Bivy bag and basha had my eye on for months and just bought cheaper....

[CanadianMike]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300520630898&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

What do you think? Figured it'd be handy to have when I head out on myown (with out my love) and would fit well within my backpack, keep in my 4x4 truck full time, etc.

When I first saw it, was cheap for both (seen the basha itself for sale here in Canada for almost $70 alone), then the pair went back up to $165 for this wached item, now has been dropped by 25%, swiped it just now because I can afford it and the beer made me do it. Besides, helps me keep farts to myself and not have to deal with friends saying "Travel light, you can sleep in my tent...." Ya, you know the drill. ;)

[comanighttrain]

1.5kg? thats heavier than my cheapy tent!

[CanadianMike]

My booze weighs more than that. ;)

Somehow I think that may be a typo, it's just a standard 2mx3m Brit basha, so it should weigh less than a can of pop, shouldn't it?

I think he actually means the two together, found the same tarp, weight is 640g, so the rest of the 1.5kilos would include the bivy....

[cuppa joe]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bibler-Black-Diamond-Bivy-Bag-Yellow-/180706639533?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Climbing_Mountai neering&hash=item2a12f47ead

[JEEP]

Looks like a nice set. Though I would expect the yellow colour of the bivi bag to attract bugs.

[CanadianMike]

Maybe, never thought of that, wonder why they only make it in yellow, emergency I suppose.

[LandRoverMatt]

looks alright but i sleep in a hammock and its more nice but my mate brought a dd camping hammock and found that really nice not 2 much money and very small when in bag

[Notredame11211]

Looks great Mike, Have fun with it! :D

[Adam Savage]

My booze weighs more than that. ;)

Somehow I think that may be a typo, it's just a standard 2mx3m Brit basha, so it should weigh less than a can of pop, shouldn't it?

I think he actually means the two together, found the same tarp, weight is 640g, so the rest of the 1.5kilos would include the bivy....

The Brit basha is actually quite heavy for it's size, mainly due to the thickness of the material. They are very tough though.

[CanadianMike]

Thanks for the info, am expecting it to show up in the next couple days, tracking for Expedited post really only shows an item has been picked up, then processed......... then updated as delivered a few days after you receive the item. Lol

Regarding a hammock, I've been considering one for a while, then think about places I've camped the past couple years, isn't always a pair of trees strategically located to hang a hammock. Figured a bivy bag would be a bit more convient for me, and besides, I can set up a large tarp to act as a hammock, hang the camo tarp above it, and use the bivy bag inside.

[Adam Savage]

Thanks for the info, am expecting it to show up in the next couple days, tracking for Expedited post really only shows an item has been picked up, then processed......... then updated as delivered a few days after you receive the item. Lol

Regarding a hammock, I've been considering one for a while, then think about places I've camped the past couple years, isn't always a pair of trees strategically located to hang a hammock. Figured a bivy bag would be a bit more convient for me, and besides, I can set up a large tarp to act as a hammock, hang the camo tarp above it, and use the bivy bag inside.

Sounds like a good idea Mike. just remember to carry suitable cordage to suspend the tarp as a hammock, if the need arises. Let us know what you think of the basha when it arrives.

[jikido]

Maybe, never thought of that, wonder why they only make it in yellow, emergency I suppose.

or for hiding in a giant banana field or a giants fruit bowl :D

[jikido]

The Brit basha is actually quite heavy for it's size, mainly due to the thickness of the material. They are very tough though.

designed to be a stretcher too

[Adam Savage]

designed to be a stretcher too

Very true. Gone are the days of using two combat jackets on sticks lol :)

[CanadianMike]

Sounds like a good idea Mike. just remember to carry suitable cordage to suspend the tarp as a hammock, if the need arises. Let us know what you think of the basha when it arrives.

Trust me, I got cordage!!! Lol, 3/4" wide tube type webbing, forget the rating of it but had it calc'd out and sounds like a load bearing of at least 2000lbs.

[Adam Savage]

Trust me, I got cordage!!! Lol, 3/4" wide tube type webbing, forget the rating of it but had it calc'd out and sounds like a load bearing of at least 2000lbs.

