Looking for; Bivvy Bag

[WombleWill]

Hello everyone,
Im looking for a Bivvy bag that anyone has for sale, I live in UK so only reply if you also live in UK to keep costs down, Or alternatively if anyone can recommend a half decent one for a cheap price ;D

Thanks,

Will.

[Martin]

Don't do it Will. No good will come of it, they're evil things. Spend your money on a little tent or a nice hammock and tarp set up. :)

Martin

[WombleWill]

Hahahaha :D thanks very much for the warning Martin. Really im just looking for a very cheap Bivvy bag just to give it a go, Experience new things. Im looking at getting a 1-2 man tent, but not looking to spend much again xD I need some recommendations on tents as well!!!!! ;D
Im also going to be trying a tarp set-up next weekend, if not saturday evening. I will be using Tarp, Roll matt, Sleeping bag, Corregated iron as Fire reflector, big long fire for warmth.

ATB

Will.

[Martin]

If you want experience cheap bivi bagging, buy one of those survival bags and sleep in that for the night. You'll see how cramped it is, how there's nowhere to put your kit and how long it's dark for as you may not sleep much. If you like sleeping like that then go the whole hog and buy a surplus mvp bag off the internet. Me? I'll stick with my tent for ground dwelling and my hammock when I'm in the woods. :)

Martin

[markal17]

try the dd travel hammock/biv its a good bit of kit

[Reaps72]

I have just bought one of these as an every walk carry!

http://www.chevintrek.co.uk/sol-heatsheets-emergency-bivvy-4209-p.asp

Bright yes but for when you don't realise your gonna be out overnight!

[Ben Casey]

If you want to try it get a plastic bin bag and try sleeping in that or one of them orange things a bit like Martin says Oh and stick some pics on here when you come out to see if you got wet or not :D

[jus_young]

I'm with Martin on this one. They are bags sent from hell to make our lives miserable. You will never see the words cheap and good appear together when used with bivvys. Your night will be lacking in sleep. The only decent bags will be expensive.

If you have a tarp shelter you won't need one anyhow. Take a groundsheet of some form with you to keep your sleeping bag off the damp ground and you should be fine providing your bag is seasonaly rated. Its always best to sleep on some form of mat anyway to act as a barrier to the cold ground.

[CanadianMike]

Bivy bag and tarp isn't so bad, I did it once back in October (both nights were a bit above freezing with the rain and wind), second night was in my tent because I didn't have my truck as I did the night before to put my gear while it rained, so I brought my tent in the boat to the island and set it up for me and my gear), yes, little area to put gear under my 2mx3m tarp, but the bivy and my sleeping bag at least kept me warm all night. Bivy is a great idea as far as a compact emergency shelter though, one of those things where you need to warm up fast and be protected from the elements if they turn bad (again, fast), so worth getting and packing one............. at least mine is light as anything and easily compressible to a softball size..........

As a stand alone shelter for times you are just camping and the weather is ok, maybe, but for anything else, minimum add a shelter such as a tarp. A bivy bag is an emergency set up for a fast shelter, but the bigger benefit is to add about 5-10 degrees extra warmth to your sleeping bag, so just consider it a sleeping bag cover that is waterproof and windproof. It won't replace a tent (isn't supposed to unless you are going super light in warm conditions), and should only be considered for use when a few conditions line up nicely. I only focus on mine as a means to add warmth, past that, it's an emergency bag. And mine (Aqua-Quest) isn't that confining, quite a bit of room in it.

http://gearouthere.com/products-page/tents-bivys-tent-bivy-waterproof/aqua-quest-2011-bivy-bag/

The price is over inflated, this feels mostly like a nylon sleeping bag without any lining or insulation, wouldn't pay more than maybe $40 for it, but you get the idea, it's roomy and comfy, adds a lot of warmth............ I expected more for the price I paid ($110CDN with the included camo tarp by th esame company), but seriously the tarp kicks a basha's butt!!!!! Is thicker and water beads right off it, blocks sunlight, etc. For the package I'm not complaining about the price I paid, both are worth the amount combined to me, looking forward to using again.

[Humakt]

I have a spare Belgian army bivvy bag I no longer use.
One of these:

http://www.greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/shelter-sleep/belgian-army-bivi-bag.htm

It's nice and roomy.

I'll sell it to you for £20. That includes postage costs.
Mind you, you may want to have a look on ebay, they often come up and you may get it cheaper.
But if you're interested then PM me.

[Al21]

Nowt wrong with bivy bags, I've two surplus MVP bags from Endicotts for my lad and me. Used with a small tarp or poncho setup they're great. Not as comfy as a hammock, but will provide a better nights sleep than just using a tarp/sleeping bag/ground sheet set-up as the bivy bag stops any breeze/drafts from reducing the insulation of your sleeping bag.

To be honest, the bivy bag and tarp set-up is now my second favourite after the hammock now, a tent comes in third unless the weather or midges are really bad.

In your position, I'd go with Humakt's offer. I might have done so myself if I hadn't recently bought a second bag.

Al

[Metal mug]

One bit of advice I'd give about military bivvy bags is that you should waterproof them when you first get them. :)

[Humakt]

One bit of advice I'd give about military bivvy bags is that you should waterproof them when you first get them. :)

Good advice, I did just that when I first had it (which was a while ago now so, in fairness, it wouldn't harm to give it another waterproofing).

