Hi in the market for a new bivvy and I like the look of both the aqua pioneer 150 aquatexx ev and trakker tempest 150 aquatexx ev just wondered if any one that owns one could give me any user reviews please?
In reply to Post #1
I will offer this.
I have had a pioneer for 15 years or more. Its the same as the 150 more or less. I also have the tempest 100t
I find I'm using it more than the pio despite the pio being far superior thicker material and larger.
Why. Because the Tempest is almost self erecting and I mostly fish 24 hour sessions.
IF the two you mention are the same quality/expected longevity etc personally I would go Tempest. More usable space, doesn't need storm poles. Easier to postion. So much quicker up and down. The pioneer skull cap has more cover than the Tempest skull cap but definitely makes it harder to erect. I've not noticed that with the Tempest.
The only plus of the PIO for me.is that it looks great. It hugs the landscape whereas the Tempest pops up a bit jarring to the eye. A bit pot noodle. But frankly that doesn't put me off
I will offer this.
I have had a pioneer for 15 years or more. Its the same as the 150 more or less. I also have the tempest 100t
I find I'm using it more than the pio despite the pio being far superior thicker material and larger.
Why. Because the Tempest is almost self erecting and I mostly fish 24 hour sessions.
IF the two you mention are the same quality/expected longevity etc personally I would go Tempest. More usable space, doesn't need storm poles. Easier to postion. So much quicker up and down. The pioneer skull cap has more cover than the Tempest skull cap but definitely makes it harder to erect. I've not noticed that with the Tempest.
The only plus of the PIO for me.is that it looks great. It hugs the landscape whereas the Tempest pops up a bit jarring to the eye. A bit pot noodle. But frankly that doesn't put me off
Owned both the original pioneer and currently have a tempest xl which is the same size as the 150 and the tempest wins every time for me. Much more space and a better design imo. The new aqua pioneer is not a patch on the original
Owned an original pioneer and a Tempest........like Paul says, pioneer looks great but is impractical compared to the Tempest which is the evolution of the pioneer anyway.....tempest all day long..... 
This is with an Indulgence wideboy bed. as you can see they are tight swims. a Tempest 150 will have loads of space. but no use to me on this lake.
In reply to Post #5
Is that the tempest 100t?
Is that the tempest 100t?
In reply to Post #6
it is mate.
it is mate.
In reply to Post #7
I'll have to have a look at that it looks great value for money I've seen them online for £340 for the complete bundle thanks for your help
I'll have to have a look at that it looks great value for money I've seen them online for £340 for the complete bundle thanks for your help
In reply to Post #8
I picked up the skull cap 2nd hand a year later. And made my own groundsheet from a grey tarp. Didn't want to spend much as have a few bivvies. But I'm now using it all the time.
One thing I would say is watch out for long beds. There's not much room either end
I picked up the skull cap 2nd hand a year later. And made my own groundsheet from a grey tarp. Didn't want to spend much as have a few bivvies. But I'm now using it all the time.
One thing I would say is watch out for long beds. There's not much room either end
In reply to Post #1
I'm a regular Pio 150 user and I love it . . .most of my sessions are 48hrs plus and with the size of modern bedchairs much prefer the usable space it gives me (over my Ultralite)
Cannot compare it to a Tempest as I've never owned one however I would say the Pio design has a few distinct advantages - Firstly its permanently twin skinned - I never take it off and it goes up and down easily with no issues. Second is head height and visibility - I'm tall and unless you go for the 100T nothing beats the peak height on a Pio for comfort. Third is material thickness - I dont have the EV but the original re-release the material is thick and dark which keeps out the daylight . . .some of the tempests I've seen are like rizla paper
Down sides are it is heavier and arguably has a couple more components to make it drum tight . . .however with a power barrow this is no issue and with practice it goes up pretty quick. It also def looks more carpy than any of the other bivvies out there (whatever carpy actually means) . . .its also arguably more versatile and can be used like a brolly on steroids if you really wanted to . . .
I'm a regular Pio 150 user and I love it . . .most of my sessions are 48hrs plus and with the size of modern bedchairs much prefer the usable space it gives me (over my Ultralite)
Cannot compare it to a Tempest as I've never owned one however I would say the Pio design has a few distinct advantages - Firstly its permanently twin skinned - I never take it off and it goes up and down easily with no issues. Second is head height and visibility - I'm tall and unless you go for the 100T nothing beats the peak height on a Pio for comfort. Third is material thickness - I dont have the EV but the original re-release the material is thick and dark which keeps out the daylight . . .some of the tempests I've seen are like rizla paper
Down sides are it is heavier and arguably has a couple more components to make it drum tight . . .however with a power barrow this is no issue and with practice it goes up pretty quick. It also def looks more carpy than any of the other bivvies out there (whatever carpy actually means) . . .its also arguably more versatile and can be used like a brolly on steroids if you really wanted to . . .
