For as long as there has been fishing I am pretty sure there has been night fishing, and as a result, there has always been a need to keep comfortable on the bank throughout this period. Over the years, roll mats, lilos, sun loungers, canvas and metal structures all have been used to sleep on, and in more recent years we have seen a fundamental shift to level flat-bed chairs with all manner of luxurious and comfortable materials ensuring you the best night’s sleep on the bank.
We have seen it all, so I thought, but that was until I went to Trakker!
Shape is one thing all of the above beds have in common, boasting the typical and traditional rectangular bedlike shape – and why not, I hear you ask?
Well, take a look at the first bedchair to break the mould and bring to the market a revolutionary oval system.
First and foremost Trakker is renowned for good beds, and having had great success and gaining huge popularity out on the banks with the Levelite range you can expect extreme comfort, unrivalled support and, of course, a flat profile, which is definitely becoming the norm for obvious reasons.
The last thing you want in winter is a rubbish night’s sleep, unless it is because your alarms haven’t stopped and your net has seen plenty of action. The Dreamlina is the perfect solution to keep you warm and comfortable throughout the colder months. This eight-legged, super-sturdy bedchair weighs in at 14. 5kg, which I have to say is relatively light for the features that it boasts.
Flat bedchairs have recently become the most popular variety out there, and with good reason too. Unlike with many of the top manufacturers, you are not paying for a label here, just the workings of a mechanically sound, comfortable and functional item of vital session carp tackle. A built-in luxurious pillow makes for a much more pleasurable sleeping experience, while the advanced tension system prevents dreaded bedchair sag. Each of the eight legs are fully adjustable for a supported and stable platform even in the worst of swims.
At under 7kg the Superlite is exactly that – super lightweight – yet surprisingly offers great levels of comfort even for myself at just under six feet and weighing in the region of 13 stones too many. Thanks to the durable and well-constructed dual-hinge mechanism the bed folds down in a flat and very compact manner and will even take a winter sleeping bag with ease. Extra lumbar support will prevent the dreaded bedchair sag associated with extensive use. Ample padding provides you with a solid and comfortable frame to sit on and you won’t be up all night banging your arms on the supporting frame, as the RLX is a snug yet supportive night’s sleep.
Designed to truly be one chair to suit all situations, the Combi is exactly that. It’s a well-dimensioned chair with plenty of padding and support in all the right places. Even with as what you might politely call a bigger frame like mine, it’s plenty comfortable.
Fold the rear leg and it converts to one of those chairs that can sit on your bedchair (what exactly do they call those, anyway?) and it works really well in this guise.
Taska has joined a host of companies producing bedchairs with integrated sleeping bags with the VBS, and it looks an absolute cracker.
What first struck me when I checked it out was the price. So much so that I had to double-check it because it seemed a bit low, especially compared to one or two other systems.
My first thought whenever this happens is that there must be some skimping on quality, but once I’d given it a proper going over this was not in evidence at all.
Lee Jackson says: The idea for this seat originated from a seat that The Tackle Box proprietor Gary Peet brought back from a fishing trip at least 18 years ago, when he saw an angler using it and bought it off him. We liked the idea, it was light, compact and very functional, and when we showed it to Kevin Nash he then developed a carp angler’s version that was available for a few years.
Following on from the Nash seat being unavailable for a number of years, our TB Guesti Seat is now available. Lightweight, comfortable and easily stored away inside a bedchair, it gives excellent back support when sitting sideways on a bedchair or directly on the floor/bank, it can be used as a guest seat for visitors, a boat seat or as a stalking seat.
If you’re after a chair that takes comfort even further, albeit with some additional bulk and weight, then the next in the R range is, unsurprisingly, the R3. Again boasting all of the features of the others (there’s a pattern forming here) but with an altogether larger design, this is more of a full-on chair rather than guest chair. The full-height back boasts extra padding in the headrest, to make this the outstanding choice if just comfort alone is your preference. (MC)
£104.
HOT OFF THE PRESS!
Again boasting most of the R1’s features, including camou trim, cam wheel, adjustable legs but this time with additional neoprene-covered armrests for even more comfort. If you have never owned or tried a chair with arms then you really don’t know what you’re missing. Just this simple addition transforms a chair’s comfort levels and can make it worth the extra investment, albeit there is obviously a little added weight. The back is slightly higher than the R1, creating a hybrid chair that might be the answer to lots of carp anglers’ prayers.
FOX R-SERIES CAMOU CHAIR R1
These chairs have been introduced following the huge success of the R Series Camou bedchairs and they begin with the R1. A high-density foam mattress with micro-fleece cover offers comfort and warmth, with extra padding in the top section of the back for added luxury. The four legs are individually adjustable and feature large, swivelling mudfeet for uneven ground. The leg-lock frame offers increased security, while the angle of the rear is adjusted via a cam wheel, offering multiple angles of lean.
If you want out-and-out comfort from your bedchair, without worrying about bulk or weight, then this is will be right up your street. Our web and social media manager, Simon Calvert, has been using this one for a couple of months and absolutely raves about it.
The super-thick mattress offers a level of comfort that’s hard to beat and the large dimensions, especially in the Super-King version, make it like a home from home. There’s a slight price to pay, and that is in the bulk of the bed, but the fact that most anglers these days use a barrow of some form or other makes this near irrelevant.
As a brand-new addition to the fast-growing XTI range, the Lounger Chair is comfortable, luxurious and feature packed.
As you can see in the photo, Dan Murrell is enjoying the host of features, including the high back, which boasts head support designed to provide the angler with maximum comfort when on the bank. The chair utilises an extra-thick foam mattress with fleece lining for the extra warmth needed on those cold misty mornings or as night begins to fall. The armrests are a great feature so you can really take the weight off, and with the addition of the covered protection it prevents your skin sitting against cold metal, which in cooler temperatures is just unbearable.
Whether you like to sit out and watch the water or you are expecting guests this season, the new range of Levelite chairs are items to be checking out now.
After the huge popularity of the Levelite bedchair, Trakker decided to take that inspiration and bring the outstanding level of luxury and rather unique legs to its smaller brothers of the range.
First up is the Transformer, given its name because it doubles as not just a chair but also a bedchair seat; two products in one essentially and that’s handy, right? With an aluminium design it is lightweight and ergonomically designed with the generous padding to provide a comfortable and practical seating solution.
Secondly is the Compact Chair, again supported with the unique patented leg design, where one push and the leg will drop to the required level.
If you don’t compromise on comfort, even if you have to pay a relatively princely sum for it, then this chair is going to be right up your street.
For starters, the padded mattress not only offers a soft, thick area for seating, but the adjustable lumbar support makes a huge difference to not only the comfort of the chair itself, but how long you’re happy sitting in it.
The head/neck rest is an excellent additional touch and not one that I’ve seen on a carpy chair thus far and, of course, the fact that it reclines means you choose your own position.
Although available in a standard size, this Big Daddy version is the one for comfort, if you don’t mind the size.
