British army bivi bags question?

[CLEM]

Ive got a standard British issue Army Olive green bivi bag,good bit of kit no doubts about it,solid reliable and available at some bargain prices if you look about.My question is does,did or have our forces ever been issued with bivi bags of the hooped type?

 

[CLEM]

No one knows then!

 

[Ahjno]

Dutch forces use them (well, some regiments), but don't know about the Britts.
If you want I'll mail a mate for some info about it.

 

[bikething]

If you wait a bit there are a fair few ex-forces chaps on here, but as it's a nice day they're probably all out 'practicing' I'm sure someone will be along shortly, and I can ask a mate in work (ex royal marine) on Monday what he knows

HTH
Steve

 

[Trevody]

Hooped bivi's are not standard issue as far as I'm aware, A friend of mine has been considering adapting an issue bivi in to a hooped bivi, I will posts some pics if he ever gets round to it.

Trev

 

[Brian]

CLEM,

As trev said, hooped bivis are not standared issue. However a mate of mine was a storeman in Hereford in the mid 90's and he got hold of some DPM hooped bivi bags, Mountain Equipment iirc, he said if they ask for it they get it. Haven't seen any since though.

Brian

 

[lord lurcher]

I have seen hooped bivi bags on e-bay if thats any help?

 

[CLEM]

Thanks Gents!

 

[Goose]

I think there were a couple of hooped bivi bags around, but they may not have been breathable. May have been RM issue in the 80s, but not seen very often.

 

[amott69]

I served in Ireland in 89 never saw a hooped bag

 

[addyb]

What are hooped bivi bags like to sleep in? The one I use has no hoop, but it does have a small loop that I can attach a cord to pull the face part away from my body, negating condensation.

Either way I look at it, I hate sleeping in a bivi. I feel closed in, tight, and very uncomfortable. I much prefer tents!

Adam

 

[Ex Member lyndon]

never seen or heard of one since 85 when i joined i got a gortex standard issue one even with duct tape over the 2 inch rip its watertight pity they never made a padded one realy

 

[Lifthasir]

A hooped bivvy?

Imagine a tent. Imagine the smallest you one you've ever seen. Now imagine one
even smaller - so small it's just a bag with a small hoop over your head to lift
the bag clear.

A bit of willow or hazel works just as well.

 

[leon-1]

Yes hooped bivi bags have been issued to British armed forces personnel, post the Falklands conflict they were issued to servicemen there. I cannot tell you if they were breathable as I was in South Georgia and we had to use tents, however other members of my unit were stationed in the Falklands and they had used them.

I hope this helps.

 

[Batfink]

I've seen a few squaddies mincing around with Hooped bivis' - but I've not come across any in the QMs. I suspect they were bought on "CO's budget" (a discretionary, operational need budget open to senior officers), or out of personal funds rather than withdrawn directly from the QM.

What are they like? Like Lifthasir small!!!

The latest issue ones - or the latter ones at least - are no way near as narrow as the first few batches. They have a much, much wider opening in the top and have a large triange stitched into them to facilitate this broad opening. It makes them easier to jump in and out of when your dressed up like an armed cabbage out in the bondu. However, along with this benefit comes the inherent problem that, with a wide opening, it allows a lot of hot air out & cold air in!!!

Also, as Lifthasir says, a willow of hazel makes a quick & cheap alternative - and has worked wonders for me over the last 5 years!

 

[CLEM]

Ive read conflicting stuff here and there that hooped bivis were issued and at the same time read the opposite.Thanks for all the replys to my question folks!

Looking to try out a hooped bivi myself this summer,was looking at the Carinthia bivis amoungsts others! not sure what to buy as yet but these Austrian bags are looking good!

 

[Batfink]

Sorry - that's the way things go in the Forces! Rumour and speculation are rife!

Leon-1 says they are issued in the Falklands - which means they may well be as an Operational Requirement - in which case they'll sit at the QM's on site, be withdrawn and returned inaccordance to taskings - rather than the standard bivi's which you can just take home with you. I'm sure there is a bountiful supply at Poole or the Hereford Gun Club though - but that's another matter!

As I said, I've not seen any either at the QM's - or in circulation within the realms of surplus - which leads me to think they are an OR or are private purchase.

 

[Ahjno]

Ive read conflicting stuff here and there that hooped bivis were issued and at the same time read the opposite.Thanks for all the replys to my question folks!

Looking to try out a hooped bivi myself this summer,was looking at the Carinthia bivis amoungsts others! not sure what to buy as yet but these Austrian bags are looking good!

If you're after the Carinthia ones, you might want to PM (here or on BB) Jon Paul (Paganwolf): he's got the double hooped one.
On my Fundamental course Woody used one too. Had a chat about it with him: the poles are aluminum (or: aluminium), and he told me he had enough room to store his rucksack in it aswell.

HTH

 

[leon-1]

Sorry - that's the way things go in the Forces! Rumour and speculation are rife!

Leon-1 says they are issued in the Falklands - which means they may well be as an Operational Requirement - in which case they'll sit at the QM's on site, be withdrawn and returned inaccordance to taskings - rather than the standard bivi's which you can just take home with you. I'm sure there is a bountiful supply at Poole or the Hereford Gun Club though - but that's another matter!

As I said, I've not seen any either at the QM's - or in circulation within the realms of surplus - which leads me to think they are an OR or are private purchase.

Well you managed to batter the nail right on the noggin with that statement.

I did not explain it very well, but batfink has given a pretty good description here as to what happens. When I first had gore-tex issued it was in Northern Ireland and only available there at the time, it was also only issued for operations (when you are out patrolling), when you got back from the operation it was handed in.

The hooped Bivi in the falklands were issued as an operational requirement, I chatted with an old mate last night and he said that most of the ones that he had used weren't that good, but that not much was in the winter in the Falklands.

 

[CLEM]

If you're after the Carinthia ones, you might want to PM (here or on BB) Jon Paul (Paganwolf): he's got the double hooped one.
On my Fundamental course Woody used one too. Had a chat about it with him: the poles are aluminum (or: aluminium), and he told me he had enough room to store his rucksack in it aswell.

HTH

Thanks Ahjno! i seem to remember Panganwolf mentioning that he had a Carinthia bivi as you say,who is Woody,i guess he recomended them?