[WombleWill]

How do you go about waterproofing them?? I'll have a think about your offer mate!!! How would you want me to pay you? Post or paypal or....?

ATB,
Will.

[GwersyllaCnau]

I bought one of these. http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16312&category_id=290

I would recommend the large version though as I'm 5'9" and 13st and it feels a bit tight. Though this could be a bonus as it'll reduce the bellows effect.

[cuppa joe]

Alpkit Hunka...http://www.alpkit.com/hunka it wont break the bank and if you hate the bivi experience you can sell it on ebay and still get most of your money back as they seem to be in demand....I use a Highlander Falcon http://www.goxplore.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=642&c=2 but still have a tarp if it rains so i have somewhere to cook.
I have to say though if you are looking for something cheap and lightweight then there are tents which will suit your needs like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LICHFIELD-TREKLITE-200-2-PERSON-TENT-/360415770756?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_HikingCamping_Ten ts_JN&hash=item53ea743884 £33 all in and a really good little tent but only for 1 man and gear as its 2 man tent name is not deserved lol.

[Al21]

How do you go about waterproofing them?

The info I had from Endies was to use Nikwax Tech Wash to clean, and when re-proofing was required to clean and then proof with TX Direct, but to be fair, I've not had to re-proof either yet. First purchase was two years a go. YMMV :)

Al

[cuppa joe]

http://bivibag.org.uk/

[Tony1948]

This dont look like a bad deal:happy-clapping:Sleeping bag bivi,Blanket&sheet Czech Army NEW.£14.99 postage£6.50 Item number 230692728389 on ebay:camping::campfire:

[cuppa joe]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00322QRQE/ref=asc_df_B00322QRQE5593096?smid=A1CNO5PJNWSN51&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B00322QRQE im thinking of trying one of these myself....only small but im not very tall anyway.

[cuppa joe]

Heres a thread on singletrack...there are lots of different bivi tarp set ups . http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sick-as-a-dog-so-show-me-you-bivi-bikepacking-adventure-racing-gear.

[Metal mug]

The info I had from Endies was to use Nikwax Tech Wash to clean, and when re-proofing was required to clean and then proof with TX Direct, but to be fair, I've not had to re-proof either yet. First purchase was two years a go. YMMV :)

AlThe same method I use. :)

[markal17]

looks good cuppa let us now how it is good or bad lol

[Ashley Cawley]

Surprised to read such hostility to Bivi'ing down at the start of this thread. Sometimes I really like to use a Bivi bag under a Tarp laying on a thick dutch roll mat, beats a tent for me.

Having said that can't believe the price of that Gelert Solo one man tent on Amazon - just £24.99!? I might get one just to see it's quality/build, see what it's like.

I'm actually after a bivi bag myself for my younger brother Joe's Christmas present, he keeps asking for one! Humakt if yours hasn't already gone I'd be interested, I'll drop you a PM.

[Ben Casey]

Hi Ash I think it was the Gelert Solo that Ken had the problem with in Cornwall mind you he did spend a bit of time in it :evilgrin:

[Ben Casey]

Oh I hope my post wasnt taken aggresivley I meant it more in Jest so sorry if it came over wrong :)

[cuppa joe]

Oh I hope my post wasnt taken aggresivley I meant it more in Jest so sorry if it came over wrong :)
You were aggressive ...I was scared went and hid in my bivi bag ....lol I think ash was joking .

[cuppa joe]

bargain alert ....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Army-Bivi-Bag-/260916098734?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item3cbfcfb6ae

[kabishka]

3275 I bought a Mica 12 North Face one man tent for only £70 from an Outlet store, (RRP: £220.00) It weights 1kg, has lots of head room to sit up in, lots of nice features including the fact it can be put up without the inner tent if you get a footprint. Also durable in high winds as i found out in the peaks :) Brill tent! :camping:

[great white ape]

Bivi Bags are the best...

Mate try ebay for an ex british army. £20 and the best buy to date. Have been walking with bivi and buffalo bag and these two plus a quick brush wood and leaf shelter and had many happy nights. Water proof and hang your kit off a tree, preferable the one your using as a bit of a shelter.

Works and fast to get ready,

[cuppa joe]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Military-Bivvy-Bivi-Bag-Seyntex-belgian-Army-issue-/250970585463?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item3a6f033977...its waterproof on the bottom and sides...water repellant on top but you would have to use with a tarp.

[great white ape]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Issue-British-Army-Gore-Tex-Bivi-Bivvy-Bag-DPM-Excellent-condition-/260931118289?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item3cc0b4e4d1

gortex and works without fail

[cuppa joe]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Issue-British-Army-Gore-Tex-Bivi-Bivvy-Bag-DPM-Brand-New-/260935071961?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item3cc0f138d9

[Wood_Wose]

I have an Alpkit bivi bag, the bigger one! other than the crisp packety feel i cannot fault it, i keep my sleeping bag in it when packed, whip it out and bobs your sugar daddy, a quick, handy shelter for 1+ pack and boots! coupled with a small tarp or natural shelter its a combo that blows a tent out of the water (or field) IMHO.... i remember it being reasonably priced as well compared to most on the market (besides surplus).