Hi all-

Just joined the board (thanks Stuart) - started the HT550 last year, but bailed on second day. Planning to ITT it this year.

Did some searching on the board, don't think this question has been asked in at least six months, apologies if I am going over heavily covered ground. Need a new 2-3 season bag, something useful down to about 2 degrees, packing light and small. Goals are under 1kg (under 900g if possible) and under £200. Is there anything that beats the PipeDream 400 for those requirements?

On a related note - currently have an Alpkit Hunka bivvy bag. It's great (especially for price), but before I replace with a Hunka XL (I'd like a little more room), is there anything similar I should be looking at? Main downside of the Hunka is it is only slightly more breathable than a giant ziploc baggie. Only slightly...

I think Hunkas are about as good as it gets for waterproof bivis as far as breathing goes. I've been fine in my xl with the mat put in as well. There was a thread recently about the PD vs others...

Here you go:
http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... f=7&t=7164

Ooh! The eternal question

In the "sleeping bag or quilt" thread there's the suggestion of something like the Cumulus 350 quilt in comparison to the PD400, it's about €170. I've the Cumulus 150 quilt which I use as an outer together with a PHD Minim Ultra. That combo together with a good sleeping mat, Exped Synmat Winterlite (R-value of 6), is fine down to somewhere around -4C +/- - for me. Those last two words are important, I sleep fairly warm so can get away with lighter kit, it might not be the case for you. Obviously if you don't get on with quilts then it's not an option.

Bivy bag: I've an Alpkit Hunka XL. I mainly use it for keeping the wind and light drizzle off but it's for use with bulkier winter bivy kit rather than summer for which I've a standard sized bivy bag of uncertain parentage/material - it could be Goretex, it could be eVent. I don't go for the completely enclosed look.

Thanks all - and again, apologies on asking an oft-repeated question.

For the bivvy question - I should point out that I'm almost always using a tarp (as opposed to tent), so waterproof does win over breathability. So sounds like a Hunka XL for me then.

If you want something that breathes better than a Hunka, you'll really need to go eVent or Goretex. Sadly both options tend to be expensive and fairly heavy. The TN Discovery-lite is worth a look but I've found it to be fairly snug, certainly too snug for a mat on the inside.

You may find an XL Hunka breathes better than a standard one due to the extra surface area.

Cumulus quilts get a lot of good press on here but if you prefer a bag, I'd also look at their offerings. A Lite-Line 300 weighs 640g, contains 300g of quality down and costs £155.

http://www.outdoorline.sk/en/sleeping-b ... e-300.html