As per title been out the carping World for a while just wondering what's changed and which tackle company's is there to have a look at
In reply to Post #1
Most if not all bivvies come out of two factories in China. The Nash titans I have purchased in the last ten years have not been of the quality level of the original titans.
Aqua products are no longer made in the UK , hence they have by many people's reckoning gone down hill.
On this forum a lot of people seem to recommend the tracker bivvies and now that Cyprinus are back up and running they provide decent products at a good price level.
Fox also seems to have a good name with regards to bivvies , although again these come from China.
Rods and reels would be the usual companies , Shimano , Okuma and Diawa for reels and Harrison , Century and free spirit for rods.
Most of the terminal tackle is again from China and all much of a muchness.
Jag is superb for bank sticks etc and made in the UK.
Bite Alarms I would go with the German company Carp Sounder , they are designed and manufactured in Germany and are very reliable and about the same price level as Fox , Nash etc.
Hope this helps you .
Most if not all bivvies come out of two factories in China. The Nash titans I have purchased in the last ten years have not been of the quality level of the original titans.
Aqua products are no longer made in the UK , hence they have by many people's reckoning gone down hill.
On this forum a lot of people seem to recommend the tracker bivvies and now that Cyprinus are back up and running they provide decent products at a good price level.
Fox also seems to have a good name with regards to bivvies , although again these come from China.
Rods and reels would be the usual companies , Shimano , Okuma and Diawa for reels and Harrison , Century and free spirit for rods.
Most of the terminal tackle is again from China and all much of a muchness.
Jag is superb for bank sticks etc and made in the UK.
Bite Alarms I would go with the German company Carp Sounder , they are designed and manufactured in Germany and are very reliable and about the same price level as Fox , Nash etc.
Hope this helps you .
I think most people would probably reccomend Trakker these days, more than likely on the back of the Tempest which is a bit of a rip off design and made in China.
I had a Trakker MK1 Armo with a super extended winter wrap and loved it. It got a lot of hammer with the bivvy being used on overnighters on a lake with a cinder path - not the best of surfaces. It lasted for ages and was still a going concern when I eventually sold it.
I bought a Trakker V3 Armo some years later when they first came out and the difference was quite obvious. The bars were made out of monkey metal, the stitching wasn't too good and bit by bit the sewn on Velcro bits ( window flaps, rod straps etc) started to pull off. The fabric then started fading in weird pattern and despite reproofing didn't bead off water and remained ‘flat'
So Trakker aren't what they used to be unfortunately.
My go to bivvy now is my old faithful Aqua Union Jack M3 (UK made), 15 years old and still outperforming newer bivvies. I don't mind if it takes a whole minute extra to set up compared to a fan out style bivvy. Life is short but not that short!
I had a Trakker MK1 Armo with a super extended winter wrap and loved it. It got a lot of hammer with the bivvy being used on overnighters on a lake with a cinder path - not the best of surfaces. It lasted for ages and was still a going concern when I eventually sold it.
I bought a Trakker V3 Armo some years later when they first came out and the difference was quite obvious. The bars were made out of monkey metal, the stitching wasn't too good and bit by bit the sewn on Velcro bits ( window flaps, rod straps etc) started to pull off. The fabric then started fading in weird pattern and despite reproofing didn't bead off water and remained ‘flat'
So Trakker aren't what they used to be unfortunately.
My go to bivvy now is my old faithful Aqua Union Jack M3 (UK made), 15 years old and still outperforming newer bivvies. I don't mind if it takes a whole minute extra to set up compared to a fan out style bivvy. Life is short but not that short!
I guess trakker is seen as the market leader now though they have been trying to diversify as selling expensive bivvys ties up a lot of cash.
Sadly as carp fishing became more popular in the 90s it was just too expensive to make them in the UK (doubling production meant the same for your material costs & staff or worse)
They are just designed here now
If China can make iPhones and other high end products out there why would anyone do so in the UK it does not make good business sense.when it's fishing stuff in the main.
