Cyprinus 2-Man Base Bivvy
We’re still reeling about the fact that you can get a TWO-MAN bivvy, WITH OVERWRAP, for just £189.99! So, you can certainly afford it, but do you want it?
The big questions
1. So, you want extra space, for that French trip, or to take the kids with you?
There’s no need to break the bank if you’ve decided you need more space. In fact, you don’t even need to flog your current shelter to raise the funds for your upgrade if you go with the Cyprinius Base Bivvy. There’s ample room for two bedchairs (yep, even the wide ones!) and the associated kit for a long session abroad, or weekend with the family. The Base 2 Man is a massive three-metres wide, and 2.5m deep, so even if it rains all weekend, you’ll have that crucial space to stop you treading on each other’s toes.
2. Just because it’s big, doesn’t make it tough to handle…
The pram-hood design has long since cemented its place in the tackle design hall of fame and, thanks to Chris Manifold, we’ve got a system that’s absolutely rock solid, and easy to set-up. The Base 2 Man can be thrown up quickly, and then it’s just a case of throwing the overwrap over the top and pegging it down. Frame support bars help to keep everything taut so that water beads off effortlessly.
The Base Bivvy also includes an overwrap3. There are loads of pram-hood bivvies out there, right? So why buy this one?
Okay, so it’s nearly all about the price. Technically, it’s more than capable, but the thing that really makes the Base stand out is down to the fact that you’ll walk away with a couple of hundred quid in your pocket when you compare it to other pram-hood bivvies on the market. A quick Google will reveal that you can now spend up to an eye-watering £700 on a pram-hood bivvy, which put the £189.99 price tag into context nicely, doesn’t it?
4. The tech measures up
So most manufacturers now have access to similar materials, and Cyprinus is no different. As a result, the Base 2 Man is made from decent, 10,000mm hydrostatic head material, with 100% waterproof, taped seams to keep the weather at bay. You’ve got a lightweight skeleton of supporting bars that ensure that the whole bivvy comes in at just 9.5kg, which certainly isn’t going to cause you any problems when barrowing. The Overwrap is made from the same quality material as the bivvy itself and will cut out all condensation in one fell swoop. What’s more, you can roll back the sides when you don’t need the extra coverage from the overwrap.
5. You’re not going to get stung for extras…
The great thing about the Base is that you get a host of useful extra, chucked in for the same price. For starters, you get plenty of strong, T-pegs, a heavy-duty groundsheet and, crucially, a mozzie-mesh infill panel, which is worth its weight in gold from a comfort perspective. The mix of overwrap and infill panels makes the Base a really versatile shelter. Zip-off the front entirely and roll back the overwrap and you’ve got a widescreen view of the best view going, or peg out the overwrap and letterbox the door and you’ll feel like the phrase, “A man’s bivvy is his castle” was invented for you. cyprinus.co.uk