close from the inside

Need to remember that there have been plenty of issues with the Pioneers mainly crap seams.....

In reply to Post #21
stay strong Spod.
think of all those storm poles LOL

In reply to Post #17
. . .must also resist . . .must also resist . . .

. . .honestly these do look good in the flesh . . .perfect size for me as well . . .resist . . .resist . . .

In reply to Post #18
But how good is the ground sheet of the Pioneer 150, does it fit well with the bivvy so that you don't get any grass or so through it? (too bad it's not a zip in ground sheet)

If it is like my Pioneer 100 groundsheet, then extremely well fitted! The groundsheet has elasticated pegging points to match up with the ones on the bivvy itself & also has approximately an extra inch of material all round that sits up higher around the base & flaps on the bivvy itself so no grass etc pops through.

In reply to Post #1
Not slashed enough for old tech, fiddling around with poles and the chance of it turning more orange than Donald Trump...........

Trading on former glories, their stuff is garbage nowadays. Real shame.

In reply to Post #26
Its the former glories that makes me want one even more!!!!

before I continue im a bivvy slut

I Love my tempests (XL and army Andy custom air) and they are everything the pioneer should now be, but its Aqua!!!

The nostalgia with the brand that in no way whatsoever is the brand now that it was back then and so I type this with my eyes wide open, however:

from the 60" brolly, to the 55 brolly system or the Aquaite and ultra carpy wrap (if you know you know) to the beast of all pram hoods an m3 and then the M3 duo Aqua had it all covered.

The perfect shelter for every scenario made lovingly here in England but the pioneer utralite was the game changer and I want another, YES, ill probably be disappointed and regret it but hey who cares !!!!!!


Anyone tell me where the best deal on a 150 with skull cap is ?

In reply to Post #27
Rob.

ah but nostalgia....

the Ultralite had a lot of weak snapping pole issues. and wasn't in production that long.

and lest we forget, the carbon compact and aqualite.

In reply to Post #27
Parkfield are always worth a shout mate

In reply to Post #27
It's just the name being used Chris aqua manifold when he left he took it with him

In reply to Post #15
I wasn't impressed by the pioneer when I saw it little difference to my Hog. My T1 Camo is a superb bit of kit.

Agreed with some of the posts ... The Pioneer was over rated when it first came out ... why anyone would buy this design nowadays baffles me

In reply to Post #28
. . mines been 'snap free' since 2010 . . .just need to open it with care!

I've seen the Pio 100 set up in a shop . . .its designed for hobbits and is therefore ridiculous . . .

I've also seen the Pio 150 on the bank and for me the size / footprint / head height is perfect . . .a roomy, 1 man session shelter with a permanent twin skin . . .what's not to like?

Totally agree with you Rob . .

Who cares whether its outdated - the BMW E46 M3 still looks better than the outgoing F30 and the new G20 variants . . .its not faster or lighter or smarter but its now a classic and is therefore desirable . . .

In reply to Post #33

In reply to Post #32
it was a good alternative if you wanted a full bivvy but didn't like kneeling to piece together the pram hoods
of the day. That was my reason to get one.

In reply to Post #35
so where can we get a 150 and wrap everywhere selling 100 ut I cant find a deal on 150 with wrap other than at Carp scene which is in Derby and collection only so too far for me but £699.98

In reply to Post #34
. . .love that graff Paul . . .maybe its an age ting but nostalgia is important to Gen X . . !

had convinced myself by bedtime yesterday that I didn't need one....now getting tempted all over again....

In reply to Post #32
it baffles me why people think it was over rated

But then again I owned and spent god knows how many hours in every type of extreme weather under one to me it was one of the best designed quality perfect size shaped shelters ever made I could it put it up and down very fast

other than missing a rear vent to me it was the perfect shelter and dont think my Tempest bivvy is an improvement due to the height

Im talking about the Original pioneer AND NOT the Ultra light version that I called the Ultracrap

In reply to Post #38
Get one mate. Proper bit of kit.

One of my pals has a Tempest and he much prefers my 100 Pioneer. Made of proper material, goes up in a jiffy. I can get my two large dogs in mine plus all my gear and it's still not crampt.

In reply to Post #34
I must of bought pretty much nearly every design of shelter available between 2000 & 2012 and no-one will ever convince me the Pioneer was one of the best ... even back then. However, i did like the shape and I loved how the skull cap fitted

In reply to Post #41
I am not trying to convince you it was the best designed shelter ever made ?

just like your not trying to convince me it was over rated ! thats because opinions are like BUM HOLES
WE ALL HAVE ONE

In reply to Post #34
can we all please note that if look closely despite the lake being partially frozen.
I am fishing with the sides rolled back. lol

in winter you can choose to set it up low, get right to the back, and its like being in a cave.

something sorely missing in the Tempest 100T last week in a storm. I had to get my Goretex pack away out and drape
it over me at 2am when the wind was swirling rain in.

