Welcome back to Gerry’s Fishing! If you’re a dedicated carp angler who loves spending extended sessions on the bank, you know that your shelter is your castle. Over the years, we’ve seen bivvy designs evolve from heavy, cumbersome umbrellas to intricate pram-hood systems. But recently, Avid Carp completely disrupted the market with a true game-changer: the Avid InflataHouse range.
As a team of hardcore anglers here at Gerry’s, we know the dread of arriving at a lake on a Friday evening, racing against the fading light, and fighting to thread metal tension bars in the pouring rain. The Avid InflataHouse range eliminates that headache entirely. By replacing traditional rigid metal poles with ultra-durable, high-pressure air bladders, Avid has created the ultimate social shelter for long sessions, blending massive internal space with a ridiculously quick setup.
In this deep dive, we’re going to break down the entire InflataHouse range, look at the detailed specifications of each product, and discuss exactly why you might choose one. We will also weigh up the cutting-edge inflatable technology against your traditional metal pole bivvies.
Inflatable Technology vs. Standard Metal Pole Bivvies
Before we get into the individual products, it’s important to understand why Avid chose to use air over aluminium. How does the InflataHouse system stack up against the standard metal-ribbed shelters we’ve all used for decades?
Setup Speed and Effort
Metal Poles: Standard pram-hood bivvies require you to snap together multiple aluminium pole sections, fan them out, peg the back, pull the front over, and then forcibly insert metal tension bars to make the shelter rigid. If you have a massive two-man or social shelter, this is often a difficult, sweaty, two-person job.
Inflatable Tech: The InflataHouse takes a completely different approach. You simply unroll the shelter, peg down the corners, attach the supplied high-pressure pump to the valve, and inflate. As the air fills the thick, puncture-resistant bladders, the shelter literally erects itself. A massive social hub can be pitched perfectly by a single angler in a fraction of the time it takes to build a metal-framed equivalent.
Wind Deflection and Stability
Metal Poles: Rigid aluminium poles are incredibly strong, but they have a breaking point. In hurricane-force winds, if a metal pole cannot flex enough to absorb the gust, it will kink or snap, immediately collapsing your shelter and ruining your session.
Inflatable Tech: Air bladders possess dynamic flexibility. When slammed by massive gusts of wind, the inflatable beams simply flex and bow to absorb the pressure, before instantly springing back into their original shape once the wind drops. You will never snap a pole on an InflataHouse.
Pack Down and Weight
Metal Poles: Packing down requires unclipping tension bars, breaking down the poles, and trying to fold the stiff, awkward canvas around the metal frame to get it back into the bag. The overall weight is generally lower for smaller shelters.
Inflatable Tech: To pack down the InflataHouse, you simply open the release valves. The shelter instantly collapses flat. Because there is no rigid framework, it folds and rolls up incredibly easily. However, because of the heavy-duty bladders and the included pump, the overall package weight and pack-down size are generally heavier and bulkier than a standard metal-framed bivvy. It is a shelter designed for the barrow, not the roving angler.
The Avid InflataHouse Range: Product Details and Uses
To help you decide which model is right for your angling style, we have broken down the entire range below.
Avid InflataHouse
Featuring a fully inflatable frame, the flagship InflataHouse delivers the ultimate social shelter for longer sessions, combining immense spacious comfort with rapid, single-person setup. It is constructed from durable 10,000mm hydrostatic head khaki fabric, ensuring complete protection from the harshest elements. The true beauty of this shelter lies in its zip-on extended tunnel porch featuring large PVC side windows, which is ideal for socialising, cooking, or watching the water with friends. It is supplied with two interchangeable front panels (a solid infill and a full mosquito mesh), and the side and rear panels feature integrated mozzi mesh for superior airflow.
Example Use: This is the ultimate basecamp for a week-long trip to France or a long weekend on a large syndicate water. You can set up your sleep system in the main chamber, seal it off from the bugs, and use the massive extended porch area to house your cool boxes, cooking gear, and guest chairs.
Specifications:
Material: 10,000mm hydrostatic head khaki fabric.
Frame: High-pressure inflatable air bladders.
Porch: Zip-on extended tunnel porch with PVC windows.
Panels: Two interchangeable front panels (solid and full mosquito mesh). Side and rear panels feature integrated mosquito mesh and solid infills.
Condensation Control: Internal roof vapour shield included.
Accessories Supplied: Pressure gauge pump, double-point reflective storm straps, heavy-duty pegs, bespoke carry bag, puncture repair kit, and two clip-in heavy-duty groundsheets (main shelter and porch).
Open Dimensions (without porch): 300cm (L) x 300cm (W) x 225cm (H).
Open Dimensions (with porch): 480cm (L) x 300cm (W) x 225cm (H) – Porch Height 215cm.
Packed Dimensions: 130cm x 55cm x 55cm.
Total Weight: 35.4kg.
Avid InflataHouse Compact
The InflataHouse Compact delivers the same revolutionary inflatable social shelter concept but with a slightly reduced footprint, perfect for tighter swims while still offering huge comfort. Constructed from the same bombproof 10,000mm hydrostatic head material, the inflatable frame design drastically cuts down set-up and pack-away times. It includes the signature zip-on extended tunnel porch, interchangeable front panels, and versatile side/rear airflow systems. It comes complete with the internal roof vapour shield to significantly reduce condensation during the colder months.
Example Use: Ideal for the angler who fishes UK gravel pits where the swims aren’t quite as vast as European venues, but who still demands headroom to stand up and separate areas for sleeping and cooking. It comfortably fits a large bedchair and all your luggage with plenty of room to spare.
