Fox EOS Bed

How well is it built?

I'll be straight about the frame, because it's a simple, budget design and that's a big part of how Fox keep the price down. It's a flat frame with a cam-free design, and the six extendable legs finish in swivelling mud feet.

From the photos, the legs use plastic collars over silver inner sections, and the khaki hinge brackets and tubes are plain, with nothing premium about them. You don't get the double hinges of the Fox Camolite XL either, and that's one of the reasons the Camolite costs more.

I don't think that makes it flimsy, because a straightforward frame has less to go wrong. Overall, it's a no-frills build that suits the anglers it's aimed at, though I wouldn't expect it to match a dearer frame for years of heavy use.

Comfort & Adjustability

For me, the sizing is what makes the EOS comfortable for so many different anglers.

A junior or slim angler will be fine on the 77cm-wide Compact, the Standard gives you 85cm, and the XL stretches to 217 x 98cm for bigger builds, so you can pick a bed that fits rather than squeezing onto one size.

The padded foam mattress lies level on the flat frame, and the cam-free design gives you a bit more usable width. From the photos, the head end is built up into a thicker pillow section.

You don't get the full lumbar support of the Fox Camolite XL, though, so it won't hold your back in the same way.

Height runs from 33 to 45cm on the Compact, 35 to 45cm on the Standard and 35 to 50cm on the XL. Is it comfy enough for a night or two? For most newcomers, I'd say yes. Overall, it's reasonably comfortable for the money, with the sizing doing a lot of the work.

Ease Of Setup & Portability

Six extendable legs with swivelling mud feet make light work of an uneven pitch, because each foot can tilt to sit flat on the ground while you set the height. It's a simple job, and to be fair, simple is exactly what a newcomer wants on their first few trips.

The strap-and-buckle system lets it pack away compactly with your sleeping bag still on it, which is a real help for a youngster who doesn't want to strip and remake the bed every trip. From the photos, it folds into a flat bundle with the mattress tucked inside the frame.

So, is it a faff to get up and away? Not really, because you undo the strap, unfold it and set six legs, which is pretty much as easy as a bedchair gets. Overall, it's quick to set up and simple to pack, and I don't think anyone buying their first bed will struggle with it.

Is it good value for money?

Value is the EOS's strongest suit. It's one of the cheaper beds from a big carp brand, and you still get a choice of three sizes, six legs with mud feet and a frame that packs with a bag on.

The Prologic Avenger Bedchair costs a little less, but it's only 190cm long and 70cm wide, so the EOS is the safer choice for taller anglers.

If your budget stretches a bit further, the Avid Revolve X adds eight legs and a 90cm-wide sleeping area, but for a first bed, I think the EOS covers the basics well.

Overall, I'd recommend it to newcomers, juniors and anglers on a tight budget who want a dependable Fox bed in the right size. If you already know you want memory foam or proper lumbar support, it's worth saving for something further up the range.