Review - TF Gear Lok Down Bivvy

Regular contributor, Samantha Collins-Ratcliffe, reviews the TF Gear Lok Down Bivvy and shows how easy it is to erect.

I’ve been using the Lok down for 6 months now and I’m more than satisfied with it. You can set it up in less than 5 minutes ready for a 24 hour session or spend a few more minutes and put the second skin in for longer sessions. The Lok Down has been built to a very high standard without any compromise, making it big enough to take all your kit and still have loads of room to spare.  

The Lok Down comes in a large carryall, which may seem obvious to most, but how many times have we struggled with fitting other bivvies into a bag that seems smaller than the bivvy that came out of it.

The groundsheet goes down first and initially struck me with how thick and strong it is. I am confident to put the bivvy up on rough ground without worrying about tearing it. I also found it to be quick drying whenever it got wet in the lovely British weather we choose to fish in.

I loved having all the support bars that come with the Lok Down they are adjustable and clip to the frame with ease. I had real confidence in the sturdiness of the bivvy right from the first time I put it up.

All pegs are screw threads which will go in to most hard grounds; here the peg goes into the groundsheet and the bivvy ring.

The Lok down doesn’t just look the part beside a lake but also provides great shelter from whatever the weather can throw at us. It is as solid and sturdy as any carp angler could hope for.

This is the first skin which can be used for any session, the Lok down has a clever second skin, most bivvy’s on the market have second skins that go on the outside but the Lok down’s goes inside the first skin. 

I must admit the first time I put the bivvy up I was a little unsure as to how the inner skin was going to take shape but after a moment or two later of clipping it to the rings it soon became apparent to me what a clever idea it was. I’m constantly taking it out and putting it back in depending on the weather and the length of my session. I’m glad it is made of a breathable material that as of yet hasn’t shown any condensation even on the dampest of days.

All set up ready for a week’s session, I would seriously recommend this bivvy to any carper who wants the best at a price that won’t break the bank.