Specifications:
Material: 10,000mm hydrostatic head khaki fabric.
Frame: High-pressure inflatable air bladders.
Porch: Zip-on extended tunnel porch with PVC windows.
Panels: Two interchangeable front panels (solid and full mosquito mesh). Side and rear panels feature integrated mosquito mesh and solid infills.
Condensation Control: Internal roof vapour shield included.
Accessories Supplied: Pressure gauge pump, double-point reflective storm straps, heavy-duty pegs, bespoke carry bag, puncture repair kit, and two clip-in heavy-duty groundsheets (main shelter and porch).
Open Dimensions (without porch): 250cm (L) x 250cm (W) x 190cm (H).
Open Dimensions (with porch): 400cm (L) x 250cm (W) x 190cm (H) – Porch Height 185cm.
Packed Dimensions: 100cm x 45cm x 45cm.
Total Weight: 27.8kg.
Avid InflataHouse Inner Dome
Designed exclusively for the standard InflataHouse, this inner dome transforms your shelter into a fully enclosed, twin-skinned sanctuary. It is designed to toggle neatly into the main shelter, creating a secure, integrated fit that maintains both internal space and generous headroom. It features a zip-off groundsheet, offering complete flexibility—keep it sealed to create a 100% bug-free environment, or remove it during pack-down to keep the groundsheet clean and dry. Crucially, the Inner Dome can be left toggled in and packed away with the shelter, meaning there is no need to attach and detach it every session.
Example Use: If you are fishing in peak summer when mosquitoes and ticks are a nightmare, or deep in the winter when condensation is your biggest enemy, clipping in the inner dome creates an impenetrable, warm, and dry sleeping capsule.
Specifications:
Compatibility: Only compatible with the standard Avid InflataHouse. Note: Cannot be used alongside the internal vapour shield.
Design: Fully enclosed twin-skin capsule with a zip-off removable groundsheet.
Open Dimensions: 270cm (L) x 270cm (W) x 215cm (H).
Packed Dimensions: 67cm x 23cm x 24cm.
Total Weight: 4kg.
Avid InflataHouse Compact Inner Dome
This model offers the exact same bug-proof, condensation-beating benefits as the standard Inner Dome, but is sized specifically for the InflataHouse Compact. It toggles neatly into the compact shelter to create a perfectly tensioned internal capsule. The zip-off groundsheet allows for easy cleaning, and just like the larger version, it can be left installed inside the shelter when packed away to ensure a rapid setup on your next session.
Example Use: Perfect for the angler using the Compact InflataHouse who wants to guarantee mice, spiders, and damp stay well away from their bedchair and luggage during long, unpredictable UK sessions.
Specifications:
Compatibility: Only compatible with the Avid InflataHouse Compact. Note: Cannot be used alongside the internal vapour shield.
Design: Fully enclosed twin-skin capsule with a zip-off removable groundsheet.
Open Dimensions: 220cm (L) x 220cm (W) x 180cm (H).
Packed Dimensions: 60cm x 20cm x 20cm.
Total Weight: 3kg.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are inflatable bivvies really safe from punctures?
A: Yes! A common misconception is that a rogue hook or a sharp stone will instantly pop the shelter. Avid uses incredibly thick, multi-layered, heavy-duty TPU air bladders encased in protective sleeves. You would have to aggressively and intentionally stab the frame with a sharp knife to puncture it. For total peace of mind, a puncture repair kit is supplied in the bag.
Q: What happens if I over-inflate the tubes?
A: The pump supplied with the InflataHouse features a built-in pressure gauge. As long as you inflate the bladders to the recommended PSI marked on the gauge, you cannot over-inflate it. Furthermore, changes in ambient temperature (which can expand air) are easily handled by the robust nature of the bladders.
Q: Can I really pack the Inner Dome away while it’s still attached?
A: Absolutely. This is one of the best features of the system. Once you toggle the Inner Dome in for the first time, you can just open the air valves and roll the whole shelter up together. Next time you pump it up, your twin-skin setup is already perfectly configured.
Q: Can one person genuinely set up the massive 4.8m long InflataHouse alone?
A: Yes. Because air is doing all the heavy lifting, you don’t need a second person to hold tension bars or force stiff poles into spigots. You peg the back corners, attach the pump, and inflate. The shelter lifts itself off the ground.
Q: Why can’t I use the vapour shield and the Inner Dome at the same time?
A: They both utilize the same internal toggle points inside the roof of the shelter. However, you don’t need both! The Inner Dome acts as a full twin-skin system, which is infinitely more effective at eliminating condensation than a vapour shield alone.
Q: Is it suitable for short, overnight sessions?
A: While you can use it for a quick overnighter, the InflataHouse range is heavy (35.4kg for the standard and 27.8kg for the compact) and bulky. It is designed as a long-session social hub or basecamp. If you are a mobile angler fishing quick nights between work, a lightweight brolly system is still your best bet.
Q: Do I need a barrow to transport this?
A: Highly recommended. Given the packed dimensions (130cm x 55cm x 55cm for the standard model) and the heavy-duty materials, carrying this long distances by hand will be a struggle. It is designed to sit securely on a carp barrow.
The Avid InflataHouse range is a massive leap forward for anglers who refuse to compromise on comfort, space, and ease of use on long sessions. By ditching the rigid poles for high-pressure air, Avid has made building your bankside home faster and more resilient than ever before
