Bivvy buying advice

[Artie Fufkin]

Alright,
Looking into getting a lightweight bivvy for use under a tarp and on the rare occasion the Great British weather will allow, under the stars!
I am 5'10", medium build
Am requiring low wieght, small pack size, midge net would be nice, zip is preferable and would like to put mat inside.
Would consider importing from the States, as they seem to tick all my boxes.
A few pointers, ideas, pluses, minuses or if anybody has got something they don't use?
Thanks in advance!

[Bearbonesnorm]

Borah ticks all your boxes. There are others that come close but aren't big enough to get a mat in, such as TiGoat Kestrel or new TN Moonlite.

Did SBF sell his Borah on the classifieds?

[sillybigfella]

I changed my mind at the last minute, sorry Artie!!

[ianfitz]

I'd agree. John at borah is very helpful and his bivies (and down vests!) are top notch.

I have a cuben bivy with just the chest zip it's very generously sized. Has a mesh section and just works.

[Dave42w]

Borah ticks all your boxes.

After a lot of research and help here I came to that conclusion for me. My Snowyside eVent Bivy is now on the way via the USPS

I'm planning to use it with a Exped SynMat Ultralite 7 Sleeping Mat and my Sestrals Quilt both will hopefully be inside the bivy (I'm expecting to need a sleeping bag as well in winter, the quilt is supposed to go down to -5 but I'd rather carry more and be warm).

[Artie Fufkin]

Cheers for the replies, boys.
Was thinking the Borah chest zip, meself.
Now after Dave42 going on about the eVent jobby, has got me thinking???
The eVent bivvy would be good as a stand alone shelter, wouldn't it?
Too many choices, man!!!

[Dave42w]

The eVent bivvy would be good as a stand alone shelter, wouldn't it?

Hoping so. Plan to sometimes use with a tarp but definitely not always. Particularly on it's own when wild camping and wanting to be discreet or in a hurry.

[Bearbonesnorm]

The eVent bag wil indeed work as a standalone shelter ... as long as you remember that if it's raining when you pitch up or / and you're already wet, a bivvy bag on it's own can be a pretty unpleasant experience.

[benp1]

I ended up getting a Borah Bivy recently as well

I had a letter box style mesh top, instead of the full hood, as I'm tall and didn't want water coming in if used with a SilTarp1 (as it doesn't give HUGE coverage lengthwise)

[Artie Fufkin]

Excellent replies. Many thanks all.
They have just confirmed what I was thinking. Gonna have to get onto John at Borah and get me a bivvy.
Cheers.

[Shalarim]

How much are Borah bags? Can't see any prices on the website ATM.

[Bearbonesnorm]

How much are Borah bags? Can't see any prices on the website ATM.

I think they're away at the moment so they'll have removed ordering / prices until they get back ... I recall that the chest zip bivvy is around $85.

[Chew]

How much are Borah bags? Can't see any prices on the website ATM.

Think all the prices are down as they are away on a trip.

I got mine before christmas for $110 delivered. John was generous on the customs declaration so i managed to avoid the duty.

I dithered about the size, but the normal seems to be plenty big enough (kichen floor test)

[ianfitz]

How much are Borah bags? Can't see any prices on the website ATM.

Yep. Away in Nepal until February. But 25% off order when they are back so worth keeping an eye out for that!

[Shalarim]

How much are Borah bags? Can't see any prices on the website ATM.

I think they're away at the moment so they'll have removed ordering / prices until they get back ... I recall that the chest zip bivvy is around $85.

I thought that was the reason as I remembered them last time I looked. I was looking wrt the upcoming sale when they get back.

Assuming I'm similar to the OP 5'10" medium build looking to put my Synmat 7 inside will I be ok with standard size?

[Artie Fufkin]

I'm 5' 10" and going to go for the medium, chest zip.
Reckon it should be OK for me, a quilt and an Exped down mat!
Just counting the days while end of Feb/ early March. The 25% sale and the faster turnaround make it a little more bearable!