Waterproof sleeping bag, a good replacement for bivy bag + sleeping bag?

[Lush]

Hi all,

Are waterproof sleeping bags easily damaged? Any experiences? I like to save the weight of a bivy bag. But somehow, the good old combination of sleeping bag + bivy bag seems quite effective and failure proof.

What happens to a waterproof sleeping bag when it scratches the earth, twigs, ect.? I usually sleep on a sleeping mat which of course doesn't mean I don't make contact with the "earth". I suppose a waterproof sleeping bag is relatively easily pierced (like bivy bags)?

Any input would be greatly appreciated,
Lush

 

[irishlostboy]

no experiance with one, bit i imagine they are not such a good idea. if it goes tits-up you are out of pocket for both sleeping bag and waterproofy thing.
then i cannot imagine it being very breathable. or big enough to pull you bits and bobs into either. i like keeping vital things modular. maybe someone has experiance with such things firsthand?

 

[sandbender]

The Crux bags are pretty tough, it's unlikely that you'd rip one on forest floor debris, the shell material is much tougher than any bivi bag I've used.




http://www.crux.uk.com/en/crux_sleepingbags_torpedo_500.php

 

[passengerplanetearth]

No experience myself, either, although I used to dream of a fully waterproof, groundproof sleeping-bag! But I agree with irishlostboy about keeping things modular.

Seperate bivi-bag, sleeping-bag and sleeping-mat means choice and flexibility. Sometimes you need one, but not the others.

If a combi-bag means less weight or bulk, surely that just means you're losing out in the 'protection' chain somewhere?

Sleeping-mats can take a lot of abuse, it's what they are made for. They are very light, cheap, and easily replaceable when they're all shagged out. I can't imagine a waterproof sleeping-bag being so rugged, and still remaining breathable.

With seperate items, you can choose how to distribute them in your load, depending on circumstances.

Even 'waterproof' things such as my goretex bivi-bag get wet. If it DOES rain and you have to dry out the next day, then several things spread out in the sun will dry faster that one big bulky item.

What's really needed is for someone to come up with a material that is truly lightweight, waterproof, breathable and tough. Tough enough to sleep on night after night, on all terrains. And so waterproof that it doesn't even get wet, so you can pack it away dry in the morning. One day, perhaps...

all the best

Al.

 

[passengerplanetearth]

The Crux bags are pretty tough, it's unlikely that you'd rip one with forest floor debris.




http://www.crux.uk.com/en/crux_sleepingbags_torpedo_500.php

Perhaps light, waterproof and breathable, but I don't see anywhere in the blurb about tough, and I don't see how it would protect you from losing heat to the ground. eVent, the makers of the shell material, also state that "...Avoid heavy soiling, which could affect membrane performance..." How heavy is 'heavy'? Also a sleeping-bag compressed by your weight doesn't insulate so well, so you'd probably need a sleeping-mat anyway.

It seems a bit pricey for a 3 season bag, for half that price you can have a 4 season bag, a 3 season bag for summer, a goretex bivi bag and a sleeping mat.

Lush, have you tried tarp camping? I recommend it. You can put up a tarp almost anywhere, you have space to move around out of the rain and your gear stays dry so you don't need fancy stuff. I carry both a tarp and a bivi-bag, but if I had to lose one, I'd lose the bag.

When I get rained-on sleeping out with a bivi-bag, in the morning I have to dry out the bivi-bag, the sleeping-bag, the sleeping-mat and a groundsheet if I used one.

When I get rained-on sleeping out under a tarp, I only have to dry out the tarp, I can pack everything else away dry, even if it's still raining. A tarp dries very fast, and weighs almost nothing.

all the best

Al

 

[sandbender]

Perhaps light, waterproof and breathable, but I don't see anywhere in the blurb about tough, and I don't see how it would protect you from losing heat to the ground. eVent, the makers of the shell material, also state that "...Avoid heavy soiling, which could affect membrane performance..." How heavy is 'heavy'? Also a sleeping-bag compressed by your weight doesn't insulate so well, so you'd probably need a sleeping-mat anyway.

I don't think Lush planned to travel without a insulating mat, I think that would still be needed. The outside shell on the Crux is pretty tough, I'm certainly less concerned about damaging it than I would be about inflicting damage on one of my bivie bags, however I'm not planing on rolling about in the mud with it.

It seems a bit pricey for a 3 season bag, for half that price you can have a 4 season bag, a 3 season bag for summer, a goretex bivi bag and a sleeping mat.

Yes it is expensive, no argument there.

What's really needed is for someone to come up with a material that is truly lightweight, waterproof, breathable and tough. Tough enough to sleep on night after night, on all terrains. And so waterproof that it doesn't even get wet, so you can pack it away dry in the morning. One day, perhaps...

Not quite the answer to your 'wonder material'

I've been spending a lot of time in Transylvania of late, the shepherds here spend night after night wrapped up in a particular style of wooly blanket (I understand that they are manufactured with a 'brushing' process?) I've slept under a tarp wrapped up in one of these and was surprisingly comfy, it's also tough and remains warm if it gets soaked, the drawbacks being its tendency to collect the debris from the forest floor and extra weight if it does get drenched

 

[Lush]

Just what I thought. Nice to have some confirmation from several others . I think a modular approach is the best way to go indeed, in this case. I mostly sleep under a tarp with a bivy bag. On a sleeping mat of course. No better way to camp then in the open air!

My bivy bag (old Dutch army bag) is strong and durable and weighs 1100 grams. And that is what I pay for in weight to carry. But I am very happy with it.

Looks like I have to safe some weight elsewhere...
thanks!