Solar Tackle SP C-Tech Memory Foam Bedchair MkII

How well is it built?

So, what makes it feel so solid? Solar have used a high-tensile aluminium frame with oversized, reinforced tubing, and the oval legs lock with their Spring-Loc system, so once the height is set it stays set.

The 225kg plus weight rating is a huge figure for a bedchair, and to be fair, it tells you more about how over-built the frame is than about anyone needing that much capacity.

There's a Solar plate on the side rail and the SolarCam camo covering is neat, and from the photos the hinges and joints look properly engineered rather than pressed out to a price.

Overall, I think it's built to take a lot of nights in a bivvy, and there's nothing in the spec that worries me. If anything, it's the kind of frame you buy once and keep.

Comfort & Adjustability

For me, comfort is the reason to buy this bed. The Memory 6 mattress is 6cm of 50-density memory foam, and because it's built into the frame rather than strapped on top, it doesn't slide about or bunch up when you turn over in the night.

Solar's lay-flat lumbar support sits underneath, so you get an even sleeping surface from head to foot.

The legs adjust from 40 to 52cm, which gives you plenty of room to level it on a sloping bivvy floor, and the Wide version at 100cm across is there if you like to spread out or you're a bigger build. Is there a comfier bedchair? I think you'd struggle to find one.

Overall, if your back complains after a night on a thin mattress, this is the kind of bed that makes a real difference to how you feel in the morning.

Ease Of Setup & Portability

So, how easy is it to move about? At 14.9kg for the Standard and 15.45kg for the Wide, it's not a bed for a long walk to the swim.

It is, though, around four and a half kilos lighter than the full Solar sleep system, because there's no duvet to carry, and on a barrow it's no problem at all.

Setting up is quick. You unfold it, set the Spring-Loc legs and you're pretty much done, and the Flat-Pac hinges let it fold flat with your sleeping bag still attached, which saves a bit of a faff at both ends of the session.

The Pac-Away compression straps and the carry handle keep it tidy once it's folded, so it packs into a neat block that sits well in the car. Overall, I think it's easy to live with for a bed this solid.

Is it good value for money?

So, is it worth the money? It's one of the dearer bedchairs you can buy, and you still need a sleeping bag on top, so it's a serious outlay. The Avid Benchmark Ultra also uses a memory-foam mattress and costs a fair bit less, so that's the bed I'd weigh it against.

Where the Solar earns its price is the mattress built into the frame, the 225kg plus rating and the aluminium build. Buying the bed on its own also works out cheaper than the full Solar sleep system if you already own a good bag.

Overall, I'd recommend it to carp anglers who spend several nights at a time in the bivvy, barrow their kit to the swim and want the most comfortable bed they can get. If you mostly fish quick overnighters close to the car, a lighter, cheaper bed will do the job.