I mainly use a polycryo sheet as a groundsheet (although I have a tyvek one as well but it's more bulky), I only use it to protect the bottom of my mat (or my bivi bag if I'm using it) from wear and tear. I keep it as small as possible to minimise the risk of it getting water on top (which can happen even with a flat groundsheet) so it just covers the same ground area as my mat or bivibag. If money was no object I probably wouldn't bother and would just put my mat/bivi straight on the ground.

johnnystorm wrote: ↑Sat Apr 18, 2020 1:13 pm I have a Six Moons Wild Oasis and use a flat tyvek floor (which incidentally is due a replacement!). But then it is a pretty much a tent.

Same here. I’ve only actually used a bivi bag under it once in an incredible thunderstorm on Rum where I was sure the wind and hail would tear it to pieces.
Hooped bivi is perfect for combining the misery of a bivi bag and the weight of a tent. I spent 1 night in mine before selling it on!

I bloody loves my hooped bivy. I have a Jupiter Lite. It’s up and ready in about 30 seconds and I’ve done a few really weathery nights in it no problem.

It suits an inept erector such as I who has mostly lost the will to live after a long day thrutching about the place.

I don’t get this misery of bivy bag thing? But then again I’m not the type to hang around in a tent. I just want to sleep then get on with the best bit which is riding my bike.

so if you are as odd as Dave get a Bivvy -alpkit could use that for marketting purposes

The other thing I found is I can get cape borah and cook kit in my ortlieb bum bag with room to spare

I have a TN Saturn which is a double hooped Goretex jobby comes around 1kg. It’s not a bad shelter to be fair but it rarely gets used these days as I have lighter and roomier options.
It’s reassuringly solid though, on a stormy camp at Angle Tarn near Patterdale a few years back it was the only one to come out unscathed, chatting to other campers scattered around the tarn the next morning the damage to some top end mountain tents was scary.
It’s one of those you can just chuck down on a tiny pitch and know you’ll get a good nights rest regardless of what’s going on outside and no need for a tarp.

I had the Snugpak Stratosphere for a few weeks but it was terrible for condensation, along with the tacky PU coating on the inside it meant for a miserable night even when the weather was dry.

Hooped bivis are niche but I think they can have their place.

I don’t get this misery of bivy bag thing?

I like bivvy bags. It's simply the practical application as a sole shelter when the weather's bad and you're already wet that usually leads me to use one in conjunction with a tarp.

Lazarus wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 11:11 am so if you are as odd as Dave get a Bivvy -alpkit could use that for marketting purposes

Very limited market

thrutching

I write for a living, have done for nearly 40 years. And I read a lot. Today, I learned a new word and that made me quite happy.

thrutch
/θrʌtʃ/
verbINFORMAL
gerund or present participle: thrutching
push, press, or squeeze into a space when climbing.

"I thrutched up the final crack to a small pinnacle"

Yes I picked that verb up on Stannage Edge many years back when my leader told me that the next climb was thrutchy. I still have the scars on my left hand

only ever heard used to describe climbing up stupidly steep hills on a SS

TheBrownDog wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 2:27 pm

thrutching

I write for a living, have done for nearly 40 years. And I read a lot. Today, I learned a new word and that made me quite happy.

thrutch
/θrʌtʃ/
verbINFORMAL
gerund or present participle: thrutching
push, press, or squeeze into a space when climbing.

"I thrutched up the final crack to a small pinnacle"

We always used it for climbing cracks and especially chimneys

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:41 am I bloody loves my hooped bivy. I have a Jupiter Lite. It’s up and ready in about 30 seconds and I’ve done a few really weathery nights in it no problem.

It suits an inept erector such as I who has mostly lost the will to live after a long day thrutching about the place.

Hi Dave, did you use it on the divide? Always curious to hear about the efficiency of sleep systems.

Well I've ordered one. I love my Hunka XL but i don't like having my face stuck out in the open. So i use a cheap silnylon tarp. Which then requires rigging up with sticks, or a pole, or my wheels.

Cue the Elan!

To be honest it'll be one of a number of systems I use according to the weather and how long I want to hang around camp and create a gastronomic experience. If there's trees l have the hammock!

But if its a quick a dirty overnight wild camp on the edge of a field (I live Surrey/Hampshire), then the Elan sounds perfect. And for £99 its a bargain to I reckon.

FLV wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:12 pm

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:41 am I bloody loves my hooped bivy. I have a Jupiter Lite. It’s up and ready in about 30 seconds and I’ve done a few really weathery nights in it no problem.

It suits an inept erector such as I who has mostly lost the will to live after a long day thrutching about the place.

Hi Dave, did you use it on the divide? Always curious to hear about the efficiency of sleep systems.

I used my Terra Nova Discovery but wished Id had the hooped one.

Specialist Hoprocker wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:57 pm Well I've ordered one. I love my Hunka XL but i don't like having my face stuck out in the open. So i use a cheap silnylon tarp. Which then requires rigging up with sticks, or a pole, or my wheels.