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KDU
Netherlands
1720 Posts
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 Posted - 28/10/2011 : 22:18:10
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Got myself one of these on Wednesday and used it wednesday night for an uneventful overnighter. The fish was crap and nothing worth writing about, so i thought i'd start a review of this brolly instead.
I wasn't originally planning on a fox brolly, but I got offered this by the tackle shop for a bargain price of 200(+/-ฃ175). A price I couldn't refuse really.
How much?
It's RRP is 350 (ฃ265).
You can pick them up for around 200 or ฃ200
What's included?
60" brolly with waterproof and breathable Ventecฎ material
zip-in front panel
zip-in mozzy panel
clear front window and a full window to cover the standard mozzy window
full set of pegs in a bag
x2 24" and x2 48" storm poles with their own bag
heavy duty clip-in ground sheet
heavy duty carry bag
Some extra support pole thing?
How heavy is it?
The full system in the bag weighs 12.8kg. The brolly itself is very light though, and the aluminium storm poles weigh next to nothing. The heavy duty ground sheet it's the heaviest item, along with all the extra pegs and other bits.
First Impressions
Can't really write a full review based on 1 nights fishing, so first impressions to begin with.
Size and weight...
First thing that I noticed, and was concerned with, was the weight. I'm a minimalist and like to keep all my gear small, compact and light which is the reason I was looking for a brolly to begin with. Luckily for me, the brolly itself is light and no issues to put it in the rod bag. It fits snuggly in the pocket of my Chub 3-star rod bag, along with the 4 storm poles. The ground sheet and front panels will be left at home when I use it 99% of the time. For those wanting to take the front panels for example, they should roll up pretty small and compact and take up little space in a rucksack/carryall. I got my bedchair in with ease, aswell as all my other gear and a large dog bed for the dog! It has more room than my 1-man Chub Cyfish MK2. The height is a little lower than most bivvies I suppose, although you can adjust the height to some degree with the front storm poles. I personally had no issues with the height, at 5'11. I did bang my head of the inner folding mechanism thing a few times, but i soon adjusted to it. 
Quality and finish...
Quality wise it seems very good, i was pleasantly suprised. The material looks quality, from what I hear it's the same as another top branded material, just a different name for copyright purposes. After a cold night, the inside was bone dry which was nice, my Cyfish has the habit of dripping with condensation when it's a bit nippy. The rivetted ribs look and feel solid, even after I banged my head full force into them a few times, they didn't even twitch! The seams are stuck well and double stitched, looking and feeling secure and robust with no obvious weaknesses. The only gripe I found was the tip of the outer-ribs. The caps that fix the rib to rivet on the material look a little weak to me. The caps used for the storm pole mounting where solid plastic and look rock solid, whereas the light alumunium ones on the other ribs look a little too weak, but time will tell on that one I guess? The front panels are zipped in with tough, heavy duty zips which i'm sure will last a good while.
User friendly...
It went up very fast. Opens up like every other brolly, clicks in place then secured with the threaded bung to stop it closing down. The adjustable storm poles seem good quality and I did give them the beans to stick them in the hard ground - they never bent at all which was nice. They are held to the brolly via 2 flaps which can be opened up via a velcro strip and screwed into the threads attatched to the front ribs. It packs away just as quick and it's a doddle to roll up and put into the rod bag. I think you could have the brolly and poles set up in less than a minute.
The pegging points are tough aluminium D-rings, stitched well to the fabric. The threaded pegs that come supplied are a doddle to screw in, even into a hard ground and come with end-caps to prevent damaging the smart little bag they come in. Don't think you need to use all the pegging points, but they do keep the whole thing very sturdy and tight.
The bag the system comes in is quality and built to last. It won't be falling apart after a season, like some cheap bags do. However, I won't be using the bag, so it's don't matter much to me!
There's also a support pole with the system. I aint sure what it does really? It's light weight aluminium and replaces the threaded bung. I guess it's used for support, maybe for the day sessions when you don't want to use the pegs, just the poles and storm sticks.
That's pretty much it for now. I'm impressed with it, for the price it's a steal, especially compared to similar systems from other companies which cost upto twice the price! When I've used it for a season, i'll update this thread again. Next time I use it, i'll take some detailed photo's of the nitty-gritty bits most people want to see. Here's some more photos i borrowed off the internet.
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"...If it aint' a carp, then it's just a fish..." |
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bornagain
United Kingdom
7764 Posts
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Posted - 29/10/2011 : 09:55:12
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| thats the sort of review we are looking for KDU, thanks very much, can you follow this up after a few months abuse please? |
our grumpiest forum member |
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Comfortably_Numb
England
393 Posts
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Posted - 31/10/2011 : 22:20:02
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A great review mate. Well done. A picture of the brolly without any front attached would be an excellent addition  |
(We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year) |
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lowey
England
17441 Posts
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Posted - 08/11/2011 : 13:46:53
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Thats a brilliant Article KDU....
Lowey. |
E.F.C. |
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KDU
Netherlands
1720 Posts
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Posted - 09/11/2011 : 02:49:30
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| Doing a short session Thursday before the frosts kick in, will make some photos then :) |
"...If it aint' a carp, then it's just a fish..." |
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KDU
Netherlands
1720 Posts
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Posted - 06/05/2012 : 22:04:17
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DO NOT BUY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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"...If it aint' a carp, then it's just a fish..." |
Edited by - KDU on 06/05/2012 22:05:15 |
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yabbadabbadoo
United Kingdom
1410 Posts
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Posted - 06/05/2012 : 22:09:08
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quote:
Originally posted by KDU
DO NOT BUY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
why not  |
i think there for i am |
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KDU
Netherlands
1720 Posts
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Posted - 07/05/2012 : 18:02:46
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/BEGIN RANT
Shortly after the first session I found the end caps on the ribs were snapped - 2 of them. Got it replaced in the shop. Not used it since, until 2 weeks ago, and took it out the bag - 2 broken again? On closer inspection, 1 more is fractured and about to shatter aswell. I managed to bodge it up for the night and it leaked from the top, so I cut the 3 day session down to 1 night then went home pissed off.
