Double Wrapped
Say hello to Avid's Ascent: the world's most feature-packed brolly system and here's what we made of it during our first on-the-bank test...
Over the years, the way in which we sleep out on the bank has undergone many startling changes: no umbrella, to umbrella, to green army tent to brightly coloured camping tent to oval umbrella to pram hood. And now, the bivvy revolution has started once more as Avid unveil the land’s most feature-packed brolly system: the Ascent.
Now whilst the original Ascent was a hit – this brand-spanking-new, packed-with-making-life-easier features is destined for any angler who fishes overnighters or the serious weekend angler that may find himself moving at some point during that session. It’s for the guy who likes to travel light. Who doesn’t have a bedchair that’s wider than their own bed at home. If you’re that chap, then you’ll be better off looking at Avid’s One Man HQ bivvy: the equivalent to a stately home.
Starting with the outside, the Ascent Brolly System is made from the incredible Dura-Stop material which isn’t just the perfect colour but it’s strong, tough and will take everything Mother Nature throws at it. From rain to snow to super intense sun thanks to it being coated in a UV+50 protection. At the front, you’ll discover this has two zip-off front panels which allow you to customise the shelter to suit your personal requirements. One is a conventional door system that boasts a clear PVC panel and a mosquito panel – perfect for the colder months or when you require a bit of extra coverage; the second is a full mosquito mesh front that boasts a full-length zip.
Where the Ascent really excels over its peers is its set-up. Self-levelling stability poles make the set-up process fast and easy thanks to there being no need to thread additional poles and it’ll even stand up on its own once it’s erected. Inside they’ve increased the amount of headroom by reducing the size of the centre pole and hub. This not only means you won’t keep banging your head on the brolly spokes but it allows you to push your bedchair further back into the system, creating more porch space.
And now we arrive at the most impressive feature on the system (as if that lot wasn’t impressive enough, eh!) and that’s the internal inner skin which is already fitted to the system when you buy it. This skin totally eliminates condensation – a common household issue for all other single-skin shelters. As well as reducing condensation, the inner skin also creates a layer of cool air inside the shelter, which makes the system comfortable to use during the warmer months and eliminates the need for a rear vent.
So whether you’re fishing a weekend session in the depths of winter or a quick day in the summer, the Ascent Brolly System has your back. And for once you’ll be willing it to rain thanks to that Dura-Stop fabric – seriously, it’s so thick and waterproof!
