Mk4...........I do wonder what upgrades it willl have over the mk3.......A good start would be 5000HH material rather than heavyweight 20000hh Aquatex or similar...... 
In reply to Post #15
My first Aqua bivvy was a 1 man Aqua Dome and was bought from Chris's house as he was just starting. Still have it in the attic - last outing was with my son to Glastonbury 😂
All my other gear (as per my earlier post) was bought from Stapely Water Gardens mainly. Only recently I picked up on here, a Union Jack super extended wrap and extended wrap for my M3 and MK2 Dillo, my existing ones to be kept as spares or for repairs.
I get it that time has moved on but most of the early luggage is still better than most modern stuff, unhooking mats are still snapped up for high prices, although the slings are now dated. I had a very early Blue Label Bedchair bag which I sold on as it no longer fits the more modern bedchairs as they are too big, even the compact ones
which shows how much things have changed.
My M3 and MK2 Dillo aren't cutting edge but suit me fine. I can put them up quick enough for me and I'm not bothered about spending hundreds of quids to shave off a minute setting up. I fish a few days at a time so they suit me fine and are still 100% waterproof. The M3 is very versatile
My first Aqua bivvy was a 1 man Aqua Dome and was bought from Chris's house as he was just starting. Still have it in the attic - last outing was with my son to Glastonbury 😂
All my other gear (as per my earlier post) was bought from Stapely Water Gardens mainly. Only recently I picked up on here, a Union Jack super extended wrap and extended wrap for my M3 and MK2 Dillo, my existing ones to be kept as spares or for repairs.
I get it that time has moved on but most of the early luggage is still better than most modern stuff, unhooking mats are still snapped up for high prices, although the slings are now dated. I had a very early Blue Label Bedchair bag which I sold on as it no longer fits the more modern bedchairs as they are too big, even the compact ones
which shows how much things have changed.My M3 and MK2 Dillo aren't cutting edge but suit me fine. I can put them up quick enough for me and I'm not bothered about spending hundreds of quids to shave off a minute setting up. I fish a few days at a time so they suit me fine and are still 100% waterproof. The M3 is very versatile
In reply to Post #17
Did Aqua ever sell a 1.5man Mk1, my mate is selling one but I thought it was 1 or 2 man?
Did Aqua ever sell a 1.5man Mk1, my mate is selling one but I thought it was 1 or 2 man?
Shame if true. The pramhood is still the best ever bivvy design imo
In reply to Post #19
@ braders1978
posted QUOTE
Not closing down at all,getting rid of current range and doing big product release towards end of the year
@ braders1978
posted QUOTE
Not closing down at all,getting rid of current range and doing big product release towards end of the year
I remember talking to Chris on the phone about the aqua dome,having seen one locally..
Anyway ,he asked for my address ,and sent me some photos and diagrams of this new bivvy he had designed ,this was the Evo..that was years ago,years..!
Anyway ,after Chris moved to Devon and started his fish farm,I bought some cracking fish from him which he delivered..During the ensuring conversation ,he asked which bivvy I thought better ,pramhood or tempest ,I said pramhood as I like the simplicity and strength of them ..
Then I mentioned,do you still wait for them to come to you ,heavy baiting ..he looked shocked, and then twigged I was the guy on the phone all those years ago..
A nice little true tale...or tail....!
Real nice bloke...
Anyway ,he asked for my address ,and sent me some photos and diagrams of this new bivvy he had designed ,this was the Evo..that was years ago,years..!
Anyway ,after Chris moved to Devon and started his fish farm,I bought some cracking fish from him which he delivered..During the ensuring conversation ,he asked which bivvy I thought better ,pramhood or tempest ,I said pramhood as I like the simplicity and strength of them ..
Then I mentioned,do you still wait for them to come to you ,heavy baiting ..he looked shocked, and then twigged I was the guy on the phone all those years ago..
A nice little true tale...or tail....!
Real nice bloke...
In reply to Post #10
I agree..... got to say ive had a both the pioneer ultralight and then for the past decade at least the tempest bivvys and all have been superb bits of kit that i have only had to replace the odd pole on. For me none of their other competitors come near to the tempests despite looking similar. The only downside is the last 2 models are expensive but in the end 3 days a week on the bank in all seasons staying dry and comfortable wins the day everytime despite the ridiculous price tag.
I agree..... got to say ive had a both the pioneer ultralight and then for the past decade at least the tempest bivvys and all have been superb bits of kit that i have only had to replace the odd pole on. For me none of their other competitors come near to the tempests despite looking similar. The only downside is the last 2 models are expensive but in the end 3 days a week on the bank in all seasons staying dry and comfortable wins the day everytime despite the ridiculous price tag.
