Dutch Army Hooped Bivi Bag

[Venator55]

Hi Guys, looking for some advice re the Dutch Army Hooped Bivi Bag. I am looking for one of these but am not sure what size I ought to look for. I am 6ft 4ins tall and 17st 10lbs. I believe they come in two sizes, Large and XL.
Any one out there who has one and matches my dimensions, I would appreciate your comments.

 

[hughtrimble]

I'd always go XL for these. The extra space in what is already very pokey is worth the slight additional weight and pack size.

 

[Venator55]

Thanks Hugh, I know their harder to source so will keep my eyes open.

 

[haptalaon]

I concur about the size. I don't have a Dutch army hooped bivvy, I have the OEX one and I find it claustrophobic, without any space for gear - and I am small for a bloke. I'd go big as you can.

 

[Gill]

Goarmy has loads of these

 

[hughtrimble]

Goarmy has loads of these

Only size L though

 

[just_john]

I found it frankly horrific, like a coffin if I'm honest. I do tend to lean towards being a bit claustrophobic though

 

[MikeLA]

Definitely go for XL. Will be more comfortable. All designs will be a bit claustrophobic but it’s just to keep you out of the weather and lighter to carry without the extreme prices for something similar.

 

[hughtrimble]

I found it frankly horrific, like a coffin if I'm honest. I do tend to lean towards being a bit claustrophobic though

These days I would personally only use it in combination with a tarp unless under really good tree cover. I sold my double hooped version a few years back, and do regret it somewhat as I just don't get the same experience from a British milsurp bivi bag. But I was daft to ever think I would given how incredibly different they are!

 

[Flecktarnmann]

With your height, 100% go for the XL.

I'm 185cm and with the L I can just about fit a 40L backpack at the end but anything larger just wouldn't fit. I've already ordered a broken bivvy to salvage its fabric to possibly extend my current one.

 

[haptalaon]

I found it frankly horrific, like a coffin if I'm honest. I do tend to lean towards being a bit claustrophobic though

Yeah, I have really mixed feelings about my hooped bivi. Last time I went camping with a friend they brought a tent and it cured my of my desire to have something more tentlike XD it was so fussy to put up. I felt smug and cosy in my bivi all night. But mostly cus it didn't rain.

I feel like it takes some of the fun out of camping if you can't cosy up in your tent with a book, and your weight savings are reduced by needing a tarp and a solution for where to put your bag if it rains. & it's a whole performance with the bivi to get your sleeping bag and roll mats set up in it too.

But I do kinda love it too. It's so handy. I love it as a survival promise & knowing I could bed down if I had to.

 

[Venator55]

Thanks for all your helpful comments guys, XL it is.
I have the BA bivi and the Alpkit Hunka XL and they are Both great.
I also own three 2 person tents and one One person tent.
I did a wild camp in May at Gunnerside Gill with my one man (1st camp with this tent) and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of room I had (size & space is understandably the biggest issue I have)
I agree with Tenderfoot that curling up with a book is bliss, but
It’s the facility to pitch Stealthy where a tent would struggle that drawers me to bivying.
Burnham-Overy-Staith dunes is on my bucket list next for a wild camp bivi so looking forward to that.
Lots of videos online of wild camps there.