Just seen this, nice video.
What’s your thoughts on the hooped bivi? I have been thinking of getting in but am a bit put off by stories of poor zips etc.
Hi thanks for watching and sorry for the slow response, I've not been on this forum for a little while.
I'm really enjoying the bivvy. But, due to the lockdown I've only been able to use it a couple of times. However, it's becoming a firm favourite for a multitude of reasons.
The good points:
It seems to breath really well, I love how much space there is inside the bivvy and have found that I can comfortably store much of my kit in their with me - the head end really is quite spacious and you can easily store your bergan up above your head. The mosi net came in really handy on my last trip (check out my latest vid on youtube!). And I've also found that it has plenty of space inside for me and my thick exped sleeping mat.
The downsides:
It is definitely not the lightest or most compact bivvy on the market (it weighs approx. 1.6kg and packs down a little smaller than a loaf of bread). Personally, I feel as though that's a compromise worth making in return for having the durable and breathable Gore-Tex fabric. Coupled with a small tarp/poncho it still makes for a light and versatile shelter system and I have plans to use this set-up on some long distance hikes.
The only other point to note is indeed the zips, they're not ykk on the Spanish FECSA models and these appear to be the most popular versions that appear on the market. When I was getting this bivvy, I shared your concerns about the zips and was very aware of their relative fragility. Happily, I was able to get my hands on a brand new bivvy. and that option is really what swung it for me as I can be assured that it's never been subject to any abuse! Although it is the FECSA version, I've found it to be absolutely fine. Key points to note are that you should avoid pegging out the bivvy so that it's too taught as that obviously puts a lot of strain on the zips. I also tend not to use the zip at the head end and seal myself in (unless I need to use the bug net) as I'm usually under the cover of a tarp.
Finally, I've seen that some folk have been able to repair/modify their bivvies by installing a new ykk zipper. If my zipper ever fails then I shall be taking my bivvy to my nearest seamstress and seeing if they can make the alteration.
You can still source the better Carinthia version, they pop up from time to time on Ebay. There's a German military surplus store that seems to sell them occasionally but I can't quite remember what they were called.
All in all, I'm delighted with it and am of the opinion that it was probably the better option when compared to the Snugpak Stratosphere.