Re: Bivvi bags - advice please
Posted: 25 Jul 2021, 10:56am
More adventures in bivvi bags this past week. I spent four nights sleeping on a shingle beach in Hampshire.
Pictured is my complete sleeping system from top to bottom: Thermarest pillow, Lifesystems midge and mozzie headnet, Snugpack Softie 3 Merlin sleeping bag (standard size), Thermarest Neoair Venture (large), Hunka XL bivvi bag, and a Blue Mountain groundsheet cut to size.
The sleeping bag, mat, and bivvi were all a recent purchase and this was a huge improvement over my previous set up. The Thermarest Venture mat in a large size (I'm 77kg and 186cm [6'1"]) was very comfortable and the extra width and length made all the difference. I placed the mat on top of the groundsheet and the bivvi bag on top of that. This was the most comfortable set up and I slept very well.
There was some condensation on the inside of the Hunka bivvi bag but mostly along the taped seems. Bear in mind that the nights over the past week have been hot and humid, although it was a great deal cooler on the coast. Sunday night (18 July) was so warm I didn't even bother with the bivvy bag. However, a heavy dew settled and the top of the sleeping bag was damp in the morning. I don't think think the Hunka is a huge improvement over the Mountain Warehouse bag but it is a well designed and simple bag. I like the way it stuffs into its own pocket. The Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin sleeping bag is very comfortable and very well made - to match the relatively high price (I paid £120 but it can be had much cheaper). The Thermarest Neoair Venture (large) mat is very comfortable and is made of fairly tough material. It is worth the slightly extra weight.
Bivvi https://alpkit.com/products/hunka-xl
Sleeping bag https://www.snugpak.com/sleeping/softie-3
Mat https://www.thermarest.com/ie/sleeping- ... nture.html
Other equipment I used:
MSR DragonFly liquid fuel stove https://www.msrgear.com/ie/products/sto ... 11776.html I bought this 20 years ago and I've only replaced the fuel pump. Boils water fast for morning coffee, and can simmer very low for cooking porridge. I use Coleman fuel or Primus Power fuel (both are refined petrol). I've also used Aspen 4 fuel and unleaded petrol in the past.
Firesteel https://lightmyfire.com/en/swedish-fire ... -army-2in1 to light the stove.
MSR cooking pot set https://www.msrgear.com/ie/cookware/sta ... 21720.html Bought these 20 years ago. Durable and easy to clean. DragonFly and pump fits inside.
The sleeping bag, mat, and bivvi were all a recent purchase and this was a huge improvement over my previous set up. The Thermarest Venture mat in a large size (I'm 77kg and 186cm [6'1"]) was very comfortable and the extra width and length made all the difference. I placed the mat on top of the groundsheet and the bivvi bag on top of that. This was the most comfortable set up and I slept very well.
There was some condensation on the inside of the Hunka bivvi bag but mostly along the taped seems. Bear in mind that the nights over the past week have been hot and humid, although it was a great deal cooler on the coast. Sunday night (18 July) was so warm I didn't even bother with the bivvy bag. However, a heavy dew settled and the top of the sleeping bag was damp in the morning. I don't think think the Hunka is a huge improvement over the Mountain Warehouse bag but it is a well designed and simple bag. I like the way it stuffs into its own pocket. The Snugpak Softie 3 Merlin sleeping bag is very comfortable and very well made - to match the relatively high price (I paid £120 but it can be had much cheaper). The Thermarest Neoair Venture (large) mat is very comfortable and is made of fairly tough material. It is worth the slightly extra weight.
Bivvi https://alpkit.com/products/hunka-xl
Sleeping bag https://www.snugpak.com/sleeping/softie-3
Mat https://www.thermarest.com/ie/sleeping- ... nture.html
Other equipment I used:
MSR DragonFly liquid fuel stove https://www.msrgear.com/ie/products/sto ... 11776.html I bought this 20 years ago and I've only replaced the fuel pump. Boils water fast for morning coffee, and can simmer very low for cooking porridge. I use Coleman fuel or Primus Power fuel (both are refined petrol). I've also used Aspen 4 fuel and unleaded petrol in the past.
Firesteel https://lightmyfire.com/en/swedish-fire ... -army-2in1 to light the stove.
MSR cooking pot set https://www.msrgear.com/ie/cookware/sta ... 21720.html Bought these 20 years ago. Durable and easy to clean. DragonFly and pump fits inside.
