Bivy Bag Choice and Mosquitoes?

[Graveworm]

Though the Snugpak bivy is 1300g and I wouldn't be sleeping under the stars with only the bivy anyway.

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Just weighed my snugpack it's 1080g with ti pegs. The included pegs I think are made of lead and need to go as a priority. If weight is what it is about I agree you can get lighter I have a "2" man (very small men) tent that weighs less. I don't usually use the snugpack with a tarp which is why I like it because it's so quick to pitch, small footprint and quick to strike but still pretty weather proof. I can't compare it with others with hoops and mesh.

If you're making something up, this is good stuff. Makes standard mozzie net look like chain-link.

Thanks for that link I was looking for some netting to improvise a couple of things and that looks just the ticket.

 

[Jaan]

Where would be the best place to buy army bivy bags? Is it possible to get new ones? Which is the best army bivy, British? I've seen some use Dutch ones.

 

[Greek1983]

Where would be the best place to buy army bivy bags? Is it possible to get new ones? Which is the best army bivy, British? I've seen some use Dutch ones.

Search for the Dutch Army hooped bivy bag. It's the equivalent of the Carinthia Explorer 2 but not ridiculously expensive (the Carinthia is 500 Euros, the Dutch one close to 100-120). Try http://www.marktplaats.nl/ or eBay.

Another option is the Norka Summit, a Polish copy of the Carinthia Observer. If you're really lucky you might find the rare DPM Carinthia Observer Dutch Recce units use.

 

[EdS]

Phoenix wnet out of production in1993 whne bought out by Karrimor - not long after Karrimor themselves where bought out.

 

[bushytoo]

Hi, I have a hennesy hammock deluxe explorer it has a built in mosquito net which can be zipped up, hammock camping isn't for me, so I just use it as a bivy sack. It does the job but I find it claustrophobic. I've been looking at some freestanding mosquito net as it gives me more options, two which look good to me is the blackstump instant mosquito net, I haven't seen any UK suppliers supplying it.
http://www.outdoorfair.de/epages/61...h=/Shops/61191849/Products/Mosquito-Dome-2-CS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PicueuniMTE

The only thing that puts me off is the packed weight which is 2.8 kilos.

Lifesystems mosquito net only 1.5 kilos.
http://www.roamingfox.co.uk/Lifesystems-Freestanding-Mosquito-Net-pr-16741.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1ziX2wXdP4

 

[Thoth]

Would one of these be suitable: http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/golite_shangrila_1_mesh_inner_tent,_nest.html ? You can can hang the loops at each end from a ridgeline under your tarp.

 

[bushytoo]

This one looks really good, I am going to buy one. All I need is a tarp to throw over it in case of rain.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Portabl...ltDomain_0&hash=item43aa3c68e0#ht_4734wt_1165
http://www.travelgear.com.au/equip-speed-treated-mosquito-net/

 

[Jaan]

Great options here!

A freestanding mosquito net is something I didn't think of. In that case A bivy bag would not be needed since most of them have proper groundsheets. However, the tarp setup needs to be really good since if it rains and there's wind it can come in on the ends of the tarp.

Right now the best bet to me still seems:
1. DD Tarp
2. British Army Bivi
3. Lifesystems 1-person hanging mosquito net: http://lifesystems.co.uk/psec/mosquito_nets/ultranet_mosquito_net.htm

Gives the most versatility since the mosquito net is only needed here about 3-4 months of the year, with only June and July being mandatory.

Thanks for the great ideas everyone!

 

[Jaan]

I've got to bump the post because I have another question:

I have pretty much decided on the British Army Bivi, but is there a zipped version or alternative?

I just received a Woodlore Osprey sleeping bag and the centre zip is very comfortable, but not having one on the bivy would certainly complicate things?

Snugpak make a "special forces" bivy, which has a half-length zip, does anyone have any comments about them? How do they compare with the army bivy?

Thanks!

