But if you’re racing, then pace tends to take precedence. In a short race (only one or two nights), it’s easier to rough it and sacrifice a good night's sleep in favour of better running performance. But for long, expedition style races or Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempts, the situation is more complex, with the aim of the game being to maximise performance over a prolonged period and changing circumstances. In this situation, you'll need to consider the following: will you be able to cope with prolonged sleep deprivation? Will you be able to dry out your kit? What is the terrain on the course ? What is the climate and season? Yep, it sure is strange: the thing is called bivouac tent, but it is neither a bivvy bag nor a tent. But the name works, anyway, because it’s a pretty good hybrid between the two. Even though the solution for closing the gap between the two is rather obvious in retrospect, the outdoor industry took their precious time before becoming active in this area. Surprisingly, bivouac tents have only been on the market for about ten years now, and the selection has remained relatively small to this day. So, despite the outdoor boom, bivouac tents are still a niche product. We have a few upgrades that can make a simple carp bivvy such as a groundsheet to keep your fishing gear off the damp terrain or a skullcap to extra layer of protection and heat retention over the top of your bivvy. In our bivvy accessory selection, you will also find a range of bivvy mats to wipe your fishing boots, bivvy tables for making rigs on, bivvy fans, heaters and bivvy repair kits. A bivvy, even hooped will be more inconspicuous but will ultimately offer worse protection and comfort in poor weather condition.

When it comes to shelters, the bivvy is by far the most popular choice for many anglers. They are solid, comfortable and offer maximum protection against the elements when set up correctly. If you are on limited time, however, a more traditional fishing umbrella-style shelter may be preferable. The bivvy bag market isn't as extensive as tents, largely due to them being reasonably niche. There are, however, still a solid range of dependable options. The best bivvy bags at a glance: When it comes to finding a bivvy for your angling, it can be a daunting prospect, with so many available from so many different manufacturers, it's difficult to know where to start. Is it just you fishing, or will family members/friends be joining you in the shelter? How much gear do you take, and how long do your sessions last on average? Do you fish in the colder months? All these things can dictate which shelter will be the best for you. Best fishing bivvy at a glance If you fish a lot during the colder months, it is well worth spending more on a bivvy that has superior waterproof material and is renowned for its strength. A bivvy that has the option of an overwrap is essential to prevent condensation and keeps you much warmer too. All these things will make fishing far more pleasant during the miserable months.For anglers who may be heading out carp fishing for long periods of time, a bivvy or shelter is an essential item of kit. Whilst we all might like the idea of roughing it under the stars when night fishing for carp, there's something also quite nice about setting up your own bankside home. While there are some impressively light and compact hiking tents around today (some one-person tents weigh in at around one kilogram), you can do even better with a bivvy bag.

These Bivvies are perfect for 365 day use and come with all the attributes you need to fish in the different months comfortably. They suit different types of angling from day sessions with the front zip off to the longer sessions where you need more space. Bedchair: Foam mattress attached to a metal frame that is raised off the ground via legs. Provides somewhere to sleep when outdoors. Low weight and a compact shape are the most important factors for runners, since a bulky or heavy bag makes running feel awkward and also more strenuous. Is a bivvy better than a tent? Fox has been producing outstanding carp products for almost 50 years and its range of bivvies and shelters more than lives up to its exceptional heritage. Including its world famous SupaBrolly, Fox has produced shelters and bivvies for all angling occasions. So, whether you’re a casual carper who requires lightweight shelter for windy and rainy days or you’re an avid angler who needs your shelter to withstand the harshest conditions imaginable, Fox has a bivvy or shelter for you.Maximising internal storage is a must, especially for carp anglers with lots of gear, so some bivvy accessories are designed to keep your bivvy organised such as rig stations, cooking stations, bedside pop-up cabinets or other organisers that can be attached to the interior of your bivvy or shelter. It tends to be a rule of thumb with camping gear that the smaller and lighter you go the more expensive things become. Alpkit have been trying to break the mould of this perception by offering high quality gear at a much more accessible price. The height of a bivvy can make your night stay on the bank more comfortable. The standard height for bivvies on the market is 125cm which for most people takes a bit of bending to get in and out. For those less able in movement I would suggest a higher bivvy, this just makes for easier entrance and exit from those long nights on the bank. Overwrap / Skin

Groundsheet: A waterproof sheet of plastic or other durable material spread on the ground under a bedchair or in a tent for protection against moisture and mud. Ribs: Long metal poles, generally with plastic fittings, that are used to brace a shelter and give it its structural strength and shape.

£18.50

Alpkit is a British company, with a slogan ‘Go Nice Places Do Good Things’, and their product holds true to this. They’re about facilitating you to get out and do nice things. With a focus on quality (they market themselves as premium) at accessible prices they have really shaken up the market and their reputation holds true with their products being incredible value for money.