Basic kit list awaits approval.

[Murlock]

Hi Gang,

Here's my ideas for my shelter/sleep kit for a 5 day outing in wales could you give me an opinion on the items please?

I know theres a lot of it but i want backup and versatility depending on conditions/location/mood. with good all-round comfort.

Gelert Solo Tent 1.5kg £23
DD Tarp and Travel Hammock. 1500-2000g £85
Snugpak Bivi bag 340g £50 ish
Snugpak Sleeper Zero Camo 1600g £35
Silver coated foam mat cut to solo footprint 400g £5
thermarest type 3/4 mat due to width restriction in foot end of solo.

Anyway let me know what you all think. i'll get ready to dodge the abuse

Take Care.

I know its a fair bit of weight to start and a fair bit of expense but its got maximum flexibilty given any situation

 

[Shewie]

It looks like you've got all the angles covered, personally I'd either go with the tent and ditch the hammock and tarp, or ditch the tent and silver mat and go with the hammock, tarp and bivvy bag. That way if you can't find trees to hang on then you can always go to ground in the bivvy under the tarp.

Have a good trip and take some piccies for us

 

[Wilderbeast]

It looks like you've got all the angles covered, personally I'd either go with the tent and ditch the hammock and tarp, or ditch the tent and silver mat and go with the hammock, tarp and bivvy bag. That way if you can't find trees to hang on then you can always go to ground in the bivvy under the tarp.

Have a good trip and take some piccies for us

Yeah that's what I'd suggest as well! Plus it's summer so shouldn't be cold enough for a tent!

 

[rg598]

Well, you certainly have it all covered, but what will you be doing at the outing. If you are going to be doing a lot of traveling by foot, you will be comfortable once you set camp, but miserable the rest of the day. Those pounds really add up.

I carry a tarp, bivi, closed cell foam pad and sleeping bag. The set up has served me well. It is nice to have options, but considering that you will be carrying 5 days worth of food, any weight you can remove will be a big help. If on the other hand you are going to be in just one location, then go ahead and bring it all.

 

[Murlock]

Im happy with those replies guys . the tent is mainly there as it was a £23 option and weighs only 1.5k un-modified i.e. pegs/bags/lines.

It's untested (like me) in the field so if anything goes wrong with it, no loss.

I'm buying stuff now and Ill post a kit list as i work on each section for you guys to peruse and offer me advice.
ive spent a very long time on theory for my outing and have given myself plenty of time to organise for it. after all its my first time out since i was about 15 years old lol . but nothing beats having people to share ideas and experiences with to try and iron out the creases before i reach the "if only i'd" stage.
Ill try to post as much as i can here from my reviews from a newbies eyes to my photos and experiences whilst out in the field ( i can update via my mobile if i have the signal).

thanks so far y'all. I'll look forward to more comments/ideas

 

[J4C3]

Id deffo go with a DD travel hammock serves as a bivi bag and tent ,when on the floor that and a trap covers so many situations imho

 

[FerlasDave]

If I were you, Id go with the tent and take the tarp for an admin area too. If your in wales it will most likely rain so you want moewhere dry and comfortable to rest whilst still being in the outdoors.

 

[Thoth]

I think the 'trick' is to understand the terrain, then you can judge if it is better to have a hammock or tent/bivi set up. I prefer to have a tarp, even with a tent, for cooking in bad weather. But the basic list is sound. I'd agree that it is usually better to go light weight if you can.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

I presume the 'footprint' of the mat will be for under your feet, as you have a 3/4 thermarest ?

It's surprising how cold feet get when 'off' a mat.

I would get an ex-army bivvy bag ~£30.

Nick

 

[rik_uk3]

looks good, add a billy can and cheap gas stove for quick brews.

 

[Tengu]

It seems to offer too many options.

I have a tent, a lilo and a sleeping bag

and a pillow. dont forget your pillow.

None of these are fancy items of kit, but they seem to do well for me.

If I dont take the tent I use a beach shelter with a door

 

[spiritwalker]

tents all you need really (although im not into hammocks) at least with the tent your guaranteed some comfort in all weather protection from bugs and somewhere to get changed in if the areas are busy. with all the weight of tarp bivi and hammock gone you can take a full length mat and have ample room for all your other bits and bobs. My preferred solo kit is as follows i have tried other setups but always return to this:
vango banshee tent
trangia mini
multimat
snugpack merlin softie 3
light my fire mess kit
sigg type bottle
all of which packs into a 45 litre pack that i can carry all day long...

 

[dave53]

hi where did you get your gelert solo for £23 regards dave

 

[Dozza]

Id deffo go with a DD travel hammock serves as a bivi bag and tent ,when on the floor that and a trap covers so many situations imho

This is interesting; I didn't know you could do this but it addresses a post I have on here about bivi/tarp/mosi net versus a tent. I liked the benefits of a tarp that people were posting but didn't much like the exposure of the bivi bag to insects. Maybe I will flog my army bag and get a travel hammock for on or off ground use...

 

[drewdunnrespect]

dozza if you do get the travel hammock keep the bivvi bag cos its better than the hammock as floor covering and then put hammock on top cos the bivi is squad proof and the hammock is brilliant but thorns and sticks on floor i just dont trust it so would put me army bivi bag under nieth

 

[MartinK9]

This is interesting; I didn't know you could do this but it addresses a post I have on here about bivi/tarp/mosi net versus a tent. I liked the benefits of a tarp that people were posting but didn't much like the exposure of the bivi bag to insects. Maybe I will flog my army bag and get a travel hammock for on or off ground use...

It works fine for me, some don't get on with it:

 

[Dozza]

Thanks guys. Martin - that set up looks great. Do you have the 3x3 or 3x4.5 tarp? Drew - I think you advised on my thread to go for the larger one. The point would be to ditch the space and weight of the bivi bag though. Presumably with a mat on the ground (and maybe that rubbish Machinemart tarp or a poncho as groundsheet) the hammock would be protected okay?

 

[drewdunnrespect]

with the machine mart one yes it would be fine mate but why use the machine mart one when the bivi bag can be used for both sleeping in if nessecay and a ground sheet so save room and weight by killing to brids with one stone drew

ps still need a sleeping mat for wrmth in the hammock on the floor or hanging

 

[forrestdweller]

It works fine for me, some don't get on with it:

that's an interesting-looking mozzinet- any info's???

 

[drewdunnrespect]

forestdweller just to let you no that its not a mossie net its a hammock with a waterproof bottom and the mossi net is attached to this and this means you can use it as you see here or you can swing amongst the trees

and you can buy it from www.ddhammocks.com