In reply to Post #43
Fck Corona all shops are closed here and no carp Den Bosch in January 2021

Pioneer with permanent wrap option is what attracts me and the size is ideal for me, on the other hand it is not a full wrap and some other bivvies on my list have an inner capsule option and a skullcap or a full over wrap for the colder months.

In reply to Post #27
Hi I just picked up a green pioneer 150 £475 (parkfield).and the 150 skullcap £139 (Johnson Ross)

In reply to Post #45
. . £475 . .wow! Not showing on their site - did you ring 'em?

JR wrap out of stock - showing 150 at £559 tho. . .

In reply to Post #46
Yes phone call plus I live around corner all sorted

In reply to Post #47
I got a 150 dpm for £499 from Parkfield and likewise found a wrap at Johnson Ross so so £640 all in

Now I've got to decide what to sell from
Tempest xl + skull cap + wrap
Tempest air + army Andy front + skull cap
Cyprinus fast and light green
Cyprinus mk2 dpm fast and light
Original aqua made in Chorley armo

In reply to Post #48
Never sell the armo

Green or DPM....🤔

In reply to Post #50
Green for me if i get one.

Edit: Mmm new Aquatexx EV prices are for the Bivvy skull cap and overwrap.

In reply to Post #51
Where have you seen that mate?

In reply to Post #52
Dutch carp shop

In reply to Post #48
Sell them all.

In reply to Post #54
To clarify the £475 at Parkfield is for collection £499 is posted for the 150

In reply to Post #55
Do they only have the DPM in stock....that is all that is showing on their website....??

In reply to Post #56
No idea - ring them

In reply to Post #57
of course, why didn't I think of that.....

Sorry mate, thought you were ITK...

In reply to Post #48
Original armo's were built in Crewe,,,,,

In reply to Post #1
I've been thinking about one of these all year and decided to go for the Tempest Brolly 100 instead...

Now thinking i might get rid and get the Pioneer...

Has anyone got any idea as to what the size difference is between the two? I can see the Pioneer Dimensions are bigger, i'm mainly concerned about Head Height and how much usable space there is behind the bedchair?

Oh what a fickle bunch we are (Not a dig at anyone personally and not at the Pioneer specifically) .... but it is interesting that a £640 package for a bivvy and wrap is suddenly considered a bargain .... considering the outcry a £500+ bivvy caused in the not too distant past ... especially when not a UK build that so many people stamped their feet about ....

Fair play to Aqua on this ... they have nailed the marketing and sales strategy. .... Price very high to begin and make a killing on nostalgia ... then as the demand starts to wain, drop price to a still high price, but it now looks a bargain and justify this by promising a new model .... where they will of course repeat the process .... Genius

In reply to Post #61
It's nothing new under the sun. One of the few exceptions I can think of that keeps the prices the same are Apple.

These are very good. One of the best bits of kit I've got 👍

Apart from the original pio which is far better

In reply to Post #63
.... and the original Aqua MK2 Armo (imo, of course )

In reply to Post #61
Great Post .I nearly bought one of these when first came out,thanks to Wayne (blankosaurusrex)sending me photos i went with the tempest v2 bivvy.Im so glad I did,goes up quicker and more useable room.The seams and poles are still perfect on my v2 unlike 2 guys I knows pioneers aren't.I can't wait see this new revolutionary material and prices

In reply to Post #65
Ultimately its your money so get what you like, I personally fancy a change and at the price point im happy to bite and have done so

ill add once again that there is nothing wrong with any of my other bivvys and I LOVE The tempest its such a brilliant design and im amazed aqua didn't bring it out initially however strategically it made much more sense to put it in the Trakker stable and sell loads more at a lower price point and then expand hence the air, brolly etc.... its been a winner and has changed bivvys and pretty much eradicated traditional brolly sales I imagine

With regards the bad mouthing of the product I had a detailed chat with lewis at JR's who is a straight talking guy and I probed him about them he said he gets far more returns from other brands, the boys at JR's are a straight taking bunch there and so that was good enough for me


Out of interest and to emphasise this I had issues originally with the front poles on my XL one of them was bent pole 2 I think and I had to get replacements from trakker which was a nightmare and resulted in me sending it in for inspection that they eventually replaced the whole thing (My point being there will always be the odd case here or there)

With regards to relaunching the same product with a slight tweak well that has happened for as long as I've been fishing its the world we live in hence the v1, the v2, the 100, the 150 all the same with slight tweaks and a chance to resell it all over

