Fox Camolite XL Bed

How well is it built?

Is it built to cope with a bigger angler?

I think it is, because Fox have given it two double hinges, six adjustable legs and large swivelling mud feet, and from the photos each leg has a chunky Fox-branded clamp, while the tubing and fittings look sturdy enough for a bed this size.

Six legs on a bed this long is fewer than some big beds use, such as the eight on the Avid Benchmark Ultra X, but the mud feet are large enough to spread the load on soft ground.

It doesn't have the machined, over-engineered look of the Avid's CNC hinges either, which is why it scores a little lower for build.

Overall, it's a tidy, solid frame that's well finished for a mid-priced bed.

Comfort & Adjustability

Space is the main comfort feature on the XL. At 101cm wide and 223cm long, there's room to turn over without your shoulder or feet hanging off the edge, and for a big angler that counts for more than an extra layer of foam.

The mattress itself is fleece-lined padding, and Fox's full lumbar support is designed to keep it firm without sagging, with an extra-padded pillow section at the head end.

That's a good thing if you like a firm bed, but if you want something that moulds to you, the memory foam on the Avid Benchmark Ultra is the softer option.

The legs adjust from 40 to 49cm, which gives you a decent range for levelling it on a sloping bivvy floor. Overall, I'd call it a comfortable, roomy bed, just a firmer one than the memory foam models.

Ease Of Setup & Portability

How heavy is a bed this size? Fox put the XL at just 12.8kg, which is pretty light for something this big, and it means you can carry it a reasonable distance without too much grief.

The two double hinges let you fold a sleeping bag inside the bed, so packing up at first light is less of a faff, and side straps with clip buckles keep everything compact once it's folded.

The catch is the folded size, because at 98 x 90 x 24cm it's slim but wide, and it takes up a big footprint in the car boot or on a barrow.

Overall, it's quick to set up and light to lift, but you'll need to plan where it goes in the car, and that's why I've scored it a touch lower for portability.

Is it good value for money?

It sits in the middle of the market on price, and for that you get an XL frame, fleece-lined padding with full lumbar support and six-leg stability, all at a weight you can manage, which is a lot of bed for the money.

The Fox EOS also comes in an XL size, at 217 x 98cm, and costs less, but it's a simpler bed aimed at newcomers and tight budgets. The Avid Benchmark Ultra costs more for its memory foam, yet even its X model is only 90cm wide, so for sheer space the Camolite XL wins.

Overall, I'd recommend the Camolite XL to tall or broad carp anglers who want a big, firm bed they can still carry without a struggle. If you're of average build, the Compact and Standard Camolite beds are a smaller package to carry.