OBJECT OF DESIRE
RidgeMonkey bivvy range From £699.99 (XF1 Compact)
RIDGEMONKEY has come a long way from offering just a single toastie maker. It now makes terminal tackle, mainlines, plenty of electronic gadgetry – and now bivvies!
First shown to the public at the Carp Zwolle show in the Netherlands in 2019, RidgeMonkey’s Escape XF bivvies are like nothing else in your local tackle shop. There are four bivvies at launch. The XF1 Compact and the XF1 Standard are both one-man bivvies, while the XF2 Compact and XF2 Standard are much larger two-man shelters.
The bigger two can be further enlarged with the addition of a porch extension, sold separately.
The unique box-shaped design is built on an X-shaped frame assembly, meaning these bivvies go up very quickly and don’t require the threading of poles or assembly of joints.
Each bivvy is made from super-tough 300D ripstop HydroX material which has UV50+ protection and a 20,000mm hydrostatic head. There are heavy-duty YKK zips all round and, very cleverly, each bivvy’s rod straps are magnetic rather than Velcro. This, according to RidgeMonkey, is an industry first.
Depending on which model you pick, you get either a sewn-in or a removable heavy-duty groundsheet. The two-man versions have zip-up mozzie-mesh side windows, while all the bivvies have rear air vents.
Head room is great on all of them, thanks to that boxy design, and RidgeMonkey is clearly aiming these at discerning anglers looking for rugged quality and space. However, do bear in mind the weights of these bivvies, as the figures are certainly on the chunky side.