In reply to Post #10
I have a pioneer 150 with skull cap and a tempest xl with skull cap and wrap
Agree with a lot of comments below
While the pioneer definitely looks better and is a bit more solid and has more height and feels bigger inside personally I think it's over engineered, groundsheet weighs a ton, bivvy itself is heavy and good luck getting it back in the bag with the skullcap on, as mentioned is slower to set up due to the older design and storm poles also but it is high quality throughout and material is better oh and dpm does look class, skull cap is full length so it's a proper bivvy with it on but does add a lot of weight if compared to tempest skull cap
Tempest though for me is a much more useable shelter - it's lighter, quicker to errect, the skull cap hardly weighs anything and so you don't notice it, if you get the full wrap on then it adds a porch area to the front, obv downsides though are the green fades and your skull cap will likely be a different shade of green after a while, nuts on the block do come lose over time (happened on my air and I've seen it happen to others) and the elastics tend to snap after a while in the poles and every one at the lake has one If that sort of thing bothers you
For me it's the tempest, I've still got a v2 air with army Andy front as well and ironically that's what I tend to use 90% of the time
I'd prob sell wither my xl or 150 if I could be bothered to list them
I have a pioneer 150 with skull cap and a tempest xl with skull cap and wrap
Agree with a lot of comments below
While the pioneer definitely looks better and is a bit more solid and has more height and feels bigger inside personally I think it's over engineered, groundsheet weighs a ton, bivvy itself is heavy and good luck getting it back in the bag with the skullcap on, as mentioned is slower to set up due to the older design and storm poles also but it is high quality throughout and material is better oh and dpm does look class, skull cap is full length so it's a proper bivvy with it on but does add a lot of weight if compared to tempest skull cap
Tempest though for me is a much more useable shelter - it's lighter, quicker to errect, the skull cap hardly weighs anything and so you don't notice it, if you get the full wrap on then it adds a porch area to the front, obv downsides though are the green fades and your skull cap will likely be a different shade of green after a while, nuts on the block do come lose over time (happened on my air and I've seen it happen to others) and the elastics tend to snap after a while in the poles and every one at the lake has one If that sort of thing bothers you
For me it's the tempest, I've still got a v2 air with army Andy front as well and ironically that's what I tend to use 90% of the time
I'd prob sell wither my xl or 150 if I could be bothered to list them
I'm struggling to decide whether to get the Trakker Tempest 150 Aquatexx EV myself. I'm 6ft 4 tall so the door height is tempting now I'm over 50. I can get it through a mate for £615 so almost £200 off the RRP but at 315cm wide by 255cm deep I'm a little worried I'll be unable to get into certain swims. I'm also a little concerned that with the extra space inside, will it be any colder inside during the winter. It does look a cracking bit of kit though, and I'm not too fussed about the extra weight.
In reply to Post #11
Have you used the pioneer or the tempest without the skull cap or form of a wrap if so did you get much issues with it as a single skin. Just asking as if I do get either the tempest 150 or pioneer 150 I won't be able to afford to get any extras with it straight away.
Have you used the pioneer or the tempest without the skull cap or form of a wrap if so did you get much issues with it as a single skin. Just asking as if I do get either the tempest 150 or pioneer 150 I won't be able to afford to get any extras with it straight away.
photos of Tempest 100t and original PIO if anyones interested.
In reply to Post #13
. . .Pio 150 def fits back in its bag with the skull cap on zero issues . . .you just need to roll it up like a brolly.
You don't need to use a skull cap but like all single skins and depending on time of year they will suffer from some condensation. This is totally mitigated when the cap is on, so that's why it stays on for me . .
I picked mine up mint 2nd hand for under £500 inc skull cap - lots of people don't get on with them (hence eventually shifting them) but as I've been an Ultralite user since first release I'm familiar with the set up etc and can do it with my eyes closed. . .
. . .Pio 150 def fits back in its bag with the skull cap on zero issues . . .you just need to roll it up like a brolly.
You don't need to use a skull cap but like all single skins and depending on time of year they will suffer from some condensation. This is totally mitigated when the cap is on, so that's why it stays on for me . .
I picked mine up mint 2nd hand for under £500 inc skull cap - lots of people don't get on with them (hence eventually shifting them) but as I've been an Ultralite user since first release I'm familiar with the set up etc and can do it with my eyes closed. . .