The modern angler has a marvellous choice when it comes to bivvy buying, from simple shelters to twin-skinned domes that can be erected in a couple of minutes and which are capable of withstanding anything the weather can throw at them.
The Shelter
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It's a massive subject, but I'll try to keep it fairly simple and point you in the right direction, so you know what to look for, which type is best for you and lies within the budget you want to spend.
Bivvy Types
There are three basic types of bivvy, most of them available in two sizes, one-man or two-man. Any other type is just a variation of one of those.
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The Shelter
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The Dome
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The Twin-skinned Dome
The Shelter
At its most basic this is a glorified brolly, or maybe a brolly with a waterproof skin that is thrown over it and pegged down. It's a simple tool that's good enough for keeping out the wind and rain but offers little comfort in the way of warmth. It's the same with……
The Single-skinned Dome
Except that the dome offers better all-round protection from the wind and rain and will stand up to heavy winds much better. It usually has a door and some have a storm porch. But for all-round comfort you need…….
The Twin-skinned Dome
One man dome
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For the two skins are much better at keeping out driving wind and rain and also help to maintain the warmth and prevent much of the internal sweating and dampness that you get with a single skin.
At a Premium
Of course the extra comforts all come at a premium and it generally follows that the better the bivvy the more you will pay for it. The simple shelters start at around £30.00 and the twin-skinned domes go up to about £400.00. The price isn't all built around design and material, it also takes into account how the bivvy is…….
Erected
The easier the bivvy is to erect usually means it has fewer detachable parts and joints in the poles that snap open and closed in a jiffy.
So let's string it all together and ask ourselves a number of questions. When you've answered them all you should have a good idea of what you're looking for.
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How much do I want to spend? This is the most important question because it immediately puts many bivvies out of the equation.
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How long in one stretch do I want to spend in it? Not much point in forking out a ton of money if you only fish for short sessions.
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Will I be using it to fish in winter, maybe even overnight in winter? If so, then you need to consider a twin-skin for its extra warmth and protection.
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Will I be spending more than one night in it and therefore taking a fair amount of cooking kit and food? If the answer is yes, then consider a two-man size so that everything can be kept under cover.
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But……… will a two-man size bivvy fit into most of the swims I intend to fish? In other words, make sure it's not too big for where you want to put it.
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How important to me is its ease of putting up? If that's very important then one of the easy-erect domes is the one to go for. Such domes are usually in the upper price bracket and will be twin-skinned.
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Would I be better with a three-piece bivvy to give me versatility? A single skin for short sessions, and an add-on skin and groundsheet for those longer ones.
The large two man dome - comfortable, but will it fit in the swim?
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Other considerations are:
Will I be able to erect it on my own, or will I always need help?
Do I want a storm porch? These are excellent when fishing with the door open and the wind is driving rain towards the front of the bivvy.
Will the bivvy withstand strong winds?
Does it have a door that is not too low so that I can get out of in a hurry when the bite alarm goes off?
Do I want to stand up as much as possible in it? Maximum height of most bivvies at the centre is around 5' 6”.
Do I want my bedchair side to side (wider bivvy) or front to back (longer but narrower bivvy)?
If I choose a shelter is there a groundsheet with it, or is one available as an optional extra?
Does it have good ventilation so that there is a good exchange of stale and fresh air?
Does it have a mud flap at the door to help keep water and mud out?
Are the pegs that come with it good enough, or will I have to shell out more for decent ones?
Do I need a rear door as well as a front door?
Do I want windows in the doors?
Do I want flaps over the windows?
Do I want a mosquito mesh door?
Does it have any loops or other facility inside where I can hang a torch or lamp?
Does it have pockets where remote alarms and other bits and pieces can be stored?
How heavy is it? Can I carry it as well as my other tackle, or will I have to make two or more journeys?
Will the packed bivvy fit in my car without any problems?
When the bivvy's been used a few times will it still fit easily into the carry bag that it came in?
Does it dry easily when wet?
Do the zips, toggles, D-rings and other fittings look strong and reliable?
Can I get spare parts if I lose or break anything?
So there you have it, there should be enough information there for you to make a good choice of bivvy that will meet your exact requirements within the budget you have to spend. If there are other points or considerations I've missed then just remind me what they are and I'll add them.
kevin brooks
