View Full Version : Tarp and Bivi Bag
Pandabean
04-08-2008, 17:59
Hey all,
I have been looking around the past few weeks for information on where to get a Tarp and Bivi Bag as well as what ones are decent. I popped into Tiso (silly I know but I wasnt going to buy) for a look at them and they only had a bivi bag but at £120 which to me seems a bit expensive, however it might not be as I don't know much about them.
Couldnt find a tarp anywhere in the shops in the City centre. :O
What sorts of prices do they go for?
Can anyone recommend a good bivi bag and tarp please and a good place to buy them?
Cheers,
Andy
Celt_Ginger
04-08-2008, 18:39
British army or Dutch army surplus bivi bags are good quality and will probably cost you about £50.00. http://www.endicotts.co.uk/ It's a proper gore tex bivi and good quality. You can get a 2m x 3m tarp from USMC for about 25.00 or a 3m x 3m for £30.00
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.usmcpro.com/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dusmcpro%26num%3D3 0%26hl%3Den%26newwindow%3D1%26 rlz%3D1T4DAIE_en-GBGB209GB209
Go to "equipment" then bivi and then shelter.
The penguin
04-08-2008, 18:49
http://home.freeuk.net/kathmandu/catalogue.html#sect1 is a reputable source of lightweight bivis and tarps - not too expensive, either. No connection, just planning on buying a tarp from them myself.
Good luck,
Philip.
Angus Og
04-08-2008, 18:53
http://home.freeuk.net/kathmandu/catalogue.html#sect1 is a reputable source of lightweight bivis and tarps - not too expensive, either. No connection, just planning on buying a tarp from them myself.
Good luck,
Philip.
Heard they had shut down, let me know if you get a reply.
crazyclimber
04-08-2008, 21:20
the alpkit hunka does the trick nicely and is about £30, podcast bob also does some lightweight tarps, I recently got his solo one and though I've only used it a few nights so far it seems very well made, nice and light and it's not too expensive. www.alpkit.com and www.backpackinglight.co.uk respectively. Hope that helps!
mortalmerlin
06-08-2008, 19:11
I have UK Army bivi bags, which are goretex and from ebay cost me about 25-40 pounds each. I haven't had any problems with them.
Tripitaka
06-08-2008, 19:32
As far as tarps go, I saw the puppys parts of a tarp this weekend.
Take a look at the True North stuff; it's pricey but DAMN! I watched Jed Yarnold yank, stretch and deform the big tarp in a way that I would describe as abuse but he considered "normal use". You had to see it to understand but to give you an idea...
Stretch up a taut line about 4-5ft high and use a hitch to pulley it bar tight. Attach the middle two of the tabs on one side to the taut line. Yank corners down to the ground on each side so the hem is stretched tight.
I checked each attachment point for straining and there wasn't ANY. It's a seriously well made tarp that is very well thought out.
BCUK may be selling some through the shop - drop Tony a mail to check it out.
www.truenorthoutdoor.co.uk
No affiliation - just amazed at the performance and on my shopping list to buy right after my Hennessy Safari Deluxe!
Pandabean
21-08-2008, 19:54
Apologies for the long delay in replying back to this but I have been quite busy with other things and havent had the chance to come back on here.
Thanks all for the advice. I might go for one of the Solo Tarps from here http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product156.asp.
As for the bivi bag I am still not 100% sure what to go for.
The main thing is that I have had no experience of sleeping in anything else other than a tent. So when I have camped its been a tent and a sleeping bag. However recently I have wanted to try using a Tarp and Bivi Bag hence the reason for this topic. So I am not looking to spend over the odds on a bivi bag but i want one that will be decent and of good quality.
Being in Scotland the one thing you all know that we have is the dreaded midge.So is a mosquito net any good against them?
Gailainne
21-08-2008, 20:07
Snugpak do a really good bivi bag, with small poles which extend the area around your head, have netting which keeps midges out, and allows good circulation. I used it on a survival course on Texa earlier this year, however I did use a tarp over the top for extra protected living area, well worth checking out.
Stephen
Gailainne
21-08-2008, 20:08
Snugpak do a really good bivi bag, with small poles which extend the area around your head, have netting which keeps midges out, and allows good circulation. I used it on a survival course on Texa earlier this year, however I did use a tarp over the top for extra protected living area, well worth checking out.
Stephen