Any views/feedback on the Solar Compact Spider Shelter?
In reply to Post #1
Is it even out yet?
Is it even out yet?
In reply to Post #1
yep is out,
yep is out,
In reply to Post #1
*thread bump*
Am considering getting one of these. Any reviews/feedback?
I have a solar SP bedchair and am wondering if it comfortably fits square against the back? It's hard to tell.
Looking at johnson ross they have an image of dimensions, that says 270cm width at front - but it does go out from the back so am guessing less than this width at back?
Bedchair is 205cm length.
Thanks!
*thread bump*
Am considering getting one of these. Any reviews/feedback?
I have a solar SP bedchair and am wondering if it comfortably fits square against the back? It's hard to tell.
Looking at johnson ross they have an image of dimensions, that says 270cm width at front - but it does go out from the back so am guessing less than this width at back?
Bedchair is 205cm length.
Thanks!
In reply to Post #4
I imagine they will set one up for you to test if you ask them nicely
I imagine they will set one up for you to test if you ask them nicely
In reply to Post #4
Saw one at the big one, well made but very very shallow. A bedchair would fill it and your knees touching the door/mozzi door
Saw one at the big one, well made but very very shallow. A bedchair would fill it and your knees touching the door/mozzi door
In reply to Post #6
I just phoned my mate in Yorkshire as I know he bought one and is using it right now !!
he loves it ! I asked him about his bed he has a Fox FLATLITER MK2 and says as the bivvy has a flat back it goes right back he is not very big 5ft 8inches
and sitting on the bed he cant reach the doorway with his feet and its just started snowing !! he as everything he needs in side and loves the way its adjustable for uneven ground it is of course a COMPACT shelter at the end of the day
hope this helps
I just phoned my mate in Yorkshire as I know he bought one and is using it right now !!he loves it ! I asked him about his bed he has a Fox FLATLITER MK2 and says as the bivvy has a flat back it goes right back he is not very big 5ft 8inches
and sitting on the bed he cant reach the doorway with his feet and its just started snowing !! he as everything he needs in side and loves the way its adjustable for uneven ground it is of course a COMPACT shelter at the end of the day
hope this helps
In reply to Post #7
Thanks for the replies gents. Mixed feedback but good to hear your mate likes his!
Torn between this and the Fox frontier X. Good suggestion to visit Johnson Ross to try - a little trek for me but probably worth it. I'll call ahead and check they're happy for me to look at them up.
Thanks for the replies gents. Mixed feedback but good to hear your mate likes his!
Torn between this and the Fox frontier X. Good suggestion to visit Johnson Ross to try - a little trek for me but probably worth it. I'll call ahead and check they're happy for me to look at them up.
In reply to Post #8
Christ you couldnt get 2 more different shelters could you ?
Christ you couldnt get 2 more different shelters could you ?
In reply to Post #8
Having had a good look at it (and a good conversation with Dave Lane) at the Big One I agree with the view that is is too shallow. No shallower than the Undercover brolly that I own but for a full bivvy I would want it deeper in order to offer sufficient benefits over my brolly.
Also agree that you are looking at and comparing 2 very different shelters catering for very different needs
Having had a good look at it (and a good conversation with Dave Lane) at the Big One I agree with the view that is is too shallow. No shallower than the Undercover brolly that I own but for a full bivvy I would want it deeper in order to offer sufficient benefits over my brolly.
Also agree that you are looking at and comparing 2 very different shelters catering for very different needs
In reply to Post #10
Had mine for a few months now and love it
Don't think it's shallow at all and as mentioned the bed can go right back close to the rear and leaves plenty of space. Some great little bits on it, well thought out and good quality
Had mine for a few months now and love it
Don't think it's shallow at all and as mentioned the bed can go right back close to the rear and leaves plenty of space. Some great little bits on it, well thought out and good quality
In reply to Post #4
I've used mine with a Chub Bed chair thats 215 cm long with the added width of a Gardner sleeping bag which probably adds another 10-15 cm or so to the bedchair width and it just touches the side when flat against the back .
I can sit on the bed and do not touch the front or roof at all......and I'm 6 ft 4
It takes all my kit easily including a Trakker Reclining Levelite chair folded up at night , it uses the space really well
I sold a Cyprinus MH Bivvy and Nash XL hide , bought this one, and I have absolutely NO regrets space wise.....its compactness is its great selling point along with the clever adjustable legs.....its a proper 1 man shelter and NOT a bivvy to have a social in though
I've used mine with a Chub Bed chair thats 215 cm long with the added width of a Gardner sleeping bag which probably adds another 10-15 cm or so to the bedchair width and it just touches the side when flat against the back .
