BushWraps

The idea for the BushWraps came from army camouflage tank mesh. Some of the lads at Nash were throwing this over their bivvies to blend and camouflage whilst fishing for margin carp. I have to say when I saw their setups it made me smile. Really pleasing to the eye; it looked brilliant. Unless you was very close you would never have known a bivvy was there. I confess to being one that takes pleasure and enjoyment from items of tackle that look the part, especially when there is a practical benefit as well. So, we thought about sourcing camouflage mesh to sell as overwraps. This was when I realised all it will ever be was a section of camo mesh that you just threw over. It would never fit properly or feature a zipped door because the mesh is too big to cut to shape or sew. The answer to making a tailored overwrap was to use a fine mesh. Another advantage of this mesh is that you have a mosquito-proof summer wrap that gives you plenty of air-flow and comfort, as well as preventing you from being bitten to death! With the fine mesh we can accurately cut it to shape for our various bivvies/umbrellas and sew in a zipped door and strong pegging points. Then to this mesh overwrap is attached the outer skin of laser cut nylon that gives a 3D effect of camouflage and foliage. This is why incidentally, at first glance, these wraps may appear a little expensive, but I hope you can now understand it is in effect two wraps i.e. two layers of material.

BushWraps have caused a real stir and I have seen a number of fisherman with a look of excitement on their faces when they have seen them, desperate to get their hands on one. Certainly, they look the nuts! As well as the pleasing aesthetics though, I think they’re a great product for summer fishing providing you with an airy, mossie-free environment and the added benefit of not being seen by carp or other anglers. Also, it has to be said, they are great for hiding from the Gendarmes!

Air-Lite and Air-Lite Sleeping System

From time to time I have been asked ‘can we make a lower Indulgence bedchair, so it can be tucked to the back, whilst fishing low under an umbrella’? And the other common request is ‘can we make a lighter Indulgence’? Answering the second question first, I have always resisted making a lightweight Indulgence, as the key to the Indulgence bedchair’s legendary strength and comfort is the thickness and type of aluminium we use. This provides the strength and rigidity that is essential, so I will not compromise on this. Then it struck me that there is a lot of weight in the mattress; it is surprising how heavy these materials are. So, I set to lightening the mattress using mesh on the underside and replacing the traditional heavy denier materials on the skirt with peach skin. The result really surprised me and a dramatic decrease in weight without compromising strength was achieved. The weight reduction was furthered by the other request of cutting down the legs, so a right result!  

During testing I become aware of another benefit – on a hot steamy night I took the mattress off and just lay on the mesh, providing air-flow. This gave me the idea for what I honestly believe is the biggest step forward in bedchair design – the Air-Lite Sleeping System. The first bedchair with an integrated, zip on/off duvet. The logic is actually the reverse when using a bedchair and sleeping bag where the angler is looking to keep snug and warm; okay in colder weather, but very difficult in summer where keeping snug and warm results in you becoming hot and sticky. And on the hottest nights when you have a tendency to throw the bag off you, certainly in my case, I can never seem to get the balance right, waking up feeling cold, pulling the bag back over me and then waking up feeling hot and sweaty. Meanwhile the mosquitoes have had a feast!! With the Air-Lite SS you have the ability to control the temperature in the hotter months. For example, as previously mentioned with the Air-Lite, on really hot nights I detach the mattress and just sleep on the mesh with one layer (the duvet). This is how I fished through June, July and August.  During September, October and into November when the weather was cooling down I had some great night’s sleep by fitting the mattress (this gave me two layers). 

I see the Air-Lite SS as a three to five season sleeping bag depending on how you fish. Keeping warm in the colder months depends on a much heavier insulated bag or how much clothing you wear in a lighter bag. Personally I like to sleep with enough layers on, so when I do get out the bag I don’t freeze to death, although I note others just fish in tracksuit bottoms and t-shirts (probably because their sleeping bags are too hot, so you see them shivering when they have to get out to hit a take.) There is also the point that there is huge variance amongst people feeling the cold. This winter I have found the Air-Lite adequate but not super snug, as there was a little chill coming up between the skirt and mattress. Conversely, other friends have fished in snow down to -10° on a hot water canal in Belgium and reported back it was great and kept them snug and warm so as I mentioned there is so many varied opinions. In an attempt to try and please all the people, all the time especially the anglers who wear just tracksuit bottoms and hoodys even in winter,  we will bring out later this year an insulated underlay to increase the Air-Lite SS’s performance. This goes on top of the mesh underneath the padded mattress and lays over the skirts,all chills and draughts are eliminated. I have tested it and it’s wicked!