Alpkit Elan

[Bearbonesnorm]

I have wondered about using just the outer of the Zephyros for those one nighters where you know there’s good weather. That would be very light, anyone tried that.

Done a lot with TN Lasers ... but why only good weather? Without the inner they provide a great deal of room and good coverage / protection.

[Specialist Hoprocker]

I have wondered about using just the outer of the Zephyros for those one nighters where you know there’s good weather. That would be very light, anyone tried that.

Yes done it with a Zepyhros 2 quite a few times. Works well.

[ScotRoutes]

If you end up with a tarp and groundsheet with your bivi the weight advantage is pretty much negated.

For me, the choice of tent vs bivvy is very, very seldom about weight.

[tobasco]

but why only good weather? Without the inner they provide a great deal of room and good coverage / protection.

I just assumed water could come in at the bottom

[sean_iow]

If it's good weather then you don't need the outer either

[Bearbonesnorm]

I just assumed water could come in at the bottom

Obviously, if the ground's wet you could do with some kind of groundsheet but you could probably do with one anyway unless you're going to use a lightweight bivvy such as a Borah.

The likelihood of water / rain finding its way beneath the edge of the outer is very, very slim even if it's properly wind-driven.

[psling]

Has anyone seen the new Vango F10 Project Hydrogen yet?
700g, 1L pack size, double skin, airbeam inflate with bike pump. Sounds interesting (if you have that kind of spend).

[UnderTheRadars]

I too have one on order, will look to use it alongside a tarp

[ScotRoutes]

I too have one on order, will look to use it alongside a tarp

Oh. Hello you!

[UnderTheRadars]

*waves*

[Shewie]

How are folk finding the Elan, condensation a concern?

I'm thinking about getting something a bit more stealthy and lower profile than my current options

[chrisjones]

It's essentially a lightweight swag without the mattress.

The side entrance has it's benefits & negatives.

It's much easier to get in and out of, but it's a right royal pain in the ass if it's raining, because all your sleeping kit gets wet. It's not a practical solution without a tarp.

...and then I start to wonder why you'd bother, when you can get tents that are as light, and have more space.

[mattpage]

I've just had the Soloist to arrive to test, so it will be interesting to try that and I think it has some useful things that personally I think make it better than a hooped bivi - or maybe not.

I've got the Snugpack version and used it once in the garden and just wasn't keen. A friend now uses it though and likes it, so maybe just horses for courses.

The Solosit has the option of putting outer only up, or inner only. So you could maybe set it up like a Gatewood Cape with either the footprint groundsheet they sell or just tyvek/polycyro.

1.2kg claimed for the full tent, sub 1kg for either outer or inner only.

[Shewie]

It's essentially a lightweight swag without the mattress.

The side entrance has it's benefits & negatives.

It's much easier to get in and out of, but it's a right royal pain in the ass if it's raining, because all your sleeping kit gets wet. It's not a practical solution without a tarp.

...and then I start to wonder why you'd bother, when you can get tents that are as light, and have more space.

How do you find the condensation with the Elan?

[Specialist Hoprocker]

I've used mine once. Spent half the night entirely zipped in. No condensation issue. Loved the net pockets by the head for torch, keys, phone etc. Looking forward to using it again soon.

[Shewie]

I've used mine once. Spent half the night entirely zipped in. No condensation issue. Loved the net pockets by the head for torch, keys, phone etc. Looking forward to using it again soon.

I've taken a punt on one, hopefully it'll breath better than the Stratosphere's I've had in the past.

[chrisjones]

It's essentially a lightweight swag without the mattress.

The side entrance has it's benefits & negatives.

It's much easier to get in and out of, but it's a right royal pain in the ass if it's raining, because all your sleeping kit gets wet. It's not a practical solution without a tarp.

...and then I start to wonder why you'd bother, when you can get tents that are as light, and have more space.

How do you find the condensation with the Elan?

Sorry- I don't have one, so couldn't say.

I do have a swag which is very similar in design, although that's canvas, and lovely, and completely inappropriate for bikepacking as it weighs a ton and packs down to the size of your average Gloucester Old Spot!.

My comments related to my experience with that rather than the bivi. Any single skin is going to be prone to condensation to some degree or other though. Minimising condensation risk is all down to effective ventilation.