I can sit on the bed and do not touch the front or roof at all......and I'm 6 ft 4
It takes all my kit easily including a Trakker Reclining Levelite chair folded up at night , it uses the space really well
I sold a Cyprinus MH Bivvy and Nash XL hide , bought this one, and I have absolutely NO regrets space wise.....its compactness is its great selling point along with the clever adjustable legs.....its a proper 1 man shelter and NOT a bivvy to have a social in though
In reply to Post #12
Thanks again everyone for the replies!
I'm looking for a flat back profile, with plenty of headroom sitting on bed, and a tall front/outlook. And that's it really. I have a tempest v2 brolly at the mo and am fed up of slumping to see out the door - and since I've upgraded to the solar bed that seems to always touch the sides - unless I make it wider, but then makes it lower, of course.
I only do overnighters so don't need loads of space.
Reason I was looking at the frontier X is cos of the increased height over the frontier (non x).
Again, on JR website, dimensions of the spider compact say front height is 160cm - which I think is higher than all the frontiers anyhoo - so maybe that is the winner! (and cheaper)
edit: interestingly the solar compact is wider (by 10cm) and taller (by 20cm) than the frontier x.
But yeah, almost 50cm shallower in depth.
Anyway, I will go look at both but swinging toward the compact now. Thanks for your comments everyone.
Thanks again everyone for the replies!
I'm looking for a flat back profile, with plenty of headroom sitting on bed, and a tall front/outlook. And that's it really. I have a tempest v2 brolly at the mo and am fed up of slumping to see out the door - and since I've upgraded to the solar bed that seems to always touch the sides - unless I make it wider, but then makes it lower, of course.
I only do overnighters so don't need loads of space.
Reason I was looking at the frontier X is cos of the increased height over the frontier (non x).
Again, on JR website, dimensions of the spider compact say front height is 160cm - which I think is higher than all the frontiers anyhoo - so maybe that is the winner! (and cheaper)
edit: interestingly the solar compact is wider (by 10cm) and taller (by 20cm) than the frontier x.
But yeah, almost 50cm shallower in depth.
Anyway, I will go look at both but swinging toward the compact now. Thanks for your comments everyone.
In reply to Post #13
Now waiting for overwrap
Now waiting for overwrap
In reply to Post #15
Does anyone know the packed dimensions?
Does anyone know the packed dimensions?
does anyone use the zip in groundsheet? just wondering if they go on easy or a pain in the ass.
In reply to Post #17
Does anyone know how these compare in size to the sonik AXS?
Does anyone know how these compare in size to the sonik AXS?
In reply to Post #1
Well, 270cm wide , yet they market the product as a 'Compact' Shelter. Doh.
270cm is too wide for a compact shelter. Won't fit in the vast majority of tight swims.
Should have designed it less wide, and deeper.
Well, 270cm wide , yet they market the product as a 'Compact' Shelter. Doh.
270cm is too wide for a compact shelter. Won't fit in the vast majority of tight swims.
Should have designed it less wide, and deeper.
In reply to Post #23
yes totally get what your saying but for river swims generally you have left and right room but its the depth thats a problem due to the sloping banks
my pal recently sold his mk2 tempest bivvy and bought one and is raving about how good it is and the perfect shape he is one of these weird people thats scared about spiders and bugs that are thousands of times smaller than him so loves the zip in groundsheet too
yes totally get what your saying but for river swims generally you have left and right room but its the depth thats a problem due to the sloping banks
my pal recently sold his mk2 tempest bivvy and bought one and is raving about how good it is and the perfect shape he is one of these weird people thats scared about spiders and bugs that are thousands of times smaller than him so loves the zip in groundsheet too
In reply to Post #24
not that I'm a weirdo who is scared of creepy crawlies, just suffer bad back so like not to much rising damp and wondered if the zip in groundsheet was a faff to put in.
not that I'm a weirdo who is scared of creepy crawlies, just suffer bad back so like not to much rising damp and wondered if the zip in groundsheet was a faff to put in.
In reply to Post #25
one of the questions I asked him Rich
and he reckons its a bit of cake he did have concerns about it when ho bought it but says its far easier than he imagined
one of the questions I asked him Rich
and he reckons its a bit of cake he did have concerns about it when ho bought it but says its far easier than he imagined
In reply to Post #26
Cheers gerry.
Cheers gerry.
I received my Solar Compact Spider in camo today. Everything does feel quality. Poles, cam locks, zips and storm poles. It isn't deep, but I was looking for a small, but sturdy aubstitute for a brolly in which I can also do nights. So I think it will be very good for me. Only thing I had expected thicker is the fabric. Maybe I am expecting too much, as I have a Fox Frontier, tried a Nash Camo Titan Hide Pro XL and even my Fast and Light Mk3 by Cyprinus is heavy coated fabric that is pitch black inside. Didn't need that for this day shelter, but still, I expected it to be a bit thicker.
