Head-To-Head: Bankside homes from Avid

Tardis Bivvy

BEST FOR: The ‘travel-light-angler’
Even with just two ribs to save weight and four break-pole system to make it more compact (it packs down to just 86cm), Avid’s Tardis expertly herds your far-to-many bags and buckets inside its small-on-the-outside, big-on-the-inside footprint. The secret to the Tardis’s seemingly never-ending footprint is thanks to the clever spacing out of those two ribs. Because they’re split, this gives the bivvy an almost box-shape, meaning it’ll easily house any large bed and all the gubbins you deem ‘essential’ for each session.

Weather-protection comes in the form of the brand’s tried and tested, soft-feel 10,000mm waterproof and breathable fabric, plus there’s a fully removable front with a mosquito panel door. And of course, being an Avid product, there’s plenty of brilliance throughout, such as the clip-in groundsheet (waaaay easier and better than the Velcro-in ones other manufacturers insist on using) and their very clever Rod Retention Bars which not only increase the stability of the Tardis, but offer a secure holding spot for your spod/markers rods.

“GIMME”: £199.99; avidcarp.com

The HQ MK2 is the mother of all pram-hoods

HQ Twin Skin Bivvy MK2

BEST FOR: The ultimate bankside living experience

Whilst on the surface, a pram-hood style bivvy appears to offer the ultimate bankside living experience, in reality it’s a mess. ‘What do you mean I have to buy a winter skin to avoid condensation?’ ‘So you’re telling me I can’t open the rear vents from the comfort of my bedchair?’ The HQ Twin Skin MK2 ties all the best features from pram-hoods, along with a fistful of brand-new and unique ones, together, creating what can only be described as the ultimate, totally complete bankside home.

Along with being the first ever bivvy to feature a built-in twin-skin to totally eradicate the need for a winter skin and completely eliminate condensation, this second-generation model now boasts a new internal layout, stylish rain peak and simple yet helpful colour coding features.

Just like the Tardis and the Basecamp, the HQ is built with a separated pole layout which provides improved stability and greater floor space. It comes wrapped in the same 10,000 waterproof and breathable material, along with the handy Rod Retention Bars, Frame Support System and heavy-duty pegs.

But where Avid have really squeezed the most out of ever part of the ‘making the ultimate bivvy manual’ is with the inclusion of these beauts: a rear vent than can be opened from the inside, a colour coded groundsheet for easy installation, new pegging loops that are reinforced, pole tensioning straps to make the bivvy taut when erected and a huge amount of front panel and door options.

“GIMME”: 1 Man, £399.99; 2 Man, £499.99

The Basecamp is for the angler who wants a huge amount of space

Basecamper Bivvy

BEST FOR: Those who want a huge amount of space
In the early 2000s, the pram-hood bivvy design was born. It was simple yet effective: three ribs were all joined together at two points and when fanned open, they created a solid, quick to erect shelter.

Avid have used the same principle to create the Basecamper, but unlike that original (and now dated) design, they’ve staggered the pole layout which means the bivvy is more boxed-shaped, and offers increased internal space. Plus, thanks to their darn clever Rod Retention Bars, they’ve actually made this shelter even more stable.

There’s an overwrap available too

The 10,000mm waterproof material is tough, and reliability comes from the thousands of units which are wrapped in the stuff that they’ve shipped. The front can be totally removed or used in a variety of styles, either with full mosquito panel or with mosquito mesh windows, and there’s a rear window to aid ventilation and the heavy-duty groundsheet simply clips in.

“GIMME”: 1 Man, £249.99; Overwrap, £99.99