Bivvies, Shelters & Brollies

A few years ago Aqua, the top bivvy and shelter manufacturer, launched its Aqua Brolly System, a 55in umbrella system that offered anglers a more compact alternative to the usual 60in versions.

This brolly serviced the mobile-angler market, as well as those who appreciated the ease of use and versatility of a brolly, but who didn’t want the bulk of the bigger models.
It seemed the perfect scenario. However, the brolly only came as a ‘system’, complete with infill panels and groundsheet, and this almost contradicted the original needs of the intended market.

It wasn’t too long before Aqua, following such feedback from its loyal customer base, realised the error, reacted, and launched a new version of the same umbrella body but without the trimmings. A stripped-back brolly if you like.

The result is a brilliant, compact model that suits the needs of the brolly angler perfectly. It’s light – very light – and fits into a quiver system easily, even the more compact versions. What’s more, as the name suggests, it’s extremely fast to erect and take down again – another absolute must for a brolly.

The material adorning the Fast & Light is Aqua’s impressive Aquatexx that’s about as waterproof as a shelter material can be. It’s also breathable, although this is less of a requirement in an open-fronted shelter.

The original brolly’s unique feature, a 9th rib at the front of the body, offers useful extra coverage. It’s not until you use one of these in the wet that you appreciate how much difference this can make.

Our editor, Marc Coulson, used the body of the former Aqua Brolly when fishing several sessions on a 90-acre windswept Cambridgeshire pit, and he says it stood up to some pretty horrendous conditions, so there’s no fear over this one’s durability.

If you’re a true brolly angler who wants ease of use, reliability and no excessive size or additional fronts, doors and groundsheet, then the Aqua Fast & Light will be right up your street.

WE LIKED
Compact size, ease of use

WE DIDN’T LIKE
Not for the ‘Wide Boy’ bedchair users

Aqua Products Fast & Light Brolly
Website: www.aquaproducts.co.uk