Reality is that manufacturers don't want you buying one bivvy every 10 years thats just not a good business model - that applies to luggage and beds as well which we've all seen have the slightest tweak or different shade of green before its pushed out as the next best thing by the marketing gurus and again much like the apple iPhone 7, 8, 9 etc etc etc ...... resells all over again

as far as prices go my Original Pioneer was from memory £399 plus £9.99 for the clear window plus £99.99 for the top hat /scull cap as its called now AND the storm poles were extra £49.99 AND the groundsheet was extra £49.99 and that was YEARS AGO !!!

total cost £608.96p in 2008

and I bought the extended winter wrap that was another £199.99 so my total was £808.95
but I was in a high paid job and didnt care in those days not like now a penniless pensioner

In reply to Post #67
Good memory that Gerry below is a link to the original and a catalogue with the original prices

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/4022110/product-catalogue-autumn-winter-aqua-products

Looking at it and using my maths that lot would have set you back £720 for what is effectively the equivalent 100 version back then if you had the wrap and all extras

I had the ultralite from back then which certainly was anything other than ultra lite!!!! that should of been what they called the Aqualite which still is too this day one of my favourites

In reply to Post #68
That takes me back, I still have my M3 from 2009, never use it though but no way am I ever getting rid of it, will use it when my Tempest fall to bits

In reply to Post #68
yes but I wasnt to far out lol

looking at that catalogue ( I did have a copy on my old pc) I realise now the groundsheet was incl and not extra my memory let me down still a lotta wonga back then

still in use 12 years or more maybe

my kid nicked it for himself on a 3 day trip during the summer this year. he left me with the missus in the 2 man Cayman.

Want Bivvy tartiness? Those are Dymag full carbon storm poles. Plus I hand-made the groundsheet myself much lighter, better shaped, and tougher than the Original. Those two changes bring the weight right down too.

In reply to Post #71
Yeah but that hideous pod negates anything else in that picture I'm afraid.

Ps, even the rods don't match.

In reply to Post #72
Hes 12 lol

In reply to Post #73
Exactly, his kit should be better than yours.

In reply to Post #74
His bivvy is
And that's my bloody wideboy bed and bag.

In reply to Post #75
Good lad, won't be long till he has your rods and reels and they won't look right on that pod.

In reply to Post #76
Lol

Anyone seen any deals on the 150 wrap in green...?

In reply to Post #78
Johnson Ross have the wrap

https://johnsonrosstackle.co.uk/aqua-products-shelters/22458-aqua-products-pioneer-150-system-wrap.html?search_query=150&results=20

In reply to Post #79
says this item out of stock now

In reply to Post #80
Carpscene had wraps collection only

In reply to Post #81
How does the 150 compare in size to the old original pioneer? I've still got one, but find it a little on the large side. Tempted by a new one...

In reply to Post #82
I bit the bullet and got myself a Pioneer 100 with wrap.

First impressions are it weighs an absolute ton, upon checking everything out though it's clear as to why.

1. The material used is the most heavy duty material I've seen on any Bivvy or Brolly I've owned, it really does feel top notch.
2. The frame is obviously a rigid frame which is different from the flexible poles on the old Ulralight, it feels much sturdier when erecting it.
3. The bag it comes in is ridiculous in that it is also really heavy duty and the re-enforcement on the block end is overkill IMO.
4. The Groundsheet also appears to be very heavy duty and is really weighty.
5. Each component, I.e. Groundsheet, Wrap & Front Panel Etc has its own carry bag which is obviously not needed.

Once I've stripped out what isn't going to be used I think it'll be fine.

I've popped it up in the garden to check it over and am impressed with it, like I say the material is super heavy duty, I'm amazed how thick it is actually, I've had an Aqua Armadillo Mk1, Trakker Armo M3 (Original), Fox Supa Brolly Mk1 & 2 (both non-leaky), Trakker Pioneer Ultralight, Trakker Tempest V2, Nash Groundhog Brolly among others and this Pioneer appears to be on a different Level.

Time will tell I suppose 🤞🏼

In reply to Post #83
That's a good write up 👍

As you've now found out the reason for the weight, these things are made of thick Aquatex. Not so much knocking the Tempest, but the reason the Tempest is so light is because of the rizla like material they're made out of. It all comes down to compromises. If you want to be able to fish as ultra light as you can and are happy with a nigh on transparent bivvy, the Tempest is the one, fancy something that offers better shade potential when the sun is beating down on you, you'll be golden with the Pioneer.

Once you use it for a period of time, getting it up and packing it away is a sinch. I have my peak permanently attached and stuff it in the bag attached, don't even pop the front off as it is designed to go in the bag with the peak fixed at the front. Top bit of kit. Enjoy 👍

In reply to Post #83
Nice review - my only gripe with the Pioneer 100 is the hobbit headheight . . .would rather have a 125 (Ultralite size) than a 150 but of the two would go for the 150 for my needs.

