OUR SELECTION IN DETAIL...
CARP SPIRIT AIR-LINE RRP: £249.99
THE aluminium-framed Air-Line is a genuinely innovative product.
Its mattress is filled with air, and it self-inflates and easily deflates, so no need to worry about pumps or lung capacity. It’s topped with a quilted fabric for supreme comfort, and that layer of air also helps insulate against cold air coming up from the ground.
The removable pillow is the best on test (it has a gel-like texture) similar to those keyboard supports you get to ward off RSI! Another nice touch is the addition of grab handles either side of the centre section, which helps when manoeuvring the Air-Line in and out of your car. Finally, the retaining strap has its own stash pocket on the underside of the mattress, which stops it dragging in the mud. All in all, this is one of the best beds we’ve seen for a long time. www.carpspirit.com
TOTAL FISHING GEAR SURVIVOR RRP: £99.99
LIKE much of Total Fishing Gear’s kit, this product has been designed in collaboration with long-term consultant Dave Lane.
It’s clearly been specced for comfort, with a contoured mattress and a built-in pillow with an almost horseshoe shape for better neck support. The padding around the perimeter of the frame is generous, but then it has to be to conceal the hand wheel that determines the rake of the head end. This is oldschool technology, but it does allow you to position the head section upright to use the Survivor as a chair during the day – very handy in summer.
The retro theme continues with the camo patterning, which feels a little bit slippery, but is certainly comfortable. The large mudfeet are a welcome touch for a sub-£100 offering. www.totalfishinggear.co.uk
DAIWA BLACK WIDOW SIX-LEG RRP: £99.99
THIS budget option has a recommended retail price of £99.99, but can be picked up for much less.
Coming from the trusted Daiwa stable, it’s very impressively built and functions well. The mattress is supported in time-honoured bedchair fashion using elasticated cord, which can be adjusted for firmness simply by pulling it tighter and re-knotting.
Our favourite feature is the fact the legs click into a locked position easily with a spring-loaded pin, meaning the bed won’t collapse as you lay down.
All six legs adjust easily enough and the integral pillow provides decent support. A retaining strap to keep the bed neatly folded in transit is another good touch. Our only real gripe is that the mudfeet are sadly smaller than on all the others on test. www.daiwasports.co.uk
WYCHWOOD TACTICAL X FLATBED STANDARD RRP: £154.99
WYCHWOOD has a canny knack of producing quality kit that looks and feels much more expensive than it is, and the Tactical X Flatbed certainly has the air of a much dearer offering.
Its aluminium frame makes it the second-lightest on test so it’s no effort to cart around. The main section of the mattress has a comfy fleece lining, while Wychwood’s trademark camo adorns the outer padding.
In essence, this bed offers luxury feel without the weight and heft. The frame is thin and sits nicely off the ground, allowing you to stuff plenty of kit under it. The adjustable leg mechanism is very well designed and can be operated in gloves or with cold hands, and the whole unit is kept neatly packed away with a retaining strap. A very capable bed indeed. www.wychwoodcarp.co.uk
JRC STEALTH X-LITE LEVELBED RRP: £219.99
THIS aluminium-framed bed stands out a mile due to its lack of weight.
We spent a lot of time lifting and unfolding these beds, and every time we picked up the Stealth X-Lite it felt like we’d accidentally grabbed a guest chair. Despite that incredible lack of bulk (it’s the lightest six-leg bed JRC has ever made) it’s not short on comfort. The padding is surprisingly generous and the mattress feels taut.
It’s a narrower bed than all the others on test, but not restrictively so (unless you are a much larger angler!). That reduced outline also means it’ll fit nicely in smaller shelters and under brollies.
On the flipside, the legs don’t adjust by much and the mechanism is a cam lock with no spring loading, making it slightly fiddly on uneven ground. Overall, however, it’s a great bedchair. www.jrc-fishing.co.uk
SOLAR TACKLE SP C-TECH RRP: £309.99
SOLAR has taken its time to enter the bedchair market, but that time has clearly been well spent in R&D. The SP C-Tech is typical of the brand – well thought out and beautifully engineered.
The aluminium frame keeps weight down, but the most impressive aspect is the mattress and cushioning. The mattress is built into the frame, keeping it ultra-taut and supported. On top, the air-pocketed mattress is the most comfortable on test, and very warm.
The party tricks don’t stop there. The Spring-Loc legs are easily the best we’ve seen – they shoot out like a pneumatic ram, making them a doddle to align. The twin-pivot hinges accommodate the biggest of sleeping bags, while the detachable accessory bag is a handy touch for extra storage. This is an absolute cracker of a bed. www.solartackle.co.uk