On the look out for a new Bivvy. In the past (15 years ago) I had the Armadillo MK1 and the Trakker Brolly System with infill panel (both got stolen from my garage). I'm currently looking at the following:
Trakker Tempest 100 Aquatexx EV
Trakker Tempest 150 Aquatexx EV
Nash Titan 1 MK2 (Green or Camo, not too fussed but noticed the Camo is apparently lighter)
Fox Frontier X or XD
I'm going to need a groundsheet and a wrap/skull wrap aswell for the winter and when my daughter or youngest son comes with me then I'll also need a porch or extension wrap so we can fit two bedchairs.
First thing I've noticed is that the Trakker ones are out of stock everywhere so wondered if it was due to popularity or the fact the Trakker are struggling to supply shops due to the current crisis with fuel, brevity and the lorry driver shortage.
Never been a fan of Nash gear but the Titan has always been highly regarded over the years as a top quality bit of kit so I may have to eat humble pie and go against my principal of never buying Nash products.
The Fox Frontier does look well thought out and I've seen some positive reviews on here and on YouTube.
I'm 6ft 4in tall and 51 now so now looking to either crawl in the doorway commando style or limbo under the door frame so reasonable height would be great (not interested in the 100T Brolly either so please don't recommend.
Any opinions from owners of any of the above would be extremely grateful. Preferably is there anywhere I can go and view these bivvies erected. I'm located near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire off the A1 if that helps but willing to travel.
Thanks in advance. 😁👍
Trakker Tempest 100 Aquatexx EV
Trakker Tempest 150 Aquatexx EV
Nash Titan 1 MK2 (Green or Camo, not too fussed but noticed the Camo is apparently lighter)
Fox Frontier X or XD
I'm going to need a groundsheet and a wrap/skull wrap aswell for the winter and when my daughter or youngest son comes with me then I'll also need a porch or extension wrap so we can fit two bedchairs.
First thing I've noticed is that the Trakker ones are out of stock everywhere so wondered if it was due to popularity or the fact the Trakker are struggling to supply shops due to the current crisis with fuel, brevity and the lorry driver shortage.
Never been a fan of Nash gear but the Titan has always been highly regarded over the years as a top quality bit of kit so I may have to eat humble pie and go against my principal of never buying Nash products.
The Fox Frontier does look well thought out and I've seen some positive reviews on here and on YouTube.
I'm 6ft 4in tall and 51 now so now looking to either crawl in the doorway commando style or limbo under the door frame so reasonable height would be great (not interested in the 100T Brolly either so please don't recommend.
Any opinions from owners of any of the above would be extremely grateful. Preferably is there anywhere I can go and view these bivvies erected. I'm located near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire off the A1 if that helps but willing to travel.
Thanks in advance. 😁👍
In reply to Post #1
Any of the top 3 will do you fine, fox's QC is questionable to say the least
Any of the top 3 will do you fine, fox's QC is questionable to say the least
In reply to Post #2
I have a Titan TC Pro which is 3 cm lower than the Titan you are looking at. I am 5'8 and find it annoyingly low when sitting on my bedchair. Other than that very happy with it.
I have a Titan TC Pro which is 3 cm lower than the Titan you are looking at. I am 5'8 and find it annoyingly low when sitting on my bedchair. Other than that very happy with it.
In reply to Post #3
Thanks for the heads up. What is the TC Pro or how is it different to the Titan 1 MK2? Also what's the material like on the Titan's please mate as I read somewhere in a review that it needs a good dry out after a downpour as it's almost like the water is absorbed into the fabric. Space internally looks great though and I've not seen any criticisms regarding the poles whereas the Trakker gets a fair bit of criticism.
Thanks for the heads up. What is the TC Pro or how is it different to the Titan 1 MK2? Also what's the material like on the Titan's please mate as I read somewhere in a review that it needs a good dry out after a downpour as it's almost like the water is absorbed into the fabric. Space internally looks great though and I've not seen any criticisms regarding the poles whereas the Trakker gets a fair bit of criticism.
