Finally going to buy a bivi/tarp

I have an army surplus bivi and large tarp, but they are big and heavy. I have an upcoming bikepacking weekend.

Any reason I shouldn’t just go to alpkit and get a Kloke and a rig 3.5?

The Kloke has no bug net so I’d never buy one. I don’t much like that style of entry/exit either, though it does keep the weight down. If you plan to use it with a decent mat, consider whether you want the mat inside or outside of the bivvy bag. Many are simply too skinny to have the mat inside.

The Rig 3.5 is fine if you have a waterproof bivvy bag, a bit neat if you want to not use the bivvy bag.

Any that do have a bug net for that money? Mat’s going to have to go inside.

Rab Storm looks like it has a mesh panel?

Have you considered the Elan, with the hooped end?
This has a bug net/mesh opening at the head end and an opening that means you aren’t having to wriggle down into the sleeping bag from the top.

I did my first bikepacking overnighter about a month ago. I decided on buying a tent (Blackthorn Highlander 1 – cheap £50 tent to get my started), while my two mates took bivvy bags.
I think one was in a Hunka XL while the other was in a Decathlon bag. The issue he had is that he didn’t actually fit in it with his sleeping mat & sleeping bag – he was too broad across the shoulders. Cue 20 mins of hilarious re-adjusting & wriggling around while he tried to get comfy. He’s now looking at getting an Alpkit Soloist :)

JUst make sure you’ll have enough room for you & your bag/mat.

I never put my mat inside my bivvy bag.

Blackthorn Highlander 1

I’ve got this tent too – a cracking tent for the money. I’m 192cm tall so was a bit too tall for it so upgraded to a zepheros 2. Sub 2kg so similar to tarp + groundsheet + bivouac bag but much better defences against midges.

I notified in Tiso they now do a zepherous compact – looks the same tent size but shorter pole sections so packs smaller.

I would quite like a hooped bivi, possibly for better weather since I could ditch the tarp if needed. But 900g is a bit lardy, I’m going in October so a tarp might be needed to cook/sit under, so given that might as well use a lightweight bivi.

The Kloke – it looks like that horizontal zip could let water in if there’s a puddle on the bag? Although as said, that’s the kind of bag you’d use with a tarp so less likely to be an issue.

Having said that, just noticed that the Storm is over twice the weight of the Kloke.

Anyone use a Sierra Designs Backcountry? Looks like a decent bit of mesh when you are under a tarp or it’s not raining.

https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/tents-shelters-c25/bivvy-bags-c41/sierra-designs-backcountry-bivy-p14513

scruff9252
Free Member

I’ve got this tent too – a cracking tent for the money. I’m 192cm tall so was a bit too tall for it so upgraded to a zepheros 2.

Yikes. I’m not surprised you were a bit tall for it. The tapered head end doesn’t help, but I’m 170cm & find it a bit of a coffin-like squeeze!
It is a surprisingly good tent for the money, although I will probably get something next year with a bit more space to enable me to actually sit-up in it;
Naturehike Cloud-Up 1
Lanshan 1 Plus
Forclaz Trek900 (Decathlon)
or Alpkit Soloist currently on the list.

The Decathlon one is probably top of the table, although I would prefer a stealthy green colour to the grey colour. Alpkit Soloist and Cloud-Up 1 have small porch areas, which puts me off a bit & the Lanshan 1 is just bloody confusing with so many options :)

Sorry to de-rail your thread, molgrips. I’ll shut up now. Back to bivvys & tarps.

Anyone use a Sierra Designs Backcountry?

It’s on my list, though I’d put up with a wee bit extra weight for the newer one in green. I hope to have a prototype of a similar design for testing soon.

I’ve got a Kloke but only used it a handful of times. The zip is a bit of an oddity. Unless you are a shortarse the zip is really across your upper chest rather than your face so if you want to zip up because of cold/mizzle/midge and leave a small gap to actually breath, the gap is way below your mouth.

I’ve parked my bivi & tarp interest for now and bought (at eyewatering expense) a nordisk lofoten 1. That too is massively compromised (I miss the sheltered outdoor cooking/sitting option of the tarp/bivi, and sitting up is not remotely an option) but having a midge free haven for the same weight and pack size as a bivi and tarp won out (for now).

Hmm still might work for me as I can curl up a bit which might create an opening. You willing to part with it @convert?

Anyone use a Sierra Designs Backcountry?

Very well regarded on Trek lite forum, which is worth looking at for this kind of stuff Molly.

I was using a Rab Ridge raider which was ok,but have gone back to a small tent (Ionosphere),works better for me.

Hooped bivvys have always appealed to me but I bought a Lunar Solo and that just offers so much more for a not dissimilar weight.

You might check out the Snugpak Special Forces bivi bag (there’s an X-Long version). Central chest zip.

I’ve been using their Stratosphere (a posh Elan) hooped bivi all summer. There are things I like about it but condensation is definitely an issue. I don’t think I’d want to use a down bag in it, certainly not for more than a one night trip.

OK so it’s a bit heavy but imho the goretex army is the best imho. Packs alone into a 5l airlok or with sleeping bag and mat into a 13l. It’s so huge it can deal with a bit of rain on it’s own.

Same weight/volume as my tent but stealthy and quick to deploy/pack away.

My new tent is sort of a tarp / tent hybrid – weighs under a kilo, full bug net, pitches with 6 pegs in a few seconds.

Trekkertent stealth 1.5. Expensive tho.

Alpkit Hunka XL – fits sleeping bag and mat with room to spare.
DD Hammocks Superlight Tarp – packs down impressively small and weight is low for the money.

