View Full Version : BIVVIES
I am after a bivvie for fishing up to 4 days at a time. I really fancy the Nash Titan High Top.
Can anyone tell me the truth about it and for any other bivvy for that matter as who can trust the adverts?!
My other want is the Fox 5 rib......both of these bivvies are dead expensive for me.....that's my taste!
Who can recommend what bivvy and why?
PS Any second hand ones going?!
Cheers for any info....
Smarts
I Generally use an Oval Brolly with mini sides for all summer and autumn fishing, even for longer sessions.
For winter fishing, for years I have been using the good old, and I mean old, Nash 50" Canvas, very warm but a bit limited for space.
I have decided the old Nash Oval has had it so I have also been looking for a new bivvy to replace this but have only heard nightmare stores about the Titan, bad leaks and even worse condensation.
I have decided to go with the new Aqua Products Armadillo with extended winter skin, it is quite expensive but my girlfriend is buying it for me for Christams so I have had a right RESULT.
Cheers for the answers!
I'm gutted to hear about the Titan....it's such a pose!
Where would I find details of the Armadillo and the cost?
Thanks again,
Smarts
it seems that nash and fox have got very good bivvies in the titan and evolution, but where they fall short is by not telling you that the basic package doesn't give year round performance without additional items in the range. you can get away with some things in the summer, but winter weather highlights all their potential pitfuls.
the evolution costs c.£275 *without* a ground sheet, but to get the winter benefits you must have the winter skin.
as the owner of an titan, i know about it's nighmare reputation with condensation. in the summer there are no problems, but come winter it is like taking a shower! by all accounts the viper has eliminated a large part of this problem, but regardless of the material used, if it only has one skin there will be condensation. so a winter skin/extreme canopy is a must.
i have had trouble with the internal seams coming off exposing the stitching (not very waterproof), but i have been assured by gary bayes that nash have now developed a new seaming process which doesn't allow this to happen. i cannot see how it can be 100% effective given the conditions the bivvy is used and stored, but i cannot prove otherwise.
however, given all of this, i would go with a titan every time - they suit my fishing. i can put it up quickly, take it down quickly, cram it into tight spaces, spread it out for comfort - it really is the most versatile bivvy i have used (and there are no poles!). the evolution is tipped as its successor, but i am yet to be convinced...!
versatility though, it would seem, comes with a high price...
Thanks for your helpful reply.
Certainly some points worth knowing there.It looks like more like £400 odd quid for a ''winter' titan........doh!
Smarts
No No No, any assurances made by nash aren't worth anything, new seaming process my backside.
Nash is having all his kit made in europe to keep the cost down thus increasing his profit margin. Trouble is(where the titans are concerned) it's at the cost of the angler due to a lack of quality.
I cannot see the point of spending £400.00 on something that may be fine in summer but either leaks or showers you with condesation in the winter?
Have a look in the latest carpworld page 112, the Aqua products armadillo, no hidden extras everything included for about £400 and its waterproof.
Anyway, what do I know?
Mikefromsunbury
16-11-2000, 11:35
Come on all you girls whats all this talk of tents when all you need is an oval brolly with mini sides and a good sleeping bag,after all how you going to watch for these leaping chunks if your all tucked up in a tent.Ps what are you men or mice.pps cheese anyone................
Thanks for the reply.
I keep on looking at this one!.....It looks like good value for the money.It's also available with a winter skin for a bargin price.Is it easy to set up and down?
I'm going to the carp show at Sandown,so hopefully I'll get to play with a few.
PS This is the Cypry dome I'm talking about!
Cheers,
Smarts<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Smarts on 16/11/00 12:14 PM.</FONT></P>
No offence Crispy!
I didn't mean I'm gonna pay £400 for one!
Too much money for something that's not perfect.For that sort of money I expect good stuff!
The answers to my question have all proved very useful and now I'm not keen on the Titan at all!
I'll look for the Armadillo...........thanks for the advice.
Smarts
Mike from Sunbury
I do agree with you, I use an oval wirth mini sides in the summer & Autumn and have used the old Nashy Canvas 50" BIVVY for years but it's just a bit too small, I think the Armadillo and Titan are the most bivvy looking, the Armadillo gets my vote on construction, if you read my first post you'll see my girlfriend is buying me one for christmas so for me its a right old bargain.
Down with Domes!
That'll get em going.
Is "Aqua Products" the company "Aqua Vista"?
I have found them on the web....but the only shelter shown is an overwrap.Mind,the camo. one looks good.
Cheers!
Smarts
Aqua vista is not the same.
Aqua products can be contacted on
01270 629999
They do a brochure if you ask nicely.
Hope that helps.
A BIG THANKS to everybody who helped me out with my question,it's been a big help.
Choices,choices.
With my budget it'll probably be the Cypry or the Hutchinson as it's good value now.,(his stuff is great quality).
What's the betting that I end up with a FOX easy dome!!
I'll be looking at the Bivvy Hospital at the show at Sandown.
Cheers all!
Smarts
Mike,
I agree with you totally, Theres nothing like being under a brolley I've been doing it for years now all year round, all that space to keep your eye on the water, My suggestions is a profile, however my seams started leaking, until I put vaseline on them now it is totally waterproof.
Brollies all round
yea profiles are sweet however i was there when bovis's leaked,you could have held swimming lessons in it,i was tempted to drop a bait in there.
Mikefromsunbury
21-11-2000, 13:36
Iv not used vaseline,well not for water proofing me brolly anyway but i tell ya what works well is boiled linseed oil.you can get it from the diy shop and you just brush it on with a paint brush,its cheap and it works well.