I knew you would buddy, you're always prepared for any eventuality ;)

[CanadianMike]

Lol, the boy scout that never was! Ya, I tend to have too much useful crap on me, as well as being a pack rat....... this webbing in particular I bought at the climbing section of a local outdoors store, I was actually only there to pick up 3/16" webbing in order to use as a handle wrap for a few Japanese style knives I was making at the time, saw this stuff and figured, meh, why not buy 30m worth, will come in handy for something camping related in the future. :)

[Adam Savage]

haha, I did the same at a local home improvement store. They sell webbing from 1/2" - 1", plus fittings (but only plastic ones), so I decided to buy 5m of each size plus 4 of each fitting in each size...still sitting in my bits box...:p

[CanadianMike]

Bits boxes are good!

And, case in point.........


https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228908_10150279877169207_510619206_7438564_7291853 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296520_10150279877464207_510619206_7438569_6348761 _n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/301156_10150279877874207_510619206_7438575_4567684 _n.jpg

We got back from the cottage on Saturday, as soon as we dropped my daughter and her boyfriend off at home, I put my 4Runner back into what I call "Standard Configuration", rear seats folded back down again, hauled out everything in the truck, reorganized, put my usual stuff back in (helps leave less in my girlfriend's basement/garage) as I normally have it, a bin for truck stuff, a bin for camping/emergency stuff (is where my new bivy and basha will reside), and most of my fishing gear.

[Adam Savage]

Looks a little like the back of my car, although I only drive a Fiat Punto (euro box/shopping cart) so everything is very much compacted into the tiny trunk....I miss my Suzuki...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/bushcraft%20locations/oddballs/FC055AEE-742B-4691-A4D4-B656E965E11B.jpg

May she rest in pieces...

[CanadianMike]

Aww, that sucks, get another!

[Adam Savage]

Aww, that sucks, get another!

Haven't got a spare 5 grand (8,050 Canadian dollars) at the moment lol. I will keep saving though :)

[Metal mug]

Haven't got a spare 5 grand (8,050 Canadian dollars) at the moment lol. I will keep saving though :)It now works out to £5000 = 8047.86. :D

[Adam Savage]

It now works out to £5000 = 8047.86. :D

Cool. If I move to Canada I don't have to save as much :)

[CanadianMike]

Lol, and you might find one cheaper here too!

So I got the items yesterday te bivy bag is very lightweight material, lots of room inside, no mesh or ability to draw the head opening closer...............and it's bright orange and black!

Tarp is heavy as expected, good thick lined material, lots of webbing attachment points, rather solid overall and bigger than I expected. I dig it!

[Adam Savage]

Lol, and you might find one cheaper here too!

So I got the items yesterday te bivy bag is very lightweight material, lots of room inside, no mesh or ability to draw the head opening closer...............and it's bright orange and black!

Tarp is heavy as expected, good thick lined material, lots of webbing attachment points, rather solid overall and bigger than I expected. I dig it!

Great news Mike. Pity about the lack of drawstring on the bivvi bag, but at least you like the tarp/basha. :)

[CanadianMike]

Ya, the hood opening has an elastic around it, but when relaxed is still quite open. I may cut it open a bit and add my own....... heck, I may just sew on some mesh while I'm at.

[Adam Savage]

Ya, the hood opening has an elastic around it, but when relaxed is still quite open. I may cut it open a bit and add my own....... heck, I may just sew on some mesh while I'm at.

Sure it is quite possible to fold over the lip of the bag and stitch a drawstring "tube" onto it, plus the mesh at the same time. It's all down to personal needs, how much you plan on using it and what situations you use it in.

[CanadianMike]

Ya, true enough, I'm just thinking ahead about bugs........ there is already a tube sewn to the edges, is where the elastic resides.

[Adam Savage]

I wasn't sure if the elastic was seam stitched all the way along, but if there's a tube already, even better. :)

[CanadianMike]

Ya, I see what you mean now. Will have to get around to modding it at some point, these days I'm way too focused on knife stuff and also have dove into learning how to work Kydex to make sheaths, among other things. Not sure the chances of my using the bivy bag this year (tarp most definitely, even figured out a way to set it up on the side of my 4Runner, use 3/4" rare earth magnets along the roof to pin one side of the tarp, the other end I can set up stick and guy lines), so I have til next year to sort it out.

