Sorry, another bivvy thread

[Rusty]

I’ve put this off for as long as I can but have come to accept the fact that in the near future I’m going to need….a bivvy and a bedchair. There I’ve said it.

 

I can probably pick out a bedchair without too much trouble but bivvy’s come and go so quickly I’ve lost track of what’s hot and what’s not. I don’t plan on using it regularly or far from the car so weight isn’t a problem but it must have a built in ground sheet, be spacious, double skinned, have a porch, be well ventilated and quick/easy to put up (because I am an idiot). I’m not sure what sort of budget I’d need, would £300 or so get a decent one?

 

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

[Anderoo]

Welcome to the dark side

[Phone]

Rusty,

 

Carefully researched £300 should finance an expedition to Tibet. It is only when you add the word "fishing" that "tents" 10X in price.

 

Phone

[Anderoo]

I don't know of any bivvies I can recommend that meet your requirements (I have a trakker a-lite which I like but there's no porch and it has a separate groundsheet), but I can offer some generic advice on bedchairs. I've had a cheap JRC bedchair for 10+ years and it's still going strong, albeit rather saggy these days. Recently I bought a Venture 'flatbed' bedchair which on first impressions looked good, but on only its second outing it fell to bits, meaning a night on the floor and an early return home. Plus the hassle of returning it and sorting out a refund. I've also had a JRC chair for 10+ years and that is also still in really good shape. So, I am happy to recommend JRC stuff!

[Rusty]

Thanks Anderoo, lots of choice isn't there!

 

I've been researching Nash, Trakker, Fox and JRC for a couple of hours now and the only one I've found that fits the bill is the Nash Titan Globetrotter which is at the high end of the price range unless I take a punt on an 'unwanted and unopened gift' on e-bay

[Rusty]

.......unless I take a punt on an 'unwanted and unopened gift' on e-bay

Which I've just done.

[Phone]

Rusty,

 

What's the potential savings (if I may ask).

 

Phone

[Rusty]

The cheapest retail price I've seen the 2 man globetrotter bivvy for is £422, the unwanted gift was up for £300 BIN so worth the risk I think. It's bloody huge, I might have over-egged it a bit.

[Steve Burke]

I'm in a 2 man Titan Globetrotter at this very moment! I got mine for £325 from Shelton's of Peterborough. It's now £350 there.

 

I like it very much indeed, and bought it for the same reasons as you. The only downside is when it's windy. There seems to be an art to putting the overwrap on then. Mind you that day there were gusts to 55mph!

 

Also in a headwind you seem to need to keep the rear vents closed as you need the central rear pegging point to keep the overwrap taut. It may just be a case of learning how best to use it though.

 

On the plus side it's beautifully cool in the sunshine, and you can fold the overwrap back part way for more ventilation but still get some shade.

 

It's also a lot faster to take down than a pram hood bivvy. It's very roomy with good headroom and the porch is huge. The inner capsule is totally mozzy proof.

 

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with it.

Edited May 27, 2015 by Steve Burke

[Steve Burke]

I feel guilty getting Andrew to look at a Venture bedchair. Sorry, Andrew!

 

He went for the lightweight Brolly Bed. Mine is the Wide Load 8 leg and it's certainly been as solid as a rock (5 nights so far).

 

It's totally flat (although there's a small adjustable headrest). With the headrest up I can sit up and still have my legs supported. As I'm only 5ft 9ins tall I can even curl up for a kip in the day with the headrest up and my legs not off the end. During the night though I sleep with the headrest down.

 

The mattress is pretty thick but not memory foam that can get too hot. The extra width and the flatness means this is the best bedchair I've ever had (Peggy got fed up with my buying bedchairs and passing them on!).

 

As Eric's are a tackle shop that buys these direct they cut out the middleman and so the price is good too.

 

It looks as though the Venture Brolly Bed is one to avoid but I can certainly recommend my 8 leg Wide Load if weight isn't an issue.