Mid-range kit

[Pyro]

Alright, a game of theory for you/us all.

I've been bivvying and generally farting around outdoors for a lot of years. My kit is kind-of mid range, aside from a few bits, and is mainly of the 'a little bit heavy but bombproof' variety. It is, however, kit that I am still prepared to use in the absolutely worst of conditions (my ancient Phoenix Phoxhole bivvy, for example, got it's first use in a force 8 with accompanying downpour in the Outer Hebrides).

But, and there's always a but, I'm after getting some newer, lighter kit for more clement conditions, but without spending silly money. Bivvy bag and tarp are the main items on the register, though sleeping mats might come into it as I've had crap luck with them, and both my POE Ether and Alpkit Airo have got leaks, despite only ever being used in nice, easy, dry, pointy-stuff-less tents.

Current kit is the Phoxhole and a DD 3x3 tarp, so recommendations of lighter, not-stupid-expensive kit gratefully received.

Cheers!

Pyro

[Bearbonesnorm]

The DD tarp is a pretty hefty old lump both in terms of weight and pack size. Without sacrificing much in the way of coverage or entering a painful world of expense, you could lose about 300g just by changing to a Rig7. If you didn't mind something a little more solo sized then TN Comp 1 tarps are pretty cheap at F&T at present ... £35 will save you over half a kilo: http://www.fieldandtrek.com/terra-nova- ... p-1-783187

Bivvy bag's maybe a bit trickier ... what does your present one weigh and do you need something you can fully enclose yourself in / is fully waterproof ?

[Pyro]

Solo-sized is fine, Stu. Cheers for the Comp 1 link, that's a cracker. I'd looked at the ID/Rab Siltarps, but assume that Comp'll be similar?

The Phoxhole is heavy - kilo-ish, maybe? - Gore-Tex, full seal, with mesh and a hoop pole, same as the Terra Nova Jupiter but older. Like I say, bombproof but heavy. I'm thinking something for under the tarp, rather than sole use, high breathability (I'm a warm sleeper using down bags), light, and not too spendy. And the moon on a stick, please :)

[Bearbonesnorm]

Solo-sized is fine, Stu. Cheers for the Comp 1 link, that's a cracker. I'd looked at the ID/Rab Siltarps, but assume that Comp'll be similar?

Yeah, very similar.

The Phoxhole is heavy - kilo-ish, maybe? - Gore-Tex, full seal, with mesh and a hoop pole, same as the Terra Nova Jupiter but older. Like I say, bombproof but heavy. I'm thinking something for under the tarp, rather than sole use, high breathability (I'm a warm sleeper using down bags), light, and not too spendy. And the moon on a stick, please

The common answer to the 'what bivvy - moon on stick' question would be a Borah with an M90 top. In this case I think it would fit the bill very well ... you'll save something like 700g - 800g by switching

http://borahgear.com/products.html

[JohnClimber]

The common answer to the 'what bivvy - moon on stick' question would be a Borah with an M90 top. In this case I think it would fit the bill very well ... you'll save something like 700g - 800g by switching

http://borahgear.com/products.html

Mine turned up after 9 days of traveling and 2 weeks wait for it to be built, but at £77 and on import tax I thought it was a bit of a bargain, It's super lightweight, well made and can fit around the sleeping bag and still fit into the dry bag I use for it without taking up any extra space.

[Pyro]

Hmmm. Had seen mentions of the Borah kit before, hasn't realised they actually weren't that expensive, comparatively. Hmmm...

Cheers chaps, I see me ordering one in the near future, and once already hit go on the tarp. Now just to try and find the holes in the air mats and I might have a summer kit set up! I've been jealously watching the 'bivvy a month' thread, but too much other stuff going on this year. Maybe for next year, eh!