Thread: Bivy bags??

VC, yours is a bivy tent rather tan a bivy bag so will give you a bit of a space.

For May I'd go a double walled tent. I'm a wimo.

Originally Posted by tui_man2

Shotgun not my tent

Going to have to be yours... I can't seem to find mine...

Thanks for the in info guys, maybe a tent and plastic bin to put it in is the better plan...

Or, is there someone out there that likes reading books, fending off Kea and cooking who would like 7 days away in the Barlow River in May?

get one or three of those empty 20 litre paint pails - good hard plastic, water proof and cheap as from your local friendly painter or tradey. I use them in my canoe.

Originally Posted by The Claw

Thanks for the in info guys, maybe a tent and plastic bin to put it in is the better plan... Or, is there someone out there that likes reading books, fending off Kea and cooking who would like 7 days away in the Barlow River in May?

Doc may be forthcoming and give you some big green pellets , they work a treat on most native kea . 70. % kill rate last time I heard .

Originally Posted by Tussock

You could drop the tent during the day, just the poles out, with a fly strung over it (the best way to set it up anyway) and lower the fly to a few inches above the tent during the day. That would take two minutes to set back up, and I doubt the keas will crawl to get to your tent. $40 flies can be sacrificed and take a heap of punishment anyway.This sound a bit like my other favorite sayings, better to walk 600m up from the bushline every morning, than walk down once, at 3am, in the rain, with wet gear. Probably better to pull the tent down and bin it than come home to find it shredded, with the sky blackening.

+1 sound advice

Originally Posted by The Claw

Thanks for the in info guys, maybe a tent and plastic bin to put it in is the better plan...

Or, is there someone out there that likes reading books, fending off Kea and cooking who would like 7 days away in the Barlow River in May?

dont forget it will be a wet tent youll be packing up each day, id just fly camp for the 7 days or camp in the bush - if there is any

I've got a Vaude bivy, it keeps you dry but unfortunately not so good at letting sweat/breath out so it gets condensation.

Prefer to use my hamock/tent/fly now.

Am thinking of selling the bivy if you'd be interested.

The claw.
bivvi bags are an excellent lightweight option. I have used 1 for over 15 years. a british issue gore-tex bag. 600grams approx. never had any trouble in any weather. a good bivvi will boost the performance of any sleeping bag by about 5 degrees lower than stated.
I recently tackled a river crossing from rabbit island to mapua near nelson. using only my bivvi as a waterproof dry bag. My kit was BONE DRY when I emerged at the otherside. in salt water I might add!!.
the only down fall of this particular bivvi bag. No mosquito mesh. so sand flies are a pain.
In all. A bivvi bag is an excellent addition to any 1s kit. however there are a lot of cheap 1s on the market so beware!! choose wisely.

Having used a bag as a soldier, for yrs. I rate them for their tactical needs and purpose but I would rather have a light single man tent any day.
In fact a quality single man tent, will pac down as good or better than a good bivvy bag.
I do not see any need to use a bivvy bag for pleasure when you could buy a decent single man tent for the same money as a good bag.

Force 10, Helium Carbon 100 (one person) 860g!!!!!!!

Force Ten Tents - Helium Carbon 100

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xi7I8Vsq_c

Nice wee set up but its nearly a $1000 NZD or more.

Originally Posted by R93

Nice wee set up but its nearly a $1000 NZD or more.

True!

The two man is only 90g more. That might be the way to go, a bit more space is good if WX turns to turds.

Where would you get a decent lightweight tent at the same price as a bivvy bag? iclimb have a Mont Bell 2-man at 865g for $620, or a 1.6kg alpine tent for $730 but thats a lot more than $2-300 for a decent bivvy bag from macpac etc.

Yup, but the alpine tents are strong - and if you're comparing with a bivvy bag you have to take weight into account. My tent (older Fairydown Assault) is 3.6kg so not light, but very solid in the wind/snow.

Interested in this thread as I'm thinking about a bivvy bag too, more often for lightweight tramping/mountain trips than hunting. The Vaude ones are cheap but have heard a few different comments about their lack of breathability.

Mont Bell tents here FYI: http://www.iclimb.co.nz/tents.htm