I have a new Tadpole 2 DL going spare if you fancy a decent tent cheap. Email in profile.
Thanks for the offer boblo But I am about to buy the Zephyros 2 XL
I think the issue with a lot of this is it depends on time of year, budget and acceptable weight.
Bag wise, you can get some cracking lightweight warm down bags, but they arent cheap (rab, or alpkit are good if you can find one). personally i run a snugpak travelpak 3 for winter, but I tend to run hot at night. Its synthetic but packs down reasonably small and has a built in bug net (good for bivi use). This is usually inside a bivi (army jobby, heavy but sturdy (if i wanted lighter I'd go with alpkits hunka xl).
Tarp wise Im using a poncho. If the weathers truly foul, or its midgetastic, I run a zeph. Frankly they're cheap enough and good enough.....but theres plenty better out there if you have the budget. The offer for the tadpole is probably a better bet than the zeph btw (speaking as someone who has a zeph)
As someone else said, using a bivi is all about connecting with the outdoors. You'll find some of the high end tents will come in around the same weight as a tarp/bivi combo, which kind of leaves your choice down to preference.
Stoves, again personal choice. Im a fan of a proper fire, but if its multi day/somewhere I cant have fire, I'll use either a swiss metakocher (with meths), or a home made meths burner. They arent fancy but they're very reliable.
Theres no right or wrong in this stuff, just whatever works for you.
Alpkit Pipedream is a great range of very lightweight down bags - none in stock right now but they're redesigning it, so keep an eye out. Not cheap, but a great investment and still cheaper than equivalent bags from Rab etc. Just keep it dry - not hard if you've got a dry-bag and an ounce of sense.
Alpkit headtorch. I like my Manta a lot.
GoOutdoors do a super-cheap titanium stove from Hi-gear - weighs nowt, maybe 20g, and cost me £20.
NeoAirs are great - tiny and light. Shop around for deals
Prisms are good too, but I'd be a bit disappointed if I'd paid full price for mine. Look around and get one on offer, as low as £55-60 sometimes.
Grant way,here's some pics for you
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/14939069066_534479ae9e_s.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/14939069066_534479ae9e_s.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oL7CLj ]SAM_0566[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/100876064@N05/ ]philipdixon36[/url], on Flickr
url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/14775598678_cc075bc004_s.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/14775598678_cc075bc004_s.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/ovENHm ]SAM_0567[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/100876064@N05/ ]philipdixon36[/url], on Flickr
url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3846/14959091161_b2f5d60a1c_s.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3846/14959091161_b2f5d60a1c_s.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oMTfCR ]SAM_0568[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/100876064@N05/ ]philipdixon36[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3883/14962199285_d22ac887c4_s.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3883/14962199285_d22ac887c4_s.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oNabzc ]SAM_0569[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/100876064@N05/ ]philipdixon36[/url], on Flickr
My mat is 51 wide,so you can get an idea from it. There's plenty of room,about 2 foot of space at either end of the mat,and you should fit 2 side by side.
That said,if you are going to regularly use it for 2 people,I'd be thinking of a 3 man tent,but for 1 its ideal.