Dimensions of the bag are: 125 cm long at 18 x 18 cm wide and high. Weight is about 7,5 kg with all the pegs, but without the infil.
Hope this is useful info for others.
Dimensions of the bag are: 125 cm long at 18 x 18 cm wide and high. Weight is about 7,5 kg with all the pegs, but without the infil.
Hope this is useful info for others.
In reply to Post #29
sounds like its probably the same fabric as my Solar undercover brolly thats also 10,000 HH and super lightweight and strong
personally I dont think thats a minus point I think its a big plus it will dry faster and lighter to carry if you can get strength without weight
sounds like its probably the same fabric as my Solar undercover brolly thats also 10,000 HH and super lightweight and strong
personally I dont think thats a minus point I think its a big plus it will dry faster and lighter to carry if you can get strength without weight
In reply to Post #30
Hi mate, I asked Solar and they confirmed it's indeed the 10.000 hh fabric. So you think the fabric is resilient and strong? Have you tried it in heavy downpours and strong winds?
Hi mate, I asked Solar and they confirmed it's indeed the 10.000 hh fabric. So you think the fabric is resilient and strong? Have you tried it in heavy downpours and strong winds?
In reply to Post #31
there are a few forum members that have had one for quite a while and report that its rock solid in storms to be fair everything made by Solar tackle will be top notch Locky dont sell ****
there are a few forum members that have had one for quite a while and report that its rock solid in storms to be fair everything made by Solar tackle will be top notch Locky dont sell ****
In reply to Post #33
Good to hear. Thanks!
Good to hear. Thanks!
Great shelter. Looks shallow but actually isn't, I've spent a long while actually in one (some clearly haven't) and there's plenty of space when your chair's in the square back, plus headspace which some lack (hence the shallow look). Small footprint, which suits me, Rock solid and a quick set-up. Treated myself to the zip in groundsheet which is a reet luxury!
In reply to Post #33
I thought a year or so ago Locky sold Solar, maybe wrong 😑
I thought a year or so ago Locky sold Solar, maybe wrong 😑
In reply to Post #36
I could be wrong as well but I think he sold the company on but is still there in some sort of capacity. Mainly so that his name is still associated with Solar.
I could be wrong as well but I think he sold the company on but is still there in some sort of capacity. Mainly so that his name is still associated with Solar.
WELL !! not splitting hairs here
but bottom line the only time Solar dropped the ball was with the horrendously heavy orrible Solar Bowlock drooping landing net thats a proper disaster !
everything else Bait , pods, beds chairs ,shelters the quality cant be bettered IMHO
but bottom line the only time Solar dropped the ball was with the horrendously heavy orrible Solar Bowlock drooping landing net thats a proper disaster !
everything else Bait , pods, beds chairs ,shelters the quality cant be bettered IMHO
I have spend the night in my Spider Compact last night. Nice bivvy, I like it. Good specs and quality.
In reply to Post #38
Any one remember when he went into the bite alarm market, remember reading or him saying that nearly sent him under, can't remember the fault in them now tho😏
Any one remember when he went into the bite alarm market, remember reading or him saying that nearly sent him under, can't remember the fault in them now tho😏
In reply to Post #38
Google says he is still owner and managing director.
Google says he is still owner and managing director.
In reply to Post #40
Yes Solartronics. Lockey and his long term friends fell out badly over it.
Not sure if they made it up, shame if they didn't.
Yes Solartronics. Lockey and his long term friends fell out badly over it.
Not sure if they made it up, shame if they didn't.
In reply to Post #41
LINK
According to the link he resigned 11/1/2017 and Liping Yuan based in China took over the same day.
LINK
According to the link he resigned 11/1/2017 and Liping Yuan based in China took over the same day.
In reply to Post #43
That's what I thought Chinese firm with big money brought it , then came all the new gear out. But we'll done for Lockey starting a fantastic company from scratch.
That's what I thought Chinese firm with big money brought it , then came all the new gear out. But we'll done for Lockey starting a fantastic company from scratch.
In reply to Post #33
ordered the camo one from TFT Sunday the 6th,turned up on the 8th my b day. came with full front and zip in groundsheet for £399 plus a free fox pop un hooking mat. not been out on the bank with it yet due to old age flu
but have put it up in the garden and was very surprised at the room it has, also the speed it goes up and ease of the groundsheet being zipped in...
ordered the camo one from TFT Sunday the 6th,turned up on the 8th my b day. came with full front and zip in groundsheet for £399 plus a free fox pop un hooking mat. not been out on the bank with it yet due to old age flu
but have put it up in the garden and was very surprised at the room it has, also the speed it goes up and ease of the groundsheet being zipped in...
In reply to Post #45
Any long term reviews on this bivvy please ?
Any long term reviews on this bivvy please ?
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