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Topic: BIVVIES

Caligula

16/1/2022 at 12:27pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

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Hello, seeking advice on bivvies from those that use or have used them.
Types? Hooped or unstructured? End access or side access? Sizes?

Many thanks in anticipation............

spiritburner

17/1/2022 at 1:05am
Location: NE England
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Having used a variety my preference is for unpoled, end access bivvy with a small tarp.

Caligula

17/1/2022 at 11:29am
Location: Suffolk
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Thank you for your response. Many do indeed go this route, but I keep feeling that that negates the minimalist approach as it might be, for if I take a tarp, why not make a tarp tent, and leave the bivvy bag at home?

I don't know? Do you find end access a faff? What bag do you use/prefer?

navver

17/1/2022 at 7:33pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

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When I was in TA years ago we had a poncho. This was a ground sheet sized waterproof sheet which folded in half to form a poncho which was a waterproof jacket affair. It had a hood and sleeves and poppered down the sides to form the jacket.

To sleep we could unpopper it and make a small tent using sticks for poles and pegs. Two could bivvy together, one making the tent and the other the ground sheet.

Alternatively it could be poppered into a long tube which we could slide into and sleep that way. Very quick and warm.

These ponchos are still available from army/navy type stores.

Caligula

17/1/2022 at 8:18pm
Location: Suffolk
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Quote: Originally posted by navver on 17/1/2022
When I was in TA years ago we had a poncho. This was a ground sheet sized waterproof sheet which folded in half to form a poncho which was a waterproof jacket affair. It had a hood and sleeves and poppered down the sides to form the jacket.

To sleep we could unpopper it and make a small tent using sticks for poles and pegs. Two could bivvy together, one making the tent and the other the ground sheet.

Alternatively it could be poppered into a long tube which we could slide into and sleep that way. Very quick and warm.

hese ponchos are still available from army/navy type stores.

Thank you. I do indeed sometimes use a Polish Lavvu myself, but my question pertained to others experience and/or advice concerning bivvy bags?

Ewen c

via mobile 17/1/2022 at 10:29pm
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
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I have a Dutch army bivvy bag. Similar to the UK army one but a centre entry to pair with a military sleeping bag. It has a mat sleeve for a karrimat. I have only used it under a tarp and won't again as I am getting too fragile for sleeping on karrimat.
We did use to bivvy when I was in my twenties using ex army bivvy bags. You will get damp from condensation. You will roll off your mat if it doesn't have a mat sleeve. Your gear will need to be waterproof as it won't be in with you and you will feel like a sausage. You will probably be rained on and feel claustrophobic but you will be warm.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

Oswestry Ed

via mobile 18/1/2022 at 9:16am
Location: Marches
Outfit: POSSL 2Win

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I had a "Peapod" one person tent in the late 70s. They were light and water tight with just enough room to cook 'laying cdown' in the entrance. Not sure if they are still around, I used mine in all seasons.
I seem to remember something written about them in this forum a while back.

Caligula

18/1/2022 at 9:21am
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

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Ooops, my earlier reply disappeared into the ether!

But thank you Ewen for your experiences. I do have (or did, I have moved them on) the older goretex surplus unsupported top entry bags, but yes they didn't breathe well....Too bulky as well......
I have since bought an Alpkit Hunka XL, very compact and supposed to breathe well or better (summer use only).....but I remain unconvinced with top loading? Why not fit a side waterproof zip?
So, my thoughts are moving towards a hooped bag, such as Alpkit Elan (a little small/short?) or Snugpaks version (a little bigger?) both with side access zips.........

Ewen c

via mobile 18/1/2022 at 11:23am
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
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I also have a wee eureka solitaire which is basically a bivvy tent. End or top entry and it fitted me and my rucksack.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

spiritburner

18/1/2022 at 6:48pm
Location: NE England
Outfit: Citroen Dispatch Campervan plus tents

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I use bivvy's for bikepacking more than backpacking. For winter backpacking on open mountainsides (as opposed to woodland) I don't really find bivvies practical. I only have one bivvy bag, an old Goretex Phoenix Phalklander which weighs 660 grams - top entry. In the picture above I'm using an Alpkit Rig 3.5 tarp at 300g & a PHD drilite sleeping bag cover at 170g. Bag is a PHD Miinum 350 with full side zip at 765g. The drilite cover is not really a bivvy bag as seams aren't sealed & top isn't fully closable.

My one person tents aren't hugely heavy at 950g & 1360g. The heavier one uses trekking poles to support the front & is a proper limpet in wind. The lighter one has it's on pole & is a cuben fibre version of the old Phoenix Phreeranger. I much prefer tents to bivvies in winter.

Caligula

19/1/2022 at 1:11pm
Location: Suffolk
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Thank you

Caligula

02/2/2022 at 4:09pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

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Having decided that I didn't get on with top loader designs (Alpkit Hunka XL), I have settled on a Snugpak Stratosphere hooped bivvi, which has a side zip and is a little bigger than Alpkit's Elan hooped bivvi.
Not a lot of room for turning over, but for a (hopefully dry) summer stealth camp, it could be quite acceptable?

I could use a tarp as well, as a dressing area, but that seems to defeat the object? Hence dry summer target usage.......of course that thinking could all change in due course!

applepicker

27/9/2023 at 9:37pm
Location: Portsmouth
Outfit: None Entered

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I have owned tarps and the best one of all in my opinion is a Lanshan One XL tarp/tent, you can use it as a tent, a tarp or as a bivvy.

-------------
Reg Edmunds

Caligula

01/10/2023 at 6:07pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

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Have used a tarp, sometimes as a tent.....have now added a Snugpak Ionosphere, with which I am very pleased for stealth wild camping. Extremely good, unsurprisingly, in high winds too.

romany

02/10/2023 at 11:31am
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I came accross this youtube review a few months back looking for my son might be of interest to you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCn9viu9WCE

Caligula

04/11/2023 at 2:54pm
Location: Suffolk
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Thank you.

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