Just toying with idea of upgrading from an Alpkit Hinka..

So, whats good?
Small packsize, possibly even a side Zip?
What you using.. and Why?

What's up with the hunka? I was thinking of getting the xl.

My bivy is a pro force hawk bivy. Not light (950g)but has a zip in bug screen and full hood and is tough breathable fabric. No real space for gear inside it but enough for a full kip mat and I take up a fair bit of space.

Would I recommend it? Yes for rough and tough bushcrafty stuff, but add a tarp you could get a tent for the same weight. So not for lightweight bikepacking.

Just toying with idea of upgrading from an Alpkit Hinka..

So, whats good?
Small packsize, possibly even a side Zip?
What you using.. and Why?

I've just been writing about choosing kit. My advice would be to firstly work out what your criteria / priorities are, then ask what fits ... there'll always be a certain level of compromise involved with any item and working out your priorities first, tends to help minimise them resulting in much happiness.

Found kelty classic suits my need, say it is 3 season, weight is 600grams.
Xl pad and lofty bag goes it effortlessly, has bug net and full rain cover.
I have not tested stand alone all with tarp shelter but i will set it up alone soon to test how well it does by its self. The other kelty version has a rounded bottom and weighs in just under 600grams I think 540. Seems all taped

RAB ascent. 580g and has a full bug net.

This:

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/sh ... ucts_id=30

Cuben base, insect net over face, 130g, works really well with a Tarp, but wouldn't use it on it's own unless forecast was 100% dry.

Hunka Xl, room inside for a big fat winter mat and bag. Had a Rab storm but it was a bit cramped and the top zip made for a claustrophobic experience.

Military goretex as a lender

Custom PHD job for a few years
Now a Borah Bivi

Cheers all..
Like the idea of the Borah, only available direct from the States?

Like the idea of the Borah, only available direct from the States?

Yeah.

If you like the idea of ultralight, water resistant and midge-proof have a look at Tigoat.com too.

I've got a rab storm but prefer to have the mat outside so suffered with condensation because of the bathtub floor (it's for sale if anyone's interested).
Moved onto a terra nova moonlite but found it too restrictive.
Bought a hunka xl as the wife and I friends seemed happy with their but haven't had a chance to try it yet.

Drawn towards a custom Borah snowyside event bivi with an event base because you can never have too much stuff...

I wanted the lightest hooped bivi with a mosquito net that I could get without spending a ridiculous (it wasn't cheap, but I've seen more expensive), ended up with an outdoor research helium bivi which I really like especially for 510g

Nasty cheap thing at the moment, customised Borah gear side zip in transit at the moment.

Errr, I thought about what I had and am slightly embarrassed to admit the following:

Ancient Phoenix, Gore tex bivi bag - had it over 20 years and it's seen most use out of them all.
Hunka XL - picked up cheap somewhere, barely used.
Borah older version of what's now the ultralight side-zip but with a letter box net section - roomy and a bit slidey
Borah Snowyside eVent - not used it yet as haven't been out in the weather to need it.
TiGoat Kestrel - nice enough but think I prefer a bivi big enough to put mat inside. Might be a summer bag but also tend to hammock when the weather is better.

The irony is I usually hang

I still have an old (10+ years) Outdoor Designs Goretex XCR bivi that I use. Not light, but reasonably breatable.
Have an old The North Face tent that you can pitch as a single skin that may come on the Divide - but the OR Helium was something I was looking at too

Rab Ascent for "everyday" use - tough, waterproof, eVent top, midge net etc.
Rab Survival Zone (older pertex version) when light weight/low volume is "important" (e.g. carried but unlikely to be used)

Anyone tried a Rab Ridge raider?

I have a fair few bags and my MYOG (via my mum's seamstress skills) is under way. that is planned as a fully enclosed, but vented bivy with a midge net under 200g. Made with a Cuben base and 15,000 breathable top.

Mountain equipment Borealis and an Outdoor Designs Assault bivi both gas permeable and big enough to get a mat inside with me though the Assault bivi is much bigger . Also have a Pro force Hawk bivi which is a great bivi and has a waterproof zip in insert or a zip in bug mesh insert and is also very wide (94cm) .

Tayside wrote:Anyone tried a Rab Ridge raider?

About 2 or 3 years ago yes. Not 100% it had the same name then, but I think it was still event.

It was a proper soggy coffin in all but the absolute driest conditions. Awful.

I much prefer the combo of a borah bag and a tarp. Or, when I do go just bivi and it may be damp I take this
http://www.cascadedesigns.com/ie/msr/te ... vy/product

I hang a guyline off a tree with a mini biner on and then clip the hood off my face before I pass out. Easily unclipped to hunker down.

I've got an old-style Terra Nova Moonlite (the drawstring one) and a Terra Nova Discovery Lite.

I can't quite get used to the Discovery Lite as it's quite claustrophobic with the ziparound, but it's completely waterproof and quite lightweight so I'll persevere.

That said, I've been using a Terra Nova Laser Comp for most trips recently as the small weight penalty is worth it for being able to sit up, cook and get changed under cover.

AlasdairMc wrote:I I've been using a Terra Nova Laser Comp for most trips recently as the small weight penalty is worth it for being able to sit up, cook and get changed under cover.

I've a Laser Comp as well, I think it's the "one" rather than "two" as you can just get two people in if they lie in opposite directions. Weight is just under 1Kg and can be as low as 900g. We've used it when road touring but not bikepacking. Would be fine for one person at this time of year, two persons would be "interesting".

Wing nut ; how do you find the pro force for condensation etc ?

It was a proper soggy coffin in all but the absolute driest conditions. Awful.

FLV

Did it not breathe very well then,or just not very waterproof ?
I liked the idea of the hooped midge/mossie net bit.

Tayside wrote:

It was a proper soggy coffin in all but the absolute driest conditions. Awful.

FLV

Did it not breathe very well then,or just not very waterproof ?
I liked the idea of the hooped midge/mossie net bit.

In the dry, you could leave the mozzie net but open yeah, it was better then as it obviously breathed through the net. It wasnt a bad bit of kit in the dry.

If it rained though, the water just rained directly onto the inside of the grounsheet through the net (with the waterproof flap open). As soon as you zipped it closed it was a sweatbox of condensation in there for me.