In reply to Post #17
Stapely, queuing in the Carpark for the winter sale, those were the days and that was a great shop. I used to bribe the Mrs with the cafe at the Garden Centre
Nick went over to what is, or was, Fishing Republic near Lakemoor is it.
I couldn't afford the Pioneer stuff back then but I'm with you on not needing to replace quality gear, though I do look longingly at those 4 side vented Tempest for eg, and then remember how my original frontier gets so hot in France in summer.
Stapely, queuing in the Carpark for the winter sale, those were the days and that was a great shop. I used to bribe the Mrs with the cafe at the Garden Centre
Nick went over to what is, or was, Fishing Republic near Lakemoor is it.
I couldn't afford the Pioneer stuff back then but I'm with you on not needing to replace quality gear, though I do look longingly at those 4 side vented Tempest for eg, and then remember how my original frontier gets so hot in France in summer.
In reply to Post #23
Boxing day sale was the one,they had some crazy prices on selected items.Nick was brilliant and his wife.Its such a shame it closed down
Boxing day sale was the one,they had some crazy prices on selected items.Nick was brilliant and his wife.Its such a shame it closed down
God I was a kid when stapley was open... Well I'm 39.
My dad and grandad used to take us there and it was such a special place to me-looking at all the carp gear and bait and not having a clue what it was.
It's a shame places like that ain't still going... And I never knew aqua was based there.
My dad and grandad used to take us there and it was such a special place to me-looking at all the carp gear and bait and not having a clue what it was.
It's a shame places like that ain't still going... And I never knew aqua was based there.
In reply to Post #24
Thats the 1 T, Nick was great, always willing to do a brew and chew the fat. For some reason I almost bought a set of those huge white Shimanos, were they biomasters, anyway, by the time I'd convinced the Mrs they'd been sold....I'll always remember that :-( (maybe a good thing)...lol
@Phil, I dont think you had to be a kid to feel like you were and in a sweetie shop Like you I wish there was a shop like it now, they really had everything you could want. The fly section was something else I didn't even fly fish but it had me captivated.
Thats the 1 T, Nick was great, always willing to do a brew and chew the fat. For some reason I almost bought a set of those huge white Shimanos, were they biomasters, anyway, by the time I'd convinced the Mrs they'd been sold....I'll always remember that :-( (maybe a good thing)...lol
@Phil, I dont think you had to be a kid to feel like you were and in a sweetie shop
Like you I wish there was a shop like it now, they really had everything you could want. The fly section was something else I didn't even fly fish but it had me captivated.
In reply to Post #26
That's true...
Growing up my grandad was a water keeper for Lymm ac so we spent our summers on the lakes... Making dens and helping to cut grass and such. And try and spot the huge carp.
Between that and stapeley being down the road I think the two places and the memories I hold so dearly
That's true...
Growing up my grandad was a water keeper for Lymm ac so we spent our summers on the lakes... Making dens and helping to cut grass and such. And try and spot the huge carp.
Between that and stapeley being down the road I think the two places and the memories I hold so dearly
In reply to Post #26
That's true...
Growing up my grandad was a water keeper for Lymm ac so we spent our summers on the lakes... Making dens and helping to cut grass and such. And try and spot the huge carp.
Between that and stapeley being down the road I think the two places and the memories I hold so dearly
That's true...
Growing up my grandad was a water keeper for Lymm ac so we spent our summers on the lakes... Making dens and helping to cut grass and such. And try and spot the huge carp.
Between that and stapeley being down the road I think the two places and the memories I hold so dearly
In reply to Post #26
That's true...
Growing up my grandad was a water keeper for Lymm ac so we spent our summers on the lakes... Making dens and helping to cut grass and such. And try and spot the huge carp.
Between that and stapeley being down the road I think the two places and the memories I hold so dearly
That's true...
Growing up my grandad was a water keeper for Lymm ac so we spent our summers on the lakes... Making dens and helping to cut grass and such. And try and spot the huge carp.
Between that and stapeley being down the road I think the two places and the memories I hold so dearly
What a top childhood 
Very very long shot, with you saying grandad, was it Jeff/Geoff by any chance? Reason I ask is there was a water keeper of LAC, I used to mostly meet him on Belmont after LAC got it, sometimes shot gun over shoulder, always with a pipe iirc. He didn't like modern angling but we got on quite well, probably long gone now.
Showing my age now...lol
Very very long shot, with you saying grandad, was it Jeff/Geoff by any chance? Reason I ask is there was a water keeper of LAC, I used to mostly meet him on Belmont after LAC got it, sometimes shot gun over shoulder, always with a pipe iirc. He didn't like modern angling but we got on quite well, probably long gone now.Showing my age now...lol