In reply to Post #2
My first ever bivvy was a Fox and after one season I soon got rid of it. Trakker I never had any problems whatsoever but bearing in mind I haven't done any carp fishing for 12 years, I wondered how they fare in todays market.
My first ever bivvy was a Fox and after one season I soon got rid of it. Trakker I never had any problems whatsoever but bearing in mind I haven't done any carp fishing for 12 years, I wondered how they fare in todays market.
In reply to Post #5
Trakker are just as bad for qc,it took me three attempts to get a decent tempest v2 bivvy.I had stitching issues on two of them and a pegging point not heatsealed properly on the third one.I finally got a good one but I'm getting rid to a mate and getting a tacklebox longtop bivvy
Trakker are just as bad for qc,it took me three attempts to get a decent tempest v2 bivvy.I had stitching issues on two of them and a pegging point not heatsealed properly on the third one.I finally got a good one but I'm getting rid to a mate and getting a tacklebox longtop bivvy
In reply to Post #1
The answer will be the one to best accommodate you and your daughter/son and that really depends on swim size.
If there is stacks of room to bivvy up then the T1 with the extreme canopy will give you plenty of room for 2 beds, same with either of the Tempests with the social caps fitted.....both options however would not be cheap!
You may get 2 beds in the Tempest 150 without the social cap but it would be tight.
The answer will be the one to best accommodate you and your daughter/son and that really depends on swim size.
If there is stacks of room to bivvy up then the T1 with the extreme canopy will give you plenty of room for 2 beds, same with either of the Tempests with the social caps fitted.....both options however would not be cheap!
You may get 2 beds in the Tempest 150 without the social cap but it would be tight.
Non off them are made for 2 bedchairs Frontier Xd have almost the same foodprint inside as the Tempest 150
Standard bedchair + junior bedchair is oke in the Xd/T150 but if you want 2 normal bedchairs in it go for a decent 2 man bivvy or you must go for the social cap/ canopy option but keep in mind the T1 and the Tempest have both a hobbit height door, Xd door height is 143 cm.
In the Frontier topic you can find pics from me: Frontier xd vs T150 foodprint + pics from inside the XD also with my trakker oval bed + junior bed
Standard bedchair + junior bedchair is oke in the Xd/T150 but if you want 2 normal bedchairs in it go for a decent 2 man bivvy or you must go for the social cap/ canopy option but keep in mind the T1 and the Tempest have both a hobbit height door, Xd door height is 143 cm.
In the Frontier topic you can find pics from me: Frontier xd vs T150 foodprint + pics from inside the XD also with my trakker oval bed + junior bed
In reply to Post #4
The material seems fine and hasn't absorbed water, If I was to buy again I would get the 2 man version. They are fairly compact. Although I do used the overwrap saying that.
The material seems fine and hasn't absorbed water, If I was to buy again I would get the 2 man version. They are fairly compact. Although I do used the overwrap saying that.
In reply to Post #1
HI, i have got both the titan T1 (Mk1) and a tempest advanced 100 (not the ev version but essentially the same. The Tempest is a great bivvy and mine seems well made. The material is really good but its small. Im 6'5" and although its fine for a 1 man its still low and requires a serious stoop to get in. The width is just about enough for a nash indulgence bed chair without it toughing the sides but only just. Perfect for me on shorter sessions but not enough room for another person. Plus the social cap then yes plenty of room but then the whole thing seems really long. The Titan is much bigger inside and again nice, also seems much higher and easy to get in and out, add the winter wrap and remove the doors you are likely to have enough room for 2 but a bit of a squeeze. Still smaller footprint than adding social caps etc.
HI, i have got both the titan T1 (Mk1) and a tempest advanced 100 (not the ev version but essentially the same. The Tempest is a great bivvy and mine seems well made. The material is really good but its small. Im 6'5" and although its fine for a 1 man its still low and requires a serious stoop to get in. The width is just about enough for a nash indulgence bed chair without it toughing the sides but only just. Perfect for me on shorter sessions but not enough room for another person. Plus the social cap then yes plenty of room but then the whole thing seems really long. The Titan is much bigger inside and again nice, also seems much higher and easy to get in and out, add the winter wrap and remove the doors you are likely to have enough room for 2 but a bit of a squeeze. Still smaller footprint than adding social caps etc.