[Adam Savage]

Ya, I see what you mean now. Will have to get around to modding it at some point, these days I'm way too focused on knife stuff and also have dove into learning how to work Kydex to make sheaths, among other things. Not sure the chances of my using the bivy bag this year (tarp most definitely, even figured out a way to set it up on the side of my 4Runner, use 3/4" rare earth magnets along the roof to pin one side of the tarp, the other end I can set up stick and guy lines), so I have til next year to sort it out.

I'm sure you will get it just the way you want it, and when you need it.

[CanadianMike]

And hopefully not too late.......... hehe

Have to sort out the type and size netting to get, don't want to use a cheap head bug net mesh for it, so will keep my eye out for something appropriate.

[Adam Savage]

Black Voile does a great job as a bug net, as it's super fine weave, should keep out even the smallest of bugs. Not too expensive either. I know these are Argos, but I'm sure they will sell similar over your place. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9264737.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=tsid:11527%7Ccc:%7Cprd:9264737%7Ccat:home+and +furniture+%2F+curtains+and+poles+%2F+voile+panels +%2F

[CanadianMike]

Thanks, good idea, never thought about using curtain material. Have to look around for fabric shops and see what they have.

Watched some reviews of the Webtex/issue basha last, obviously I never paid much attention to mine after I got it, so pulled it out of my truck to take a look. It doesn't have any grommets, just strap loops everywhere, the camo pattern isn't DPM as I thought, it's closer to the US woodland camo.......... and, what's interesting, the ones I saw in the video are a single layer of nylon, light is visible through it, mine is actually a heavy nylon on the camo side, and a kind of rubbery feeling nylon on the olive drab inside. Definitely thick, then again it is guaranteed to be waterproof (like the bivy, same company for both). Am looking forward to setting it up and hoping for rain when I do. Lol

[Adam Savage]

It's not the new MTP camo by any chance is it?

[CanadianMike]

No, just a kind of standard woodland type camo.

Here's the tag that came on the stuff sack with all the features of the tarp:

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/6/7/5/7/6/9/webimg/404484408_o.jpg

[jikido]

Be sure to check out ikea. They have some very cheap mozzie nets.

Tescos are selliing a festival mozzie net in olive green too, believe it is £9.

[Adam Savage]

No, just a kind of standard woodland type camo.

Here's the tag that came on the stuff sack with all the features of the tarp:

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/6/7/5/7/6/9/webimg/404484408_o.jpg

Well it sounds tough enough either way :)


Be sure to check out ikea. They have some very cheap mozzie nets.

Tescos are selliing a festival mozzie net in olive green too, believe it is £9.

I have one of those. Pretty good for £9, but could have done with having suspension points toward the edges. When under it, the net sits on your face. Still there are ways around this.

[Adam Savage]

Is this the bag that came with the system? http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/aqua-quest-waterproof-bivy-sack-bivi-bag-one-man-tent

And this is the tarp
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004I4EXVG/riley05-20

[CanadianMike]

Yup, those are them. Lol, almost half the price too.

[Adam Savage]

Yup, those are them. Lol, almost half the price too.

What? almost half the price you have paid already?

[CanadianMike]

Ya, I got both for $110. I've seen similar (to the Webtex) tarps for $70 to $90 at a couple other places in Canada, and assumed the bivy bag was at least $40 (til I held it), feels a bit too light and cheap, but was told a bivy bag should be light anyways, and besides, it's just a waterproof cover for a sleeping bag. I don't regret what I paid, the tarp alone is worth it. :)

[Adam Savage]

That's it buddy, stay positive.

[CanadianMike]

Hell ya, love the tarp!!!

[CanadianMike]

Ya know, is funny, remembered your pointing out the $5.99 price of the bivy bag, thought it might be good idea to buy four or so of it at that price, everywhere that I went searching for it cheap, try to buy, no link, link broken, link doesn't exist at all. Not surprising, this thing is way better than a simple one use survival bag........

But did find one hit on Amazon.ca.............

http://www.amazon.ca/Aqua-Quest-100-Waterproof-Tent-Basic/dp/B004AS76AA

So maybe I didn't get such a bad deal after all,that is the cheapest so far that I've found where you can actually BUY it from the link. :)

In other words, having one is more than enough for me. ;)

Lol

[Adam Savage]

lol. I didn't even check the link, probably because I wasn't buying one, but it's dumb how they advertise and don't actually sell them.

[Metal mug]

I like the reviews people have given it.

[CanadianMike]

Now you make me want to go read the reviews.......... be right back. :)