I emailed Fox, as the shop is a 2 hour drive away and to be honest, I don't want it replaced again because this is clearly a manafacturing fault and will just break again. These end cap things are like they are made from bloody cheese. I read on the internet they re-called alot of them due to leaks, and alot have been took back and the leak problems fixed and the end caps replaced with better, stronger ones. Clearly it's a problem.
I emailed Fox a week and a half ago VERY politely (a little brown-nosing even) asking for a solution - I've not yet had a reply? I messaged their lookatmebook page and got an instant reply that they are really busy but they are getting through the mails and he will put a word in about my email. Still, not heard jack shit.
So now I'm stuck with a ficking broken brolly thats made from cheese. Life has been throwing it's obstacles at me this past 2 years; wife in a wheelchair, mom got cancer and the father in law fell over and passed away last week. That's only the main ones aswell ... I really want to get out and relax for a couple of days, to re-charge the old batteries - but I can't. So, a big, huge FU to Fox. In this day of age you should have the ability to respond to an email within 11 days, especially from such a big company. Infact, the problem should be rectified within 11 days, I've not even had a response yet!!!!!!
/END RANT
/KEYBOARD BASHING
dwqjkbdsfcwBJKVEWFVCJKB;EWFDVjbk;ewqafgjkbewfgjkbjklgswqjkgdqwiugdvyuiqwgdiuqwhdiugb
Wooooozaaaaaaa! |
"...If it aint' a carp, then it's just a fish..." |
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Doughnut
England
38718 Posts
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Posted - 07/05/2012 : 21:15:47
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That's pretty bad Sam as bad as it gets  I know you've got enough hassles but I'd go for getting your money back...have you had a go at phoning them at all? |
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hothead
England
4343 Posts
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Posted - 07/05/2012 : 21:49:53
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agree doughsta, thats terrible news!!! personally i'd help you out kdu but sadly i cant.. just keep on pestering fox and maybe summink will happen? good luck m8
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your lucky i'm in a good mood shun!! |
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KDU
Netherlands
1720 Posts
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Posted - 07/05/2012 : 22:10:00
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I'm going to send a letter ... with a bit of Anthrax lol. Only joking incase anyone goes and calls Jack Bauer on me! I'll try calling them I think.
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"...If it aint' a carp, then it's just a fish..." |
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KDU
Netherlands
1720 Posts
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Posted - 08/05/2012 : 21:52:05
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Ok, I take back what I said about Fox ... although they are weird. lol
Today the wife rang and said there's a huge parcel arrived for me. I get home and it'a a brand spanking new FX60 system. The central section is a new design and those pissy little end caps on the ribs are a stronger metal, with stronger rivets and added washer. MUCH better and look 100x stronger!
So, today I had a tinkle and found where the brolly leaked, and repaired it in 2 mins! I just have to replace them end caps (easy) and i've got 2 new FX-60 brolly systems!
What I don't understand is ... they never replied to my email. I am 100% sure it never ended up in any junk/trash inboxes, they simply didn't send one. They just sent me a replacement unit FOC instantly. Now, if I had known I would get a brand new product in a week and a half of emailing them, with no hassles, no return of the old one etc ... I would of said SPOT ON SERVICE. Don't get me wrong, I am VERY happy with it, but I come on here yesterday and slagged them off, because as far as I was aware they just never replied. If they had emailed me that they sent me a new one, I would of been over the moon!? Weird, but happy LOL |
"...If it aint' a carp, then it's just a fish..." |
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hothead
England
4343 Posts
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Posted - 08/05/2012 : 22:47:41
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| there u go!!! |
your lucky i'm in a good mood shun!! |
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carpman08
United Kingdom
570 Posts
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Posted - 08/05/2012 : 22:55:31
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| Maybe they seen your post on this forum...! |
Laugh at Death, Appreciate your life ! |
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KDU
Netherlands
1720 Posts
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Posted - 09/05/2012 : 01:04:55
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| I don't know, can't get my head around it. It would of took less than 10 seconds to reply to the mail and say then sent it? They must have posted it a few days ago at least... Either way, i'm a happy bunny now. I've also just soldered the wire back together on my chub head torch (which broke the same night) so everything is now schweet! |
"...If it aint' a carp, then it's just a fish..." |
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Steve D
Italy
8289 Posts
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Posted - 09/05/2012 : 07:28:45
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he who dares wins SAM.............nice one
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offended you are??...............A shit i dont give....... |
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Doughnut
England
38718 Posts
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Posted - 09/05/2012 : 09:07:07
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Well done Sam glad you got it all sorted, if they didn't reply they should have but at least you got a good result  |
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lowey
England
17441 Posts
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Posted - 09/05/2012 : 09:42:35
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My mate had one and he said his fell apart.
JRC stealth is a better alternative.
Lowey. |
E.F.C. |
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KDU
Netherlands
1720 Posts
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Posted - 09/05/2012 : 20:18:23
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The only problem with this was the rivetted caps at the end of the ribs and the cap where the ribs join in the middle.
These are the caps:
You can see the crack on that one.
This is one of the broken ones:
The news ones they put on are spot on though. If they had done this for the earlier ones it would have been sweet... I just feel a product shouldn't hit the banks with a clear fault like this ... The rest of it is very well made and solid. |
"...If it aint' a carp, then it's just a fish..." |
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Fox FX60 brolly system
