Goretex Bivi Bag Mod

[capacious]

Hey,

I intend to put a zip right down the centre of my bivi bag about 4 feet long, so does anyone know where I can get a four foot zip from?

Thanks, Jake.

[Phil562]

I'd probaly try a "Tent / Caravan Retailer" ;)

[Bardster]

http://www.zipperstop.com/id10.htm

or it might be worth giving YKK a ring - and see who they supply
http://www.ykkukcatalogue.com/index.htm

[anthonyyy]

Hey,

I intend to put a zip right down the centre of my bivi bag about 4 feet long,

Thanks, Jake.

Does it need to be as long as 4 feet? It might be worthwhile testing out how long a zip you need by playing around with your sleeping bag zip. Measure twice and cut once and all that.

[Great Pebble]

I'd be disinclined to do that.....

[scanker]

I'd tend to agree. Unless you were going to manufacture some sort of storm flap, and then you have to tape seal all the seams...

[Brendan]

I would do this if I didn't want my bivvy bag to be waterproof anymore!
Not a good idea unless you only plan to use it under a tarp or in a tent.

[capacious]

Yeah, I'm probably only gona use it under a tarp, unless it is too windy :rolleyes: . And I do intend to both seal the seams AND put on a storm flap. And if the weather is reeeally bad, all I need do is turn the bag over so the zip is on the ground - if the weather was that bad, I wouldn't want to be getting in and out of the bag all that much anyway, and the draw cord would be pulled completely closed, so it really dosn't make all that much difference which way up the bag is (I have thought this through, despite what some of you may be thinking :p )

Thanks for all the replies, Jake.

[falcon]

I've had this done having taken on board the words of caution. I went ahead on the basis that I'm under a basha which I've slept under in steady rain (albeit not a squally storm) without even lowering the sides to the floor and didn't get any water on the bag. So I've taken the risk in order to make it easier to use the bag while still having a fallback position of lowering the sides. By the way the longest zip we could obtain was 32" though I don't know where it came from.

[Nemisis]

Here try these they do zips cut from the roll to any length required. http://www.pointnorth.co.uk/shop_cat.asp?cat_id=4 also this page for seam sealants and tapes etc
http://www.pointnorth.co.uk/shop_sub_cat.asp?cat_id=3&sub_cat_id=20&txt_cat=ACCESSORIES&txt_sub_cat=SEAM+SEALANTS+AND+ PROOFERS#
Dave.

[SCOMAN]

I've Modded one of the original pattern MOD bivi bags to be a single hopped bivvy with a wide zipped opening and midgie screen. It requires a lot of patience and someone good on a pretty hefty sewing machine. Looking at everyone else's reply I can see peoples concerns with piercing the bivvy bag but as long as all the seams are sealed with good sealing tape it's fine. Ain't had a leak yet. Point north provided all my kit, rod for hoop, extra gore-tex, midge screen and sealing tape. If you haven't done it already iron the sealing tape on using a piece of printer paper between the tape and the Iron. Last bit of info won the hard way!

[wasteoid]

Dont know if it helps, but you can get waterproof zips! They use them for scuba diving dry suits. Hope it helps.

Cheers Chris