Aqua Products

The Sleep System 2011

RRP £129.99

First Impressions

The reputation Aqua Products has established over the years is based upon all round quality of product and innovation. Although generally recognised for there shelters Aqua have now established a fine selection of luggage and accessories to sustain there brands growth which includes the all new Sleep System. For less than 130 quid you get a sleeping bag, fleece pillow, Fleece lined bedchair cover and stuffsack, basically a complete sleep system. UKMA have a had a good look over the Sleep System and have pointed out the optimum features that might just make you want to part with your hard earned cash next time your in your local tackle shop.

Sleeping Bag

This light weight sleeping bag is very light and easy to carry, when it is compressed into the stuffsack it is very compacts and one of the easiest to transport around I have personally seen or used. It is filled with Q7 hollow fill which gives the bag superb warmth retention abilities. All stitching and fixtures are of a high standard and very functional, including the fast action crash zips that run down the full length on both side of the sleeping bag. Another nice touch was the inclusion of an internal mesh pocket for valuables like keys, wallet and your phone. Although not the biggest sleeping bag on the market Aqua have designed and shaped the bag to offer maximum room around the shoulders and the slight taper towards the foot end is purposely designed to eliminate any cold spots within the sleeping bag.

Aqua Products have incorporated very unique attachment system that makes it possible to fit this sleeping bag to any bedchair currently on the market including all wideboy models but it designed to perfectly fit on standard sized bedchairs such as the Nash indulgence and alike. There are nine of these uni-fit attachments on the under side of the sleeping bag and once you’ve used the attachments it is so simple system to use, I had to call Aqua Products to figure it out but once I was told how it worked it is a doddle to use and a very efficient way of attaching a sleeping bag. If you follow the simple instructions we have listed below then hopefully you’ll find it as easy to use as we finally did.

1 – You will find nine black plastic clips with two pieces of black string with toggle ends around the edge of the sleeping bag, these are the attachments.
2 – Take hold of the plastic clip holding the two flat faces between your thumb and forefinger and pushing your thumb and finger together this releases the tension on the string.
3 – Now slide the open clip towards the toggled ends of the strings and then once the clip is virtually next to the toggles, get hold of the loop of string attached to the bag a pull through its attachment until a loop big enough to put the plastic clip through is formed.

4 - Take the plastic clip and toggled string ends and place them between your bedchair mattress and frame, then pass them through the string loop you prepared earlier.
 5 – As before, take hold of the plastic clip on the flat faces and squeeze together and tension all nine in turn but make sure you don’t fully tension the attachments.
6 – Once all nine attachments are in position, work from the top and from side to side adding tension until the bag is perfectly fitted to your bedchair.

Job Done!!!

This sleeping bag is not an out and out all weather all season bag designed to keep you warm in the worst of conditions. I would personally describe it as a three season bag that will keeps you warm and dry. With its accompanying extras, The Aqua Sleep System sleeping bag then become a 4 season bag that can handle most of the conditions we as anglers are stupid enough to fish in.

Bedchair Cover

To complement the sleeping bag and offer you that extra protection from the elements you have Aqua bed chair cover. This fleeced lined water resistant bed chair cover not only keeps the elements off of you and the heat in on those cold winters night. It also acts as another layer to helps prevent early morning mists and fogs from getting on and into your sleeping bag, plus it also acts as a layer that will prevent your sleeping bag getting covered in mud.

The cover is attaches to your bed chair by six adjustable clip -lock straps that are situated down ever side of the cover. This makes it possible to leave the straps on the side of the bed you are entering to be left unattached, meaning you can make a quick exit out of your sleeping bag when you need to. The Aqua Bedchair cover is designed to fit a standard sized bedchair and is not suitable for use on wide or larger models that are currently available.

The Aqua Sleep System bedchair cover can be machine washed at 30C, but under no circumstances should you use a domestic detergent when washing water resistant covers or equipment. Aqua Products and UKMA highly recommend that you should only use tried and tested products from the Grangers range that includes the very simple to use TX Direct when cleaning or washing your bedchair cover.

Fleece Pillow

This Fleece covered pillow is attached to the top of the tapered head covers internal lining by two of the easy to use uni-fit attachments that make the pillow sit exactly where you want it, under your head. This very comfortable pillow measures in at approximately 360mm by 400mm which is more than big enough even for the biggest of heads. Yet again we recommend that you should never use a domestic washing powder or detergent when washing equipment designed specifically for out door use.

Final Thoughts

Compact, Light weight, practical and great value for money, what more do you want. The Aqua Sleep System has everything that a session angler requires for a nights comfort. No I wouldn’t use it in sub zero temperatures in deepest winter but it is ideal for all other seasons. For just £129.99 you get the complete sleeping system with no added extras and to be totally honest you will really struggle to match this quality for this kind of money. The Aqua Sleep System is the ideal package for the starter or the angler on a slightly tighter budget. This System will also find favour with anglers who don’t plan on spending all his time out on the bank in the depth of winter.

For information on any of the products in the Aqua range, please click the image below.