Trakker Tempest RS 150 Bivvy

How well is it built?

The Tempest RS 150 is the 1.5 man size in Trakker's flagship rapid-erect range, and the build is shared straight across with the 1 man RS 100 and the 2 man RS 200. This is not a stripped-down mid-size option, it is the full flagship spec stretched across a wider footprint.

The patented hinge block and Rapid Knuckle System are the structural heart of the shelter.

Once deployed, the frame locks into rigid shape in a single action, and the black textured powder-coated anti-twist poles stay put under heavy loads without the flex cheaper quick-erect rivals develop over a season.

The GRP composite centre block is the detail that separates the current RS range from previous generations. Glass-reinforced polymer is lighter and stronger than the plastic blocks used on earlier quick-erect bivvies, and it handles repeated setup cycles without wearing out.

Aquatexx fabric carries the waterproof case at 25,000mm hydrostatic head, which is top of the industry-standard bivvy range. The black-out pigment layer reduces internal heat and helps the skin last longer in storage.

Detail touches like the four internal pockets, two hanging points and two magnetic rod straps lift the build further.

Stability & Weather Resistance

The RS 150 shares its entire weather package with the flagship RS 100 and RS 200, so the 1.5 man size gets the same top-tier numbers rather than a watered-down mid-range spec.

25,000mm hydrostatic head Aquatexx fabric is the foundation of the waterproof case. That rating is industry-leading for bankside shelters and meaningfully above the 10,000mm to 20,000mm ceiling you find on most premium rival fabrics.

Sustained multi-night driving rain does not wet the skin through under wind pressure.

Adaptive Ventilation passes air through purpose-built vents without you fiddling with zips.

The vent covers can be pegged out separately with Trakker's Cool Guys accessories to maximise airflow and internal shade on warm days, and condensation stays genuinely manageable even on cold muggy nights.

The door peak is the stability touch that matters most when the weather turns. It shields the entry zone from rain blowing in, so you can sit with the door open through showers without water running across the groundsheet.

Quicksticks are included as proper storm poles rather than accessories, and a tension strap locks the skin taut against wind loading across the 320cm front. 9.0 reflects a weather package that delivers on every front.

Ease Of Setup & Portability

The Rapid Knuckle System is the whole reason the Tempest RS range exists, and it works just as well on the 1.5 man size as it does on the 1 man RS 100.

Under-one-minute solo setup is genuinely realistic, which is a transformational quality when you are first into a swim at dusk or packing up through rain in the morning.

You unfold the shelter, the hinge block locks the frame into shape in one action, peg out the skirt and drop in the Quicksticks.

The setup time is not a marketing claim, it is the design brief, and every component is engineered around making that one-action pitch reliable every time.

Built-in mounts on the frame accept the Tempest Skull Cap overwrap without retrofit hardware, so expanding the system later is genuinely plug-in.

Portability is where the 1.5 man sizing costs you something. At 16.8kg total (shelter plus pegs, Quicksticks and carry bag), the RS 150 is comfortably barrow-only rather than short-walk territory.

The heavy-duty carry bag handles the whole kit in one package, including the HD groundsheet.

9.0 reflects best-in-class rapid-erect setup, with a fair portability ding for the 16.8kg all-in weight.

Is it good value for money?

The RS 150 sits at the premium end of the shelter market, which is the right place for a fully-loaded flagship rapid-erect bivvy in a 1.5 man footprint.

What you pay over mid-tier rivals is the Rapid Knuckle System patented hinge block, the 25,000mm Aquatexx fabric tier, Adaptive Ventilation with Cool Guys compatibility, and the GRP composite centre block.

The value sweet spot for this shelter is the 1.5 man angler who wants a genuinely roomier internal footprint than a 1 man can offer without stepping up to a full 2 man weight penalty.

At 320cm wide and 230cm deep there is real sit-up floor space, room to swing a bedchair and stash tackle out of the way, or sleep with a partner at a squeeze for the odd social overnighter.

Honest caveats are the premium price (which rules out anglers on a budget-tier spend) and the fact that compatibility accessories like the Skull Cap overwrap, Social Cap and Cool Guys vent covers are sold separately, which pushes the full system cost higher if you want to expand later.

8.5 reflects strong value at the top end of the 1.5 man class.