Cycling UK Forum

Hi,
Update after trial

Thin foam mat 4mm thk (probably too thin for 7 C)
Vango Ultralite 100 sleeping bag - comfort 6 C - weight 695g grams synthetic.
Fleece pillow case (280mm x 410mm) stuffed with cycling clothes.
Underpants only.

Lay out mat and sleeping bag on top, roll up both from bottom, place in side Bivy before it is erected and shake the bag and mat into the open Bivy, whilst standing up gripping the end of bivvy.
Assemble poles and peg out with guys.

Getting in is quite easy.
Sit on open end and swivel 90 degrees with feet into sleeping bag and wriggle in.

As said earlier, the small vent is too small and unsupported, so I left the external flap partly unzipped.
Started quite comfortable and was warmish for about two hours.
First cold feeling was through floor (thin mat)
Then became increasingly uncomfortable and finally after another 2.5 hours gave up (needed a leak anyway )
Glad to get to bed in warm.

No surprise on the edge of comfort limit at 7 C.

When I got out of Bivy the underneath of head of bag probably part top also was damp.
There was expected condensation on inner of bivy.
In the morning a small puddle say 1/2 a desert spoon on one side of Bivy visible.
No surprise there.
Size wise inside was OK just for camping down.
Took just ten minutes (9.40) to unpack and fully assemble all gear, first attempt.

I shall add another vent at foot of bivy on end face and improve the head vent.
Trial again.......................
Meanwhile still searching for something sub 1Kg, small footprint that does not cost £300-500, and will not flap to much in the wind.

This is not bad but not sure I could even get my hands on one, dual skin so eliminating breathable expensive heavy also waterproof skin.
Length is not fantastic at 80" but weight at 0.99Kg and trail at 0.89KG.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Catoma-R ... 4902.l9144

P.S. Not given up making what I need yet, latest global problems mean i will probably not need to next year, so time on side, also I will buy right stuff at any price as a last resort, but you all know trying first is best.

Hi,
As already mentioned ventilation is very poor.
On this basis this could prove a bit dangerous if you zip it right up

Hi,
On the Vaude Power Lizard I found this review, not sure how up-to-date it is?
I note that Foxy Has a inner with vents.
The one tested has not?
https://backpackinglight.com/vaude_powe ... nt_review/

I have a bivy tent which I purchased around 40 lbs ago. Last year I wanted to use it on a trip and it felt as restricting as my sleeping bag.
Bought a Naturehike Cloudup 2p. Weighs only 1.7 kg and has plenty of room.

foxyrider wrote:I've got Ti pegss ranging from 2g wire skewers, 5g std skewers and i think 8g V pegs - depending on where i'm going ie soil type, i will vary what i take along. The wire 'pins' do work but they are easy to misplace and damage so i usually carry a pair for the hardly ever used guys.

My current 'in use' tent is a Vaude Powerlizard SL, mesh 'windows' at either end of the inner and a 1/3rd mesh panel on the inner door.

A couple of pics from its first tour in 2013 to Switzerland, here at the campsite at the top of the Jaun Pass. It was August but i woke to frost/ice on the outer!

DSCF0637.JPGDSCF0636.JPG

This is about as small as I could cope with -- I couldn't work with the tiny coffin type tents.

Hi,
The reason I am looking at a lighter smaller foot print shelter is-
One- cut down on weight and bulk for carrying.
Two- when camping after dark its very difficult to find a space for a standard solo tent ( I have many and at 1.5 kilo too), one night spending nearly two hours on a rocky hillside.
At last resort I will just have to move on till an opportunity presents its self.
Not intending to do anything except sleep.

what about 1.6kg of festival single skin dome (if you could get it in olive / camo)?

eg https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15980900/15980900-eurohike-toco-2-person-tent-red but in olive/camo...

As a dome is free standing, quick to pitch, and if not cooking cos stealthily in a forest, then lack of porch less of a problem etc etc?

I see Alpkit have a new hooped bivi, the Elan. Very basic, but a bit more shelter than a simple bivi with a pole shelter above your upper body/head. Quite reasonable price and looks good quality.

https://alpkit.com/products/elan-kelp

Hi,
Looks good light and the price to.
I'm guessing it's not a breathable fabric as it does not say so?

I've been using a Snugpak Stratophere for occassional trips ( https://www.snugpak.com/outdoor/stratosphere-2944 ). Great for stealth camping the hooped head makes it much better than a regular bivy, but still a long way off the comfort or convenience of a tent, even a small one. The hooped part keeps the material off your face and also has mesh vents which can help with the condensation bivies can suffer from. Combined with a lightweight tarp it's given me pretty much what I'm looking for for a couple of night on my own if the weather's looking half decent.

Only problem as far as the title of this tread goes, at £159.00 RRP it doesn't satisfy the cheap bit. That said, the quality is really good and in £'s per year it worked out pretty cost effective.

Hi,
There are several hooped bivys with that cross tubing.
Side entry must be a boon?
Gortex tends to add weight, others are treated to make breathable / additional alcove.
Alcove seems mandatory with non breathable, otherwise ventilation is difficult to remain rainproof?

Hi,
Continued-

Hi,
Ingenious
[youtube]WIgXQioojmA[/youtube]

Well this is not that cheap, but works well. I bought mine used on gumtree for a good price.
Rab | Ridge Raider | Bivi | Olive £280.50
https://www.trekitt.co.uk/2678/products ... olive.aspx

[quote="NATURAL ANKLING"].
Side entry must be a boon?......

It is, but to take advantage of it fully you really must make sure your sleeping bag has it's zip on the same side as the opening. In the case of my Snugpak Stratosphere and in sleeping bag terminology you need a sleeping bag with a RH zip, (i.e. when you're in you sleeping bag, laying on your back, the zip is on the right). They exist, and by sheer good fortune my sleeping bag has a RH zip, but the vast majority of mens or unisex bags are LH.

Changing the subject slightly, if I could make one big improvment to my Stratosphere it'd be a hooped foot area such as on some of the bivies upthread. I think having that end of the bag raised & tensioned as little would lift the material away from the sleeping bag and allow the bag to loft fully.