Brolly Good Show!
Wychwood’s MHR is a classic brolly design but its build quality and features certainly set it apart from its competitors
Until you get within touching distance of a carp angler’s brolly it can be quite hard to tell one brand from another. Luckily for Wychwood, when you do actually get up close and personal with their MHR you’ll instantly spot something that sets these shelters apart from the masses. That’s the stunning ripstop material which adorns this classic brolly frame. Boasting a 10,000mm hydrostatic head, it looks and feels like it’ll last a lifetime and instantly gives you confidence that this is a shelter that will stand up to plenty of bankside abuse. Wychwood are pretty bullish about its rugged durability, too. Their five-year warranty is a rare beast in the angling industry and definitely one of the hidden benefits of buying an MHR.
And when it comes to buying one of these brollies, you have two ways to do so. The brolly itself is available as a standalone unit (6kg, £249.99) or you can opt for the system, with a groundsheet and multi-use front panel (£349.99).
The brolly itself features large rear vents for fresh air circulation on warmer days, plus an extended internal skirt which acts like a perimeter groundsheet to seal your living area away from bugs and insects, and offers protection from draughts in the colder months. In essence, it gives you most of the benefits of a groundsheet without the need to lug around a heavy tarpaulin floor.
Everything is kept well anchored thanks to heavy-duty pegs, and two 24-inch storm poles are supplied to give extra rigidity at the front—though this isn’t always necessary unless fishing in particularly gusty conditions.
Hung between the two narrow-spaced ribs at the centre of the brolly are Wychwood’s unique storage pockets, which are very useful for storing your alarm receiver, keys and wallet. These mesh nets sit hammock-like out of harm’s way at the back of the brolly and are perhaps more useful than you might first assume.
On the outside of MHR there are Velcro rod-retaining straps on the standalone brolly, and plenty of options for buyers of the full system. The front panel extends the already pretty generous internal space and offers protection from front-on wind and rain. The panel, which is supported by a fibreglass tensioning pole that runs across the top edge, can be configured with mozzie-mesh, clear or solid panels, and can be opened in a number of configurations including a letterbox central door and roll-back side panels.
All in all, the MHR brolly system is a very capable shelter full of features and a confidence-inspiring warranty.