 

[Shewie]

Have you looked at the dutch bivvies? Endicotts do some good mods on them

Good review here

 

[Badger74]

I've got a British Army bivi bag and had a zip put in along one of the diagonal seams on the front. It doesn't have an extra flap to be totally weatherproof, but as this bit will be under the tarp I don't see it as an issue.

 

[Jaan]

Thanks guys! I'll look into the Dutch army one and might also consider adding a custom zip to the British one.

By the way, how large is the British Army Bivi when packed? Could someone show me a picture compared to a common item? (Zebra Billy Can or a bag of flour or something.)

Kitmonster says it folds down to 14x21x98cm, but that is absolutely HUGE. On the other hand Paul Kirtley has an article on his blog about his kit and there his bivy looks the same size packed as a 3/4 Therm-a-rest, which is very small.

I'm confused.

 

[bilmo-p5]

My British Army bivi will roll-up to about 25cm long x 15cm diameter.

 

[tartanferret]

These are my two British issue bivy bags.

The one on the left is the standard version and the one on the right is the wide version.

(standard sized can of cola for scale)



I've just put them on the digital scales and the weights are; 834g and 902g respectively.



They are the same length but the wide version is roomier around the shoulders.

It has an extra triangle of material sewn into the width (roughly 60cm wide by 70cm deep)

It's not zipped or velcro, I've just folded it slightly to emphasize the triangle
Also, It does have a hood same as the other type.




Hope this helps !

 

[Jaan]

These are my two British issue bivy bags.

The one on the left is the standard version and the one on the right is the wide version.

(standard sized can of cola for scale)

View attachment 8862

I've just put them on the digital scales and the weights are; 834g and 902g respectively.

View attachment 8863

They are the same length but the wide version is roomier around the shoulders.

It has an extra triangle of material sewn into the width (roughly 60cm wide by 70cm deep)

It's not zipped or velcro, I've just folded it slightly to emphasize the triangle
Also, It does have a hood same as the other type.


View attachment 8864

Hope this helps !

Brilliant!

Thank you very much.

 

[tartanferret]

Great options here!

A freestanding mosquito net is something I didn't think of. In that case A bivy bag would not be needed since most of them have proper groundsheets. However, the tarp setup needs to be really good since if it rains and there's wind it can come in on the ends of the tarp.

Right now the best bet to me still seems:
1. DD Tarp
2. British Army Bivi
3. Lifesystems 1-person hanging mosquito net: http://lifesystems.co.uk/psec/mosquito_nets/ultranet_mosquito_net.htm

Gives the most versatility since the mosquito net is only needed here about 3-4 months of the year, with only June and July being mandatory.

Thanks for the great ideas everyone!

Jaan,
I don't know if you are still after a bug-net? but whilst looking for something else, I came across this


Its on ebay (no connection to seller etc)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Outdoor-R...ng_Tents_JN&hash=item43ad78ee0f#ht_500wt_1287

jon

 

[Jaan]

As a conclusion to this thread I'd like to thank all of you for great input!

I've bought my bivi now and the mosquito net will soon be on the way.

I decided to buy the British Army bivi from Kitmonster, chose the new one since I have money to spend and any other Gore-Tex bag when new is twice as expensive. (Plus I sweat A LOT, so I need to make sure it breathes properly! Hope that's not going to be too much of a problem.)

As for the mosquito net, the battle was between these two:
1. http://lifesystems.co.uk/psec/mosquito_nets/ultranet_mosquito_net.htm
2. http://www.seatosummit.com.au/showdetail.php?Code=AMOSS

In the end the Sea-to-Summit one won, since it's a bit longer, a lot wider and only 20g heavier.

Hope this thread helps others too!

 

[Mastino]

Dutch bivvy plus a midge netting with sewn bottom (not hooped). Works fine.

I'm curious about this one: http://www.backcountrygear.com/camping-and-hiking/tents/adventure-16-bug-bivy-black.html I've never seen these in Europe but I like the idea.