DarrenWilson
02-12-2000, 19:42
Why is everyone slating the Titan's or Vipers??? All I seem to read is negative posts regarding them.
I own one myself and can guarentee you that I have not had any bad condensation problems ( well none worse than a Hutchy Apotheosis ) in any conditions whilst using it as a single skin shelter, and no, the one I have is not breathable either. Fair enough, I have had a spiot break twice, but I have had replacement parts sent to me within 2 days of contacting Nash which solved the problem.
Most of the people who slate Vipers or Titans have probably never owned one or even used one (or don't want to spend the money on one). I have had Hutchy domes, Fox bivvies, basically nearly every manufacturers bivvy going at one point in time or another, and I will say that I would not change back from the Viper to anything else, PERIOD.
So what if you 'have' to spend £xxx on a winter skin or extreme canopy, no different to a Fox Evolution!!!! And I know which one I would rather be in in a strong wind, and it isn't the Fox!
If the Viper or Titan's were no good then they wouldn't be the mopst popular angling shelter ever, would they?
As for Powerplus bivvies, I know people who have these shelters and when they have gone wrong they cannot get in contact with Powerplus, and when they finally do get in contact, they are told that it is down to not being erected properly and the replacement part will be £xx.
I am not saying that the other bivvies are useless, just pointing out the other side of things. Oh and NO I am not sponsored or working for Nashy. Just needed to make a point.
Darren Wilson
Co-Webmaster
The Carpers Lodge
darren@carperslodge.net
The Carperslodge (http://www.carperslodge.net)
Hallo all, regarding bivvy waterproofing on another site someone (forgotten your name mate , sorry) mentioned that Thompsons water seal was just as effective if not identical to 'Slippery Eel'.On another track I have come across a water , fishing strictly forbidden but appears to contain carp. I say appears as I have not actually seen anything more than than the chevrons made by a sizeable fish as it swam sub-surface close to the bank.The area is a nature site and v. popular with bird watchers and walkers. No doubt they would frown (or worse) upon anglers so a low profile is essential.Much of the bankside is inaccessible and large parts of the water hidden behind bankside trees and shrubs..a shrubbery!!!,Sloping concrete banks lead to the waters edge and the whole thing is set in a bowl.Thousands of birds naturally, I counted 27 cormarents for starters.Virgin territory I reckons anyone able to advise me of some strategy I could apply or is this taking the mick.Obviously I am unable to say just where it is but if you want to help I will share more details.These ARE English fish . Best fishing to one and all and a Happy New Year
Sorry Ian, this is R.M.C. I know but I have joined lake 1 already. Talking of which, when are the Spring permits avilable.Finally this is a top site chap well done to your team.
Smarts what about a classic easy dome?
I bought one this spring, you can get them for around 130 squid and I would say they are an exellent bivvy.
It takes me seconds to assemble it, its very easy to take down and pack away and is relatively light.
With most domes you have to thread all the poles through etc but with this you just unfold them and click them in place and you are done.
Its just as good as the 5 rib but smaller and cheaper!
People say domes arent strong enough but mine has easily coped with some very strong winds , they may not be as strong as a titan but it will cope with any weather in this country. It comes with a sown in groundsheet and has twin skin to reduce condensation.
Pukka!
Rivercarper
07-01-2001, 13:04
Nobody seems to have mentioned the Aqua Oval.From what I have seen of them they are the best built brolly on the market and remain stable in the higest of winds.I'm saving my money for one of these.
Hiya mate. One of the best bivvies out at the mo is the amadillo from aqua products. Its a great bivvy and can be erected in minutes. Price is £240 for the bivvy and an extra £100 for the winter skin. Also check ou the exelent power plus bivvies these really are the [censored word] and are also avaible in camo.
The amadillo can also be turnes into a brolly for those summer nights as well. realy is a good buy. No condensation which you get with those titans.
I cannot believe someone will pay that sort of money for a bivvy, what a rip off, I could get a 10 man tent for that.
Tony
Yeh - but who wants to share a tent with ten men???
Cheers
Boz
CarponlineEditor
08-02-2001, 23:44
Sob, I cant even afford a new umbrella lol
Andy
Well.............I'm such a hypocrite at times!
I said on these posts earlier that I was put off a Viper etc......all lies! I think I was just trying to do the sensible thing and hold onto my money!
I was lucky in that I got a second hand 'new' Titan Viper with groundsheet,mossie and plastic doors and a brand new winter skin for a very reasonable £280.......the kind of price that most quality bivvies start at!...in all the whole package was worth around £550!
Anyway....I'm glad I didn't heed the moans too much as it's the mutt's nuts.
Cheers for all the input guys,
Smarts
....you'll all be crying when that sealing tape comes off your Titans again....
it took me a year to ask as many people as i could who owned a titan to part with my cash because of the stories i had heard about their spreadder blocks exploding ,leaks ,especially where the spreadder block meets the material when folding down but i can honestly say that its the best 330 pounds i have ever spent . its like any thing,look after it and it will look after you.it takes five mins to put up and five to take down(same principle as brollie).i know i wont be needing a home from home for the next 5 years. ps the extreme cannopy is wicked to
jimrawcliffe
09-02-2001, 19:57
Hey guys I need someone to shout about how good our Babylons and Valhallas are!!!! Ian won't let me advertise!!!!!
JIm
Jim im gonna get one of you Babylons o think they look the cats flaps.
jimrawcliffe
10-02-2001, 10:27
Very good point Ian and I must admit that's what I was inviting people to do if they had a Valhalla or a Babylon. I'll have to ring some of the customers instead.
jimrawcliffe
10-02-2001, 10:46
Hi there "Tails Up c'mon" are we related !!!!!!!!!!?
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