following on from my 'how to keep warm in winter posts' another thing i've noticed is that all my mates manage to fit their mats inside their bivi bags. mine isn't big enough so i have to put my mat straight onto the floor and my bivi bag on top of the mat

does it make that much difference keeping your mat inside your bivi bag?

if so i'll probably need to look at a new bigger bivi bag, a quick look around see's the obvious alpkit hunka but also my local outdoor shop is doing the rab survival zone bag on offer for about £37

if the answer is yes to a new bag what would you recommend, hunka or rab ?

cheers

If you get the Hunka get an xl because if I have to wear my down jacket to sleep in then my mat will not fit inside my standard hunka.

A mat won't easily fit inside either the Rab or the normal size Hunka.

I prefer a mat inside a bivvy bag (others don't) but it shouldn't really effect warmth as long as you don't roll off it

Hunka XL going for 30 quid in the classifieds as I type!

Firmly in the 'mat outside bivvy' camp here so no need to worry. I don't like to clog up the breathable membrane getting them all filthy lying in that there mud and umpscar.

Survival Zone is lighter and packs bit smaller.

cheers guys, looks like a new bivi will be a waste of money then

might as well spend the money instead in some of the winter gloves people are raving about :D