In reply to Post #1
Hi Gary,
I've recently picked up a Fox Frontier XD. I wanted to buy one last year then they were sold out everywhere but I picked up a Tempest 200 instead. However when I saw that it was a bit too big for a few of my target venues I knew I had to get hold of the Frontier XD. Don't get me wrong I will be keeping the Tempest as it's a good bivvy and big enough to accommodate me, the misses, our dogs, half my street and park a couple of cars in there too!
I can tell you now having used my XD three times, it's brilliant. It's definitely NOT 2 man, but its spacious enough for me at 6-2 and some of my gear, with the rest being stowed on the barrow under a cover. Once or twice this year it was unbearably hot and the ability to zip out the windows on 4 sides was a godsend for me. Plus it's Ventec material so you know it's quality. I actually still have a 30 year old Fox Ventec one piece suit and that still keeps the water out!
I bought the Mozzie Infill door panel along with the vapour peak, and the whole thing set me back about £730 - money well spent. You can zip in the inner capsule with the XD (reducing to the size of the X) and get a wrap, but that's the lions share of £1k.
I will get the winter wrap for mine next year when I get more time out fishing.
I'd love a social cap also and hopefully Fox will bring one out. However it is a fantastic bivvy and you could
do a lot worse.
Hi Gary,
I've recently picked up a Fox Frontier XD. I wanted to buy one last year then they were sold out everywhere but I picked up a Tempest 200 instead. However when I saw that it was a bit too big for a few of my target venues I knew I had to get hold of the Frontier XD. Don't get me wrong I will be keeping the Tempest as it's a good bivvy and big enough to accommodate me, the misses, our dogs, half my street and park a couple of cars in there too!
I can tell you now having used my XD three times, it's brilliant. It's definitely NOT 2 man, but its spacious enough for me at 6-2 and some of my gear, with the rest being stowed on the barrow under a cover. Once or twice this year it was unbearably hot and the ability to zip out the windows on 4 sides was a godsend for me. Plus it's Ventec material so you know it's quality. I actually still have a 30 year old Fox Ventec one piece suit and that still keeps the water out!
I bought the Mozzie Infill door panel along with the vapour peak, and the whole thing set me back about £730 - money well spent. You can zip in the inner capsule with the XD (reducing to the size of the X) and get a wrap, but that's the lions share of £1k.
I will get the winter wrap for mine next year when I get more time out fishing.
I'd love a social cap also and hopefully Fox will bring one out. However it is a fantastic bivvy and you could
do a lot worse.
In reply to Post #11
Thanks Pete. You're gonna have to stop showing me all this top gear you've got mate, they'll be calling me RigDemon's clone if you keep it up. 🤣
The Frontier XD does look amazing value for money and I love the way that the ground sheet folds back at the doorway meaning you don't have to tread mud all into the bivvy. If they did an extension wrap or porch I think I'd probably go for it.
90% of the time I'll be going on my own or with my 16 year old lad (looking at getting him the Sonik AXS as I can get it for about £230).
The other times I'll either take my 14 year old daughter or 8 year old son and so I don't need a full on 2 man bivvy as 9 times out of 10 it will be a single nighter. If it was going to be a regular occurrence, I'd just get a 1 man and a 2 man bivvy as there are some great 2 man bivvies out there yhat aren't really an awful lot of money. However, after being married for 17 years to a very typically tight northern lass, I'm trying to find a decent 1 or 1.5 man bivvy that occasionally I can extend with a porch or extension wrap for 2 bedchairs. The extension wrap would also probably be beneficial on trips to France depending on what time of year I was going. At the moment I really like the Tempest Aquatexx EV. Trying to find them in stock anywhere at a decent price is proving difficult though as a lot of places are out of stock. I missed out on one going for £600 snd that was the 1.5 too (I should have just gone for it but hadn't done enough research at that point). I really need to get to somewhere and have a proper look at them all really.
