The Kevin Nash Titan is the undisputed king of bivvies,it is the Rolls Royce of bivvies, that has been around for years and does not look like it will die.
A friend purchased a 'slippery eel' version and as soon as I set foot in it I had to have one.
The Viper FSTT had just been released and with a price tag of just below £390 it was not cheap. However, I had to buy one. My Giant Dome had seen better days and it was about time for an upgrade.
The Viper can be put up in minutes. There are no poles to thread and the canvass is permanently attached to the frame. Once the base unit is set up it is just a matter of pegging it all down and then attaching the front panel.
There tends to be a fashion for 'pull round' tyoe bivvies like the Armadillo. However, in my opinion these are no where near as good as the Titan.
Where the Titan wins is in its versatility. On hot days and warm nights it can be used without the front panel - and it is like staying under an oval brolly. You can't do that with an Armadillo!
During the few hours of dusk where the midges are about you can simply fill in the front with the mosquito net, until they are gone, then the net can be removed.
If it starts to rain, or the wind picks up, or you just want that extra privacy and to hide away then the front infill panel can be zipped in in a matter of seconds.
So alfresco or covered up it is entirely up to you.
The viper is classed as a one and a half man bivvy. It is big enough for the bedchair, bivvy table, lamps, bags, clothing etc, and there is still room to spare. I stayed in mine for a whole week in France, and at no time did I feel claustrophobic.
It is big enough to accomodate 2 small 2 leg bed chairs but not full size ones. Nevermind - carp fishing is an individual past time so it doesn't matter.
With regards to stability, and the protection offered, the Viper is second to none. The frames is exceptionally strong and the way it is designed ensures that the canvass is always tight, ensuring that there are no loose bits flapping about like with other bivvies.
The Viper comes with very strong and durable pegs with a t-bar top. These screw in to the ground and can get in to both soft and hard ground with ease, and without the need for a mallet. Unlike the thin and inferior quality ones supplied with most bivvies, you will not be able to bend a Titan peg. Beware though, I did have a few of my pegs nicked at dodgy lakes!
The Viper comes in plain green or a chameleon colour, which I personally don't like. It is a bit too bright for me.
A big disadvantage with the Viper is the weight of the bivvy. This is not a problem if you have a barrow.
Another big disadvantage is that has a clip in ground sheet that is a bit of a challenge to fit properly. The loose fitting ground sheet is annoying when some parts of the floor are not covered and it is doubled up in other parts.
All in all the Viper is awesome. A top quality bit of kit that is strong, durable, very protective, and if looked after will last for years. If you like fishing in comfort then buy a Viper - you won't be disappointed.
More details
Price
£380
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