Used the Hunka many times and like it although it would be much improved with a zip to make getting in/out easier. Not a big deal for me though.

Also use an Ionosphere which is great little tent.

A Hilleberg tent is on the wish list although not sure I can justify it – prices would make an onion cry.

Hmm still might work for me as I can curl up a bit which might create an opening. You willing to part with it @convert?

hmmm, I think I’ll hold on to it. There is something lovely about sleeping out in the stars – I’ll hold on to it for those starry low level nights in the non midge season.

But – if you want one get to Alpkit now – the spacesaver sale has just started.

It’s so huge it can deal with a bit of rain on it’s own.

The one I have just has a gaping huge opening at the top with a drawstring closure, it’s so big it’s nearly impossible to close up well so something’s gonna get wet in bad conditions.

Like a lot of this sort of kit when you go superlight then so does your wallet! So it’s a case of balancing how light you want to go with how much you want to pay.

My lightest setup is a Trekkertent DCF tarp and a Borah Gear bivy bag, sub 400g including pegs and pole. Eye wateringly costly though.

The Alpkit Rig 3.5 is suitable for one person (we’ve used it for the two of us but it’s very cosy), you need to work out the best pitch for you.

At the same weight as the Rig3.5 is the SMD Gatewood Cape which is sort of the Lunar Solo without the inner. Since I got mine I’ve not used it as it means prying it out of my wife’s hands.

Also look at DD Hammocks for other tarp options.

For a bivy bag, consider if you want to use it just with the tarp or also on its own. For the former you can get away with much lighter bags, they aren’t “waterproof” but they don’t need to be since the tarp is doing that job so they are more about keeping draughts and bugs at bay. If you want to have your mat inside the bag then you need a bag that’s a bit wider, something around the size of the Hunka XL will be fine.

pegs in a few seconds

If by a few, you mean about 300, aye, you can have that. 😂

Lots here to go at.

Alpkit Hunka XL. Fits mat and bag in comfortably with room to spare, waterproof and breathable so no condensation issues. I find in warmer weather its nice to keep your arms out of your sleeping bag and under the gore tex (or whatever it is) material of the bag. They’re tough too, don’t tear on rock/gravel etc.

Coupled with a Decathalon Forclaz tarp, very versatile, light and cheap. Bags of room for one man. Keeps the rain and wind off nicely. Pitches quickly.

Hip flask of decent single malt and you’ll sleep like a log.

I have a DD 3×3 tarp for sale,only used once.£30 and living just north of Cardiff I can meet you to hand it over.

If you’re interested in the tarp tents, I recently got one of these which is close to a Lunar Solo:

It’s about £50, posted over from the USA in 10 days and no customs charges via Amazon global shipping programme.

It’s small, lightweight (1.25kg), spacious, waterproof and has a huge porch area (enough to get changed out of wet gear in) and has a full mesh inner. I got a Lomo extending bivi pole for another £12 for it (200g more). You can also tie the top to a branch or another line if you don’t want the pole.

I think it’s an American company who are rebranding stuff from China, but from their info on it they seem to be campers and know what they’re talking about.

To be fair, I have a bivi and tarp too. Use a Hunka Xl with my mat inside and it’s fine. I don’t really bother with the tarp normally.

Looks more a copy of the luxe designs (which copied many others tbf!) than a lunar solo.

I’ve seen these on eBay which look cheap and (possibly) cheerful.

Even cheaper on Wish.

Todays free tip: if you have a bivvy bag and don’t like the material or mesh against your face, wear a peaked cap when sleeping. 😁

@ogri 3×3 I think is going to be too big. I already have one that size and I’m looking at a smaller ‘personal’ one.

No worries mols,have a good trip.

Todays free tip: if you have a bivvy bag and don’t like the material or mesh against your face, wear a peaked cap when sleeping. 😁

Side sleeper face palm

Turn the cap sideways 😜

Bought a Rig 3.5 and a Kloke. Paid the price for my dithering, it’s not on sale any more :( I didn’t get the Sierra Designs because there wasn’t a stealth colour available, same reason I didn’t get the Hunka.

Bought some thin carbon tubes off eBay, I think I’ll try 3d printing some end caps for them to make lightweight tent pegs. We’ll see how that goes :)

I’m going to aim for some trees for the overnight stop on my Lakeland 200 route so I can pitch the tarp as a nice sit-under shelter without recourse to using bike parts.

Good plan, mind Post your pics 👍

Ok :) we’re not sure if the whole 200km route is going to be doable, especially given the light, but there a few are bail-out options.

Rab Storm looks like it has a mesh panel?

I’ve got one, it’s kinda Ok in a pinch to keep the rain out, but there isn’t really enough ventilation to make it a pleasant experience unless you get the equilibrium between sleeping bag rating, body heat, weather etc exactly right to drive the moisture out.

Without a tarp I actually got wetter than with the army bag as leaving my face at least a little uncovered meant some water landing on the hood was running into the bag.

The one I have just has a gaping huge opening at the top with a drawstring closure, it’s so big it’s nearly impossible to close up well so something’s gonna get wet in bad conditions.

I presume they were referring to the cavernous width/length of them.

You can roll onto the front and use the ‘pillow’ section as a storm flap.

No major bike dismantling necessary. If you’ve got a pole you can make a sturdy shelter just by jamming a front wheel in the back; gives you a useful space to brew up and get organised, with just your legs sticking out inside the bivi bag.

I might try and figure out a single pole, that looks a good setup.