The Frontier is coming out in full camo early part of next year but to be honest, I think I prefer the one you have with only the windows or mesh panels in camo as it really sets it off and looks very different to what else is out there on the market. 👍
Thanks Pete. You're gonna have to stop showing me all this top gear you've got mate, they'll be calling me RigDemon's clone if you keep it up. 🤣
The Frontier XD does look amazing value for money and I love the way that the ground sheet folds back at the doorway meaning you don't have to tread mud all into the bivvy. If they did an extension wrap or porch I think I'd probably go for it.
90% of the time I'll be going on my own or with my 16 year old lad (looking at getting him the Sonik AXS as I can get it for about £230).
The other times I'll either take my 14 year old daughter or 8 year old son and so I don't need a full on 2 man bivvy as 9 times out of 10 it will be a single nighter. If it was going to be a regular occurrence, I'd just get a 1 man and a 2 man bivvy as there are some great 2 man bivvies out there yhat aren't really an awful lot of money. However, after being married for 17 years to a very typically tight northern lass, I'm trying to find a decent 1 or 1.5 man bivvy that occasionally I can extend with a porch or extension wrap for 2 bedchairs. The extension wrap would also probably be beneficial on trips to France depending on what time of year I was going. At the moment I really like the Tempest Aquatexx EV. Trying to find them in stock anywhere at a decent price is proving difficult though as a lot of places are out of stock. I missed out on one going for £600 snd that was the 1.5 too (I should have just gone for it but hadn't done enough research at that point). I really need to get to somewhere and have a proper look at them all really.
The Frontier is coming out in full camo early part of next year but to be honest, I think I prefer the one you have with only the windows or mesh panels in camo as it really sets it off and looks very different to what else is out there on the market. 👍
In reply to Post #12
Gary just have a look at the door heights on the Tempests relative to the Fox Frontiers. I'm not a short a**e and personally with an occasional bad back I don't find it much fun stooping down to get in to some shelters. The XD is 165cm which I'm really thankful for.
I did have a look myself briefly at the T150 until I couldn't find any and someone put a picture up showing the groundsheet super imposed over the XD and there was practically nothing in it, and aren't you considering something smaller than the 150? I think you are right to see whatever you are considering because on paper they can be quite deceiving.
I know what you mean about the wrap, your basically looking for a 1-1.5 man that can covert to two if necessary.
Don't overlook the zippable windows on the Frontier, I couldn't believe the difference that made to comfort on a really warm day just by zipping out the mesh. With any luck they will bring out a social cap for the Frontier next year.
Good luck whichever way you go mate
Gary just have a look at the door heights on the Tempests relative to the Fox Frontiers. I'm not a short a**e and personally with an occasional bad back I don't find it much fun stooping down to get in to some shelters. The XD is 165cm which I'm really thankful for.
I did have a look myself briefly at the T150 until I couldn't find any and someone put a picture up showing the groundsheet super imposed over the XD and there was practically nothing in it, and aren't you considering something smaller than the 150? I think you are right to see whatever you are considering because on paper they can be quite deceiving.
I know what you mean about the wrap, your basically looking for a 1-1.5 man that can covert to two if necessary.
Don't overlook the zippable windows on the Frontier, I couldn't believe the difference that made to comfort on a really warm day just by zipping out the mesh. With any luck they will bring out a social cap for the Frontier next year.
Good luck whichever way you go mate
The Titan Mk 2 Camo is my third Bivvy, I really did not need another Bivvy as the other two I have do all and more than those listed however I wanted a Bivvy that was able to do most of what I had and be ultra strong (predominantly for autumn fishing near trees when the winds can pick up without warning). It goes from light weight quick erect stripped out to a roomy two man with the extreme canopy. The Material is decent and height wise it's decent even with the inner capsule. You wouldn't need the over wrap for it although it's nice to use. I did have the extreme canopy but couldn't justify £500 on something that would get used 1 or twice a year, I'll look out for a second hand one.
The other two you mentioned are decent enough bivvies.
The other two you mentioned are decent enough bivvies.
On fb is someone that get 2 bedchairs in his frontier xd with front zipped off and the the overwrap, if i find the pic i will post it later.