Hooped bivy help

[reddy]

Hope you can give me some advise

I'm after a hooped bivi:

It needs to be under 2kg (or much less prefably) and no larger than 40 x 15cm packed as I travel very light.

It needs to be made of tough, heavy duty or non rip material and waterproof - Goretex prehaps?

It needs good ventilation or a mossie net set up.

I'd prefer it if it was camoflage or dark coloured.

I don't want to spend more than £150 if I can help it, but am willing to go up to £200 if I spot one that's absolutely amazing


I've seen some knocking about; at the moment I'm looking at a stratosphere, but I'm not an expert and would really appreciate some advice. Many thanks!

[Shewie]

Have a look at the snugpak stratosphere and do a search on ebay, there`s quite a few on there for between £70-90. Some are goretex and some aren`t so it depends what you want.

Here`s a quick search ...

"SAS" Goretex - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-SAS-Camo-G...1%7C240%3A1318

1 KG Falcon - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-1-Kg-FALCO...1%7C240%3A1318

Snugpak - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Snugpak-St...1%7C240%3A1318

[sandsnakes]

I have been looking at this problem as well. In the long run I settled for the Gelert 'Solo' tent, which surprise, surprise is a hooped bivi. Dual skin very comfey, packs small and is about a kilo. Has a mozzie net and every thing else you need. Unlike a goretex one is not damp inside at the end of the night.

Oh yes, at under £25 new its a snip.

Sandsnakes

[Kerne]

Two of the guys with whom I regularly walk use Terra Nova Jupiter bivis and swear by them. We usually tarp/bivi and while I use a 2.5 x 2.5 m tarp, (with my RAB survival zone) they get away with 2 x 1.2m tarps as the jupiter is a pretty bomb-proof jobby. Often, they don't use the tarps at all - which is probably what you're after.

List price is around £200 but they paid about £160 and you can usually find them for about £180.

Reviews on Outdoorsmagic:
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/review/.../523/RER/2/v/2
(BTM - it comes in green as well as red!)

[nigeltm]

I'll second Kerne. I use a Jupiter and only used a tarp recently as a windbreak. It can be a bit difficult at times getting in and out due to the position of the zip (the Snugpak looks better placed). Other than that I can't fault it As for price, mine was £120 used off eBay a couple of years ago.

Hope this helps.

[spoony]

quick review of the snugpak

Small review and pics. First off, since the little one has arrived i haven't had the chance to get out and shaft half as much as i want. So this mini review is backyard bushcraft I'm afraid.
Went allow to see Stella's sister at the weekend, living just off the A59 their house backs on to countryside, so i thought id take the bivi to try.
It was a nice clear day but with very strong winds.
The bivi is (in my opinion very small and light when packed away.
With only ever putting this up once before when i first got it, decided to time myself, (bare in mind it was blowing a hoolie)
Right took it out and pegged the bottom to stop it blowing away

once this is pegged out its just a matter of putting in the top to poles

and another pic

all in all it took a few minutes to erect and in strong winds.
here's some more pics.


inside towards your feet still plenty room

this is where your head goes

the vent at the top end

the small storage pocket, keys money small torch etc

another vent which can be open or closed from inside to let fresh air on your face

same vent from the inside

and a pic of the zip as you can see its well concealed.

Well am i pleased, ohhh yesss, it packs down small, weights very little, takes no time to put up, and is so simple.
Seems very well made, just need to test in a down pour, its supposed to very waterproof, time will tell.

[Shewie]

Thanks for sharing spoony, I`ve had my eye on these for a while now.

How does it keep its` shape so well ? In piccy 5 it looks as though it`s been filled with hot air. One of reasons I`ve not shelled out for one is because I couldn`t understand how it was held up away from your body with just hoops at the head end.

[spoony]

theres nothing to keep it off your body really, it was blowing a gale when i put it up and when i opened it to climb in it filled with air, and stayed like that lol prefered it like that, feels bigger, also when i was in and out i never felt it would blow away once,

[IntrepidStu]

Thanks for sharing spoony, I`ve had my eye on these for a while now.

How does it keep its` shape so well ? In piccy 5 it looks as though it`s been filled with hot air. One of reasons I`ve not shelled out for one is because I couldn`t understand how it was held up away from your body with just hoops at the head end.

Good question Rich.

I hope to be getting one of these from Lurch when he gets some in.

Stu

[bigmul]

I reckon these look pretty nice, but have read that you get condensation inside them and since I just got a down filled bag, so might not be best for that......

[reddy]

I have been looking at this problem as well. In the long run I settled for the Gelert 'Solo' tent, which surprise, surprise is a hooped bivi. Dual skin very comfey, packs small and is about a kilo. Has a mozzie net and every thing else you need. Unlike a goretex one is not damp inside at the end of the night.

Oh yes, at under £25 new its a snip.

Sandsnakes

I've seen these before and I have been toying with the idea of getting one (to add to the tent collection lol )

Though I've heard from more than one person that the fibre glass poles start splitting after very little use, which is surprising as I've always found Gelert stuff good.

Cheers for the help everyone, you've given lots to think about

[leantoo]

SAS BIVI, loads of room inside for you and your full ruck, double hooped, loads of anchor points, low down to ground though, used for observation i quess, they beat the jubiter for room, they dont have a mossi net,[ I quess the sas are tough enough],but mossi netting can always be added , ive got two a 1989 issue and a 1999 issue, ones in jungle DPM the newer one is in a darker DPM colour, theres 2000 issue ones out there, they go for around £100, they pack down small, and take up no room in a ruck, can be used as a bivy bag, these are great if your into wildlife observation or not being detected, or not getting wet...good kit honest...

[m.durston]

Seems very well made, just need to test in a down pour, its supposed to very waterproof, time will tell.

easiest way of testing the waterproofness of the snugpak bivi would be to set it up in your back garden, get inside and get the missus to hose it down with a hosepipe!
at least this way you wont get caught out in a storm on some godforsaken hillside with a wet though sleeping bag.
the condensation problem has been solved by a mesh panel around the head section which lets the air circulate.
also i love the way traders on ebay label everything SAS/PARA/MARINES in a bid to get you to buy their tat. I'm waiting for a listing that says "SAS/PARA/MARINES furry slippers amd bathrobe genuine issue" then i could truly say i have seen everything!

[spoony]

easiest way of testing the waterproofness of the snugpak bivi would be to set it up in your back garden, get inside and get the missus to hose it down with a hosepipe!
at least this way you wont get caught out in a storm on some godforsaken hillside with a wet though sleeping bag.
the condensation problem has been solved by a mesh panel around the head section which lets the air circulate.
also i love the way traders on ebay label everything SAS/PARA/MARINES in a bid to get you to buy their tat. I'm waiting for a listing that says "SAS/PARA/MARINES furry slippers amd bathrobe genuine issue" then i could truly say i have seen everything!

That review was when i first got it i just copied and pasted it, sorry since then it has been out in rain and didnt leak, still very pleased with it got mine from http://naturestrails.co.uk/index.php?id=8