Ok so todays noob question from me is about bivis, inflatable mats and 1 man tents.

I have (being ex Mil) spent many a cold wet night in a Issued goretex bivi bag. No space to move, freezing cold, cant breath if put over your head and they weigh a ton.
I have also spent the last years in a hammock when camping and i cant get a better nights sleep. But for bikepacking i will need a mat and bivi.
Problem is i know nowt about them.

I want light weight, warm and small pack size
There are so many to choose from i dont know where to start.

What do you folks use - bivi or tent, and what type mats are the best.???

I do like the look of the bivis with a hooped head end, but they seem to weigh a lot.

Pics are best and links too please

Thanks

I don't have the experience of others, but I'll tell you what I have.

I have both, so depending on the weather I am fAced with I can choose accordingly, but prefer Bivi/tarp.

I picked up a second hand wild country zephyros 2 tent for £60 from the outdoors magic forum. Supposed to sleep 2 but keeps I use it for me and my kit as I like the extra space. Weighs about 1.7kg in total, it's just the pack size which can prove a little problematic.

In tea of Bivi/tarp I have a hunka xl from alpkit, which is a great size for me, sleeping bag and sleeping mat to get inside (and I'm not a skinny lad!). My tarp is from tw hammocks and cost about £27. It's a fairly large size, great for me and my kit to get under and packs down reasonably well.

I picked up a couple of poles from stu (70 cm and 110 cm) and some pegs from alpkit to finish off. Works very well for my needs and wasn't too expensive either as I tried to pick bits up second hand.

Sleeping mat I went a little luxurious and picked up and exped downmat 5 but any mat should do, I just had some spare cash at the time!

There's nowt stopping you from using your hammock ... flatfishy and Cheeky Monkey are both big hammock fans but if you want to sleep with the slugs then there's a few options that shouldn't cost too much.

For bivvy bags I'd suggest a Hunka from Alpkit or maybe this from F&T? http://www.fieldandtrek.com/karrimor-x- ... bag-781084

Obviously there's a vast choice when it comes to tarps but I'd suggest trying to keep the size and weight down or you might as well take a tent. The bicycle 3.5 from Alpkit's well worth a look as are the Tenth Wonder ones above. F&T often have some good prices, they've got this which will do the job nicely. http://www.fieldandtrek.com/terra-nova- ... e=78302190

If cash is really tight then open your mind and close your purse and head off down to poundland: http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co ... cheap.html

As for a mat much will depend on what conditions you're thinking of been out in and how much comfort you need. My own preference is an Exped mat but you won't get much change from £80. However, there is stuff out there if you can compromise a bit on weight, packsize or insulation.

Self Inflating mat for £12: http://www.fieldandtrek.com/gelert-camp ... e=78217190

Basic Air mat for £7.50: http://www.fieldandtrek.com/gelert-six- ... e=78216803

300g Air mat for £30: http://www.fieldandtrek.com/karrimor-6- ... e=78217490

Sorry to hijack the thread a little - I have a slightly relevant/related question. What tarp is this one?



It's on the BearBones blog here: http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co ... -tips.html

Zippy wrote:Sorry to hijack the thread a little - I have a slightly relevant/related question. What tarp is this one?

http://www.bearpawwd.com/tents_tarps/lair.html

The only reason for not hammocking is the need for trees.
If i can plan my sites then my Warbonnet Ridge Runner, bridge hammock is definitely coming with me.
For things like the Welsh ride thing etc and any exploring i will do i want the ease of a tent and mat so i can just stop and set up.

Ive been searching and am thinking a tent would be better suited to me so i can sit out the rain on my mat and cook etc.
Plus they seem to be just as light as a decent bivi anyway.

So 1 man tents.........let me see what you have.

I have both a bivi and tent setup. Both similar in terms of weight and packsize and it really depends on what type of trip i'm going on.

The main advantage of a Bivi set up is that you'll stay connected with your surroundings once you turn in for the night whereas a tent you're more locked away and could be anywhere. When you stir at 5am you get to catch the sunrise before you roll over for another hour or two.

A bivi/tarp setup will take a bit more practice and involve a bit more hardship at times, but they provide more special moments.