Sadly as carp fishing became more popular in the 90s it was just too expensive to make them in the UK (doubling production meant the same for your material costs & staff or worse)
They are just designed here now
If China can make iPhones and other high end products out there why would anyone do so in the UK it does not make good business sense.when it's fishing stuff in the main.
it won't be long and trakker.will be pricing themselves out of sales imo, I have the v2 tempest brolly, I looked at upgrading and seen the price of the rs brolly, not a chance am I paying what they want
Just look at their accounts on companies house only 2022/23 available
24 not out yet but they are finding it tough
24 not out yet but they are finding it tough
From what I have seen so far, the Trakker bivvy's are worse than the Fox Frontiers and yes that includes the RS range.
I am still satisfied with my Trakker V3 plus but I have already had to have it repaired 3 times on the canvas and will have to be repaired for a 4th time by the end of this year
Reels: I'm so glad I finally sold my Shimano's 14,000 XTE after 2 years and now have the Daiwa 23 emblems
I am still satisfied with my Trakker V3 plus but I have already had to have it repaired 3 times on the canvas and will have to be repaired for a 4th time by the end of this year
Reels: I'm so glad I finally sold my Shimano's 14,000 XTE after 2 years and now have the Daiwa 23 emblems
In reply to Post #1
Nothing compares with quality of a Karsten. Made in Holland NOT China. Heavy and pricey but different level in quality to any of the norm carp company offerings.
Besides my Karsten I've also got Chub, JRC and Carp Spirit bivvies/brollies. The Carp Spirit is better than anything I've seen from Trakker, Nash, Fox etc quality wise. My mate has just got the Prologic Inspire SLR system bivvy and is very impressed with it. I'd say that is better than the usual suspects from Trakker, Nash and Fox too.
Nothing compares with quality of a Karsten. Made in Holland NOT China. Heavy and pricey but different level in quality to any of the norm carp company offerings.
Besides my Karsten I've also got Chub, JRC and Carp Spirit bivvies/brollies. The Carp Spirit is better than anything I've seen from Trakker, Nash, Fox etc quality wise. My mate has just got the Prologic Inspire SLR system bivvy and is very impressed with it. I'd say that is better than the usual suspects from Trakker, Nash and Fox too.
I'm amazed that no one has started a company making bivvies in the UK, just like Aqua did originally. Lower numbers, but higher quality, there must be a market even at a higher price point than the Chinese made offerings?
In reply to Post #1
Have a look at Solar I have had the bankmaster quick up for a few years and its not missed a beat. I have not long purchased there new beadchair and you can tell its well made so I would have thought all their products would be the same
Have a look at Solar I have had the bankmaster quick up for a few years and its not missed a beat. I have not long purchased there new beadchair and you can tell its well made so I would have thought all their products would be the same
In reply to Post #9
I've asked Julie (Original Aqua) no money in it apparently unless charging ridiculous money
I've asked Julie (Original Aqua) no money in it apparently unless charging ridiculous money
Problem is compared to the rest of Europe not enough folk like spending time under canvas so it's never going to happen. Look at holland folk love camping same as the Nordic sand look at France, Italy and Germany
You would need one of the European manufacturers to participate but when you look at the established competition the market price (we all moan about the cost of x and y it's just not going to happen.
You would need one of the European manufacturers to participate but when you look at the established competition the market price (we all moan about the cost of x and y it's just not going to happen.
In reply to Post #12
Anyone use the new quest one ??
Anyone use the new quest one ??
In reply to Post #2
Sounder alarms still about I remember hearing the stories about them being supper small but needed a sounder box back in the 90s
Sounder alarms still about I remember hearing the stories about them being supper small but needed a sounder box back in the 90s
I have been very impressed with the new Solar gear that they are producing now. I have their bivvy, bed chair, rod pod and some of their luggage. All quality kit that will stand the test of time. In fact I am currently in the process of changing most of my luggage over to solar. In terms of bait it would have to be sticky baits and terminal tackle from ESP or Gardner.