Recommendations for Bivi Bag and Mat

[Skellz]

Ok so looking to do some more hardercore camping and would like to get myself a bivi bag and self inflatable sleeping mat.

Would be good if some people could suggest some options, the bivi bag i'd like to be breatheable and with either a zip or velcro opening for easy access. And for the sleeping mat something about 183cm tall, heavy duty and lightweight.

I was looking at multimat superlite 25 for the mat but i'm not so clued up on this stuff. Basically i want to spend about £30-40 on a mat and £40-50 on a bivi bag, obviously if there less then thats great.

Any suggestions??

[Tom-Brown]

Not in your price range!! but I can highly recommend the exped downmat!! super comfy and great in cold weather - I also use a lighter thermarest neo in the summer for quick overnighter

[Dr Gonzo]

I think the British Army issue bivi is great...tough, cheap but not zip/velcro opening and Alpkit kip mats are very good also...Alpkit do bivi's as well

[Skellz]

I think the British Army issue bivi is great...tough, cheap but not zip/velcro opening and Alpkit kip mats are very good also...Alpkit do bivi's as well

I had a look at the alpkit mat's, although some people said they were not sure how well they wear but i guess you dont know unless you try these things and they are in my price bracket so may have to give them a go.

[carbongerber]

You can pick up a US surpplus gortex bivi which has a zip side to it on your budget,
top side is woodland pattern with olive green underside and pop stud overflaps on
the zip. Seen some new for around the £40-45 mark.

[Mr Happymoose]

Any idea how those Alpkit bivy bags open up?? I've got an ex army bivi bag and it's ok when I'm on flat ground, but getting into it in a hammock is a real PITA

[Martyn]

Ok so looking to do some more hardercore camping and would like to get myself a bivi bag and self inflatable sleeping mat.

Would be good if some people could suggest some options, the bivi bag i'd like to be breatheable and with either a zip or velcro opening for easy access. And for the sleeping mat something about 183cm tall, heavy duty and lightweight.

I was looking at multimat superlite 25 for the mat but i'm not so clued up on this stuff. Basically i want to spend about £30-40 on a mat and £40-50 on a bivi bag, obviously if there less then thats great.

Any suggestions??

Number of issues - how waterproof is it, breathability, toughness, cost, weight etc.

The gortex bags have a good balance between being waterproof and breathable, but tend to be bulky, heavy and expensive. The surplus ones are good, but are bulkier and heavier than the civvi equivalents. Pertex is a good lightweight equivalent, packs small and very light, but less tough and tends to be very expensive. There are non breathable bags which are small, tough, light and cheap, but unless you are sheltering from a storm, you will end up wetter from your own condensation. Snugpak do one made from something they call Paratex Dry that is supposed to be 100% waterproof to 5000mm head, is very compact (about the size of an orange) is fairly tough and fairly light at 420g for the Special Forces version (has a central zip). It's also supposed to be breathable..

Breathable (will transmit upto 7.5 litres of moisture per m2 per 24 hours)

http://www.snugpak.com/index.php?Men...-113&ItemID=86

But I have my doubts. I've acquired one recently and love the toughness, size and weight, but I haven't tried it yet so cant comment on breathability. Retail is around £75 IIRC.

[Nice65]

I had a look at the alpkit mat's, although some people said they were not sure how well they wear but i guess you dont know unless you try these things and they are in my price bracket so may have to give them a go.

IMO they're not great, though others swear by them. A fully inflated Multimat, lay on it propped on an elbow, quite well cushioned. Not so the Alpkit.

Multimat offers a bit of padding even if punctured and needs less blowing up, Alpkit needs to be blown up lots. Basically the foam in the Multimat is much better.

I've never tried a Thermarest, but I probably won't. I'm fed up with waking up on a punctured mat, it's too easy to get a puncture, and to much of a PITA to mend it in the middle of the night.

[pippyd]

Any idea how those Alpkit bivy bags open up?? I've got an ex army bivi bag and it's ok when I'm on flat ground, but getting into it in a hammock is a real PITA

If its the same as their original ones (hunka?) then they are not zipped. Just get in at the top and pull up.
I have a couple that get used frequently but inside a tent.... I'll let you ponder that one for a while!

[Mr Happymoose]

Number of issues - how waterproof is it, breathability, toughness, cost, weight etc.

The gortex bags have a good balance between being waterproof and breathable, but tend to be bulky, heavy and expensive. The surplus ones are good, but are bulkier and heavier than the civvi equivalents. Pertex is a good lightweight equivalent, packs small and very light, but less tough and tends to be very expensive. There are non breathable bags which are small, tough, light and cheap, but unless you are sheltering from a storm, you will end up wetter from your own condensation. Snugpak do one made from something they call Paratex Dry that is supposed to be 100% waterproof to 5000mm head, is very compact (about the size of an orange) is fairly tough and fairly light at 420g for the Special Forces version (has a central zip). It's also supposed to be breathable..


http://www.snugpak.com/index.php?Men...-113&ItemID=86

But I have my doubts. I've acquired one recently and love the toughness, size and weight, but I haven't tried it yet so cant comment on breathability. Retail is around £75 IIRC.

£60ish at OutdoorGB Looks good on paper, be very interested to hear how you get on with it Martyn.

[Mr Happymoose]

If its the same as their original ones (hunka?) then they are not zipped. Just get in at the top and pull up.
I have a couple that get used frequently but inside a tent.... I'll let you ponder that one for a while!

That's usually how I use mine, in a tent and mine needs pulling up as well, easy enough in a tent, not so easy swinging in a hammock

[pippyd]

That's usually how I use mine, in a tent and mine needs pulling up as well, easy enough in a tent, not so easy swinging in a hammock

2 wet springer spaniels mean bivvi bags are a definite for us when out car camping or doing long distance routes. If you want a look at one I can send it your way for a play. They're a no fuss bag, I'm sure there a batter spec'd ones out there but possibly not at the same price...

[Mr Happymoose]

2 wet springer spaniels mean bivvi bags are a definite for us when out car camping or doing long distance routes. If you want a look at one I can send it your way for a play. They're a no fuss bag, I'm sure there a batter spec'd ones out there but possibly not at the same price...

Thanks for the offer but if it's a pull up then it's similar to the army surplus one that I have already. For a while now I've been thinking about having a look for one that zips up to make hammock use a bit easier, this thread just sort of piqued my interest

[Skellz]

Cheers for the info guys, £60 for that snugpak bivi bag doesn't sound too unreasonable . Nice65 would you suggest that I just get a decent foam mat? to be honest just want something reliable, warm and comfortable, I'am always having thoughts thinking hmm... what if it gets holes in. At least with a foam mat you wouldn't have to worry, just that its larger to pack

[hughtrimble]

I think personal preference comes to play - go to a camping shop and have a quick lie down on foam and then air/self inflating ones - the ones they have may not be up to the spec of those being suggested here, but it'll give you a general feel for what you prefer lying on. But bear in mind of course that your conditions out camping are likely to be very different, so you may end up not giving a damn when puch comes to shove!

Personally, I absolutely hate my self inflating Thermarest. It seems very well made, and it has never deflated on me overnight. But I just don't like the feeling of lying on it - whilst there are no lumps or any annoying bits to it, and it certainly cushions well from whatever you are lying on, I just can't get comfortable.

So I'm looking for a foam replacement.