Tent use is more for longer trips where the internal space comes in handy, or if you need more protection from the weather or midges.


Forget hooped bivi's, as they are the worst of both worlds.

Im liking the look of something like this

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-s ... os-1-tent/

Im liking the look of something like this

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-s ... os-1-tent/

If you shop around you can pick them up for £80ish. Not a bad tent but don't expect too much room ... a Zephyros 2 might be a better bet depending how big you are.

Depends on your size. I have a laser and at 5'6" i just sit up in mine. If you're anywhere near 6 foot i'd be looking at something else.

Im a short stocky guy at 5ft 9inch.
Sitting up im 94cm.

at 5ft 9inch

Yer a giant man

Check the maximum headroom on the tent stats, many are between 85cm - 1m but remember that's maximum so will only be at one (usually small) point. A single arched pole tent like the Zephyros, Lazer, certain Vango tents, etc tend to be quite useful as the max headroom's in the centre rather than at one end ... tends to feel a bit less cramped.

I got a couple of the karrimor x-lite bivvy bags last week. Not had them out on the hills yet but seem well made and under 300g. Stood out as good value kit (unless I get soaked). I did a fair bit of research about them before purchasing, all reviews found were on a French website (thank you to google translate) and basically didn't find a bad comment. Fingers crossed they're right!

Im very interested in the Luxe Sil Mini Peak.
Any users on here??

Im very interested in the Luxe Sil Mini Peak.

I picked up a Hex-Peak ... I'll report back once I've tried it but so far it looks good. Obviously not the same as the Mini-Peak but simialar.

s8tannorm wrote:

Im liking the look of something like this

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-s ... os-1-tent/

If you shop around you can pick them up for £80ish. Not a bad tent but don't expect too much room ... a Zephyros 2 might be a better bet depending how big you are.

The Zeph 1 should be fine for you. It is for 5'8 me. I found it for £85 in Jan or Feb.

I think Zeph 2 has a slightly different footprint etc ie it isn't just a scaled up version of the 1, so check the measurements

Ok so its a toss up between

1) WC Zephyros - http://www.cnfoutdoors.co.uk/wild-count ... oCFSbw_wcB

2) Luxe sil mini peak - http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/bushcraft/WF106.html


3) Tarptent Moment - http://www.tarptent.com/momentdw.html

I must say even with the inflated price and the nasty colour the tarp tent is winning hands down.
I may have to buy one then copy the design in some waterproof multicam..........

Really like my Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1

https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detai ... edhouseSL1

Loads of room for a chunky 5'7" bod. Has performed in some memorable deluges (WRT2012...)!

That said, I'm looking into the tarp / tarptent options to see if the flexibility of where they can be pitched is worth the trade-off.

Managed to secure myself a Luxe mini peak 2 for a measly sum of money.
Anyone on here use a 135 cm walking pole with theirs or do i need something bigger??

RE8ELD0G wrote:Managed to secure myself a Luxe mini peak 2 for a measly sum of money.
Anyone on here use a 135 cm walking pole with theirs or do i need something bigger??

I've got the Luxe mini peak (there's an extensive thread on Outdoors Magic forum) and I have used an adjustable walking pole but bought the 'proper' pole. That is modelled on the Go Lite Hex tent pole and works very well; easy to adjust when your hands are wet and cold.
Also, I've used the Luxe fly with a bivi bag and no inner. Cut a groundsheet from Polycro something or other which sells as secondary glazing film in B&Q at about a fiver.

Were you army?

HTH

Yeah, did a year as REME then retraded as a medic.
Sadly i was Medically discharged due to a back condition.

RE8ELD0G wrote:Yeah, did a year as REME then retraded as a medic.
Sadly i was Medically discharged due to a back condition.

My brother was REME - Electronics Tech and I was Ordnance - Ammo Tech

Vango helium carbon 100 for me - one kilo with proper pegs and tiny pack size, roomy enough to sit up in and stood up to some horrendous rain and a fair bit of wind. Full retail is £400 but as with all vango tents you can get them way cheaper if you search on line - under 300 no bother.

That trekker tent looks good as well - cheap and light, reviewed on here somewhere