Aqua Products Fast & Light

Seasoned mobile enthusiasts expect a top-shelf oval shelter to meet certain criteria. Lightness is paramount, but protection and a refined design – something which offers the same level of comfort to a pram-hood minus the bulk – are just as crucial. Aqua’s second incarnation of their popular Fast & Light pegs out all those points, marrying precise workmanship with premium materials and clever design.

The first big change we found was inside: the space-saving, hi-tensile steel frame now increases the headroom by a huge margin but yet still maintains the slender pack-size associated with mobile and quick-to-erect brollies. There’s been improvements with the fixtures and fittings, too. Along with a stealthy black powder coating to compliment the green or DPM Aquatexx material, there’s a black machined aluminium bell cap with tie-down ring, rod retaining straps and it comes supplied in a lightweight Aqua storage sleeve.

When it comes to usability and practicality it really shines. Cutting out the usual bullsh*t ‘set-up times’ spiel (does it really matter if it goes up in one minute 32 seconds or two minutes 12?), like most oval-style shelters the Fast & Light goes up quickly and offers pretty much instant protection, but where this wins our vote is the ease at which it goes up and can then be pegged out.

Aqua’s second generation of the Fast & Light is now available in either olive or DPM

The whole ‘an-oval-gives-you-zero-protection’ that those who take pram-hood shelters to a religious level love to tell you is complete rubbish with this model. The 9th rib allows unhindered vistas and the 55” framed brolly gives an increased level of coverage without hindering the view. It’s versatile too: prop the storm poles up high and you’ll have a large, open fronted view. Pull them down and the brolly almost has a hunchback which gives you loads of internal space. Just take a look at the side profile: how much coverage and space do you want?!

Also new for 2016, Aqua also has a solution for Fast & Light owners who want to use it all year round, in any weather. The Overwrap, which is also available in olive or DPM, twin skins the brolly, helping to reduce condensation and convert it into a full-fronted shelter. Making use of the whole footprint and adding extra inches at the front is essential in inclement weather but in true “mobile style” this wrap is small enough to stow neatly away in your tackle until the weather conditions dictate its use. And more good news for all original Fast & Light owners: this new wrap is fully compatible with your version.

We knew the hype for this second incarnation was big – and that’s just based on how visually stunning it is, especially in the DPM version, but when you actually use it… Wow. So sell everything you own – and if that’s still not enough, everything your mates own and steal the rest to buy one of these.

“GIMME”: Brolly, £279.99; Overwrap, £139.99 & £149.99; aquaproducts.co.uk

Gallery

SPEC SHEET
MATERIAL: PERFORMANCE GRADE AQUATEXX
BROLLY WEIGHT: 4.5KGS
TOTAL WEIGHT: 5.5KGS
FOOTPRINT: 2480(W) X 1850MM(D)
HEIGHT: 1350MM
INCLUDED: A LIGHTWEIGHT AQUA STORAGE SLEEVE
REQUIRE: 24” QUICK STICKS