This brolly is perfect for summer overnight sessions and it’s many years since I used a full bivvy for summer overnighters, as I prefer to use a brolly such as this, which has ample room for a bedchair inside but remains open so I can dash out to the rods when a run occurs, unhindered by fly sheets and doors to unzip.
It’s the attention to detail and build quality that impressed me most about this Cyprinus model. For starters, the canopy is manufactured from heavy-duty polyurethane-reinforced nylon and all the seams are double-stitched for durability. Every potential rub-point has been reinforced with a hard-wearing, thick rubbery plastic.
The adjustable storm poles which are supplied with the brolly have adjustable screw thread attachments to lock them to the brolly ribs and Velcro-fastening straps neatly hold the brolly sides to the poles.
There is a removable, fitted groundsheet which quickly and easily Velcroes into place when required. I’ll only use this on overnight sessions when either the ground is already wet, or when rain is a possibility. A groundsheet gives extra comfort in such circumstances and helps to keep the rest of your gear clean and mud-free, but it’s often unnecessary in summer.
On day sessions I’ll leave the groundsheet in the car to save time if I need to move swims. There are two stitched-on straps complete with plastic snap-buckles to help keep the brolly compact when folded-down, so it fits easily into the carry bag. The carry bag is a good six feet long when the brolly is packed away but the whole package is light enough to carry with you for a bit more comfort on winter day sessions, or when the weather inevitably turns bad during the rest of the year!
The pegs supplied with the brolly are the T-handled type, which are much thicker and stronger than standard pegs. The metal pin protrudes through the top of the handle so that they can be whacked into hard ground and the spiral point means that once they’re in the ground, they stay in. The large plastic heads not only keep a secure hold of the metal d-rings to pin the shelter down, but they’re easy to grip for removal in cold weather too. To top off the quality of the pegs – which would normally be an additional purchase for a shelter in this price range – they also come in a heavy-duty drawstring peg bag which is reinforced with a rubberised material to withstand the points of the pegs, so there’s no chance of your shelter being pierced by your pegs during transit.
The attention to detail doesn’t end there; there’s even a small Velcro strap stitched into the top rim at the front of the brolly, for holding your rod safely upright while you’re changing rigs or baits.
When erected, the brolly stands 1.3 metres tall and is 2.5 metres wide, so if you’re not using a bedchair there is ample room inside for two anglers in chairs along with all their kit. For the more social anglers out there, this is ideal.
My weighing of the brolly put it at well below the manufacturer’s claimed weight of a total of 7.5 kg, including groundsheet and poles. I weighed it as 12lb 8oz – around 5.7 kg – so either I’ve been under-weighing my fish or Cyprinus are erring on caution’s side.
Setting up is a doddle; it’s just like putting up a standard umbrella, then a central mandrel holds the brolly in its open position. In total it took me around 3 minutes from removing the brolly from its carry bag to being able to sit beneath it; securing the groundsheet adds a further minute to the set-up time.
All-in-all this is a quality package, sure to provide reliable service for many seasons, whether you’re an all-out specialist or just put in the odd overnighter at your local pit.
The Cyprinus V3 Oval Umbrella has an RRP of £139.99, but Tackle Discounts are selling them at £54.99. They also have an overwrap available – to convert the shelter into a full-cover bivvy – for a further £49.99.