Totally agree Aquatexx on these is a different beast . . .its more like canvas and something I've never seen on any previous Aquatexx bivvy (and I've also had a few) . . .

In reply to Post #85
Pioneer material Looks and feels the same as my 20000HH Cyprinus bivvy material .......

In reply to Post #86
Tackle tavern have pioneer 100 for 448 and the wrap for 92.50 using discount code BFF75

In reply to Post #87
That's about the best deal about at the moment.

In reply to Post #86
have you bitten the bullet and bought one then Wayne ?

In reply to Post #89
Not a chance! In 2004 when I bought one it was fantastic and innovative, then came the tempest taking it a step further.......

In reply to Post #90
Aaagh I must admit when you said about the Pioneer material I was puzzled as you have said in the past you think the tempest is better
well we will have to agree to disagree as my Tempest bivvy has a couple of plus points rear vents but I far and away preferred the lovely wide doorway and the most important point to ME was as you came off your bed and went to exit the roof went up and I could put mine up and down very quickly ( I was younger and fitter then lol )

In reply to Post #91
Parkfield angling have wraps for the 150 incase anyone is lookinv

two nights ago.

still a great winter bivvy

In reply to Post #83
I put my new 150 up yesterday for the first time in the garden and I have to say the write up below by Shame24 is about as accurate review as you will get so its not even worth me writing much more than has been said below as I totally agree with all of it.

Il give it some use before I decided if it will replace my tempext XL as I won't need both but my gut feel is that the pioneer is a serious bivvymade of high quality components that will withstand a battering to the point of maybe overkill for any weather we will see in this country

As I get older I long for lighter gods and ease of use and as mentioned before the design of the tempest is probably better as opposed to using the tension posts to erect the prioneer but the quality on every other aspect is definitely better on the pioneer materials, poles, carry bags etc......

Is the 150 really as easy to set up as they show in comercial movies, have a bad back so need to have an easy to set up/break down bivvy.

In reply to Post #95
It's an absolute piece of 'o' pee to setup.

Put the two poles in the holes, do up the clasp, get the storm rods and put them in place, bingo, you're rocking a tip top shelter.

When packing down, I take all storm rods out but just leave one out but propping the front up, then collapse it, drag it backwards and the storm rod just falls on the ground.

I always leave the skullcap on and never take it off even when putting in the bag.

In reply to Post #96
I have been using one for a few months, the 100 model. Cant fault it, all the things are already mentioned below.

Windows from the Pioneer can only be opened from the outside?

In reply to Post #98
Never put it on, but yeah, it's velcroed to the front. Just letter box the front by unzipping from the to down.

In reply to Post #99
Sorry I mean the windows at the back, how do you do that with the wrap over it if you want to leave it there, do you always have to lift the overwrap to open/close the rear windows of the Pioneer

In reply to Post #100
I always leave the vents on the brolly open and open and close the vents on the wrap as I need, but yeah, if you wanted to open and close both, you'd have to un-velcro the wrap to do up the brolly vents, can't be done from inside.

Looks as though Aqua are dropping the RRP on these for 2021, looking at their website the 150 Bivvy will be £639.99 instead of £799.99 and the wrap £159.99 rather than £199.99.....strange.....obviosly not sold as well as they thought it would.....bit of a pisser though for the lads who spent a grand on it all though...

100 model will now be £559.99 instead of £699.99, wrap £119.99 instead of £159.99

In reply to Post #102
Could be due to the new game changing material they are releasing

In reply to Post #103
True... although you would have thought that would be an excuse to increase the price rather than drop it....😂

In reply to Post #104
They have probably got a fair few made of these so need sell them off before the new ones come out.The price of the new one will probably make a few eyes water

In reply to Post #105
Is this new material spandex? Hear its all the rage with middle aged cyclists.

In reply to Post #105
Looks like that may be the case, especially if there is a container load stuck somewhere...

In reply to Post #106

In reply to Post #102
100 model will now be £559.99 instead of £699.99, wrap £119.99 instead of £159.99

Which is around the same price I paid for mine & wrap back at the end of the first Lockdown. Local shop price matched AD & got mine for £690 for both items.

In reply to Post #95
. . .missed out on these by a whisker - no 150 skull caps available anymore!

In reply to Post #109
Can be bought for £475 bivvy and £99 wrap.

In reply to Post #111
for a 150 non DPM? Pray tell . . .!

In reply to Post #112
No, replied to 109.

In reply to Post #111
Can be bought for £475 bivvy and £99 wrap.

That's a very good price. Not looked TBH as no need to beings as I already have a set. I was saying that I paid the price Spod mentioned that the Bivvy & Wrap were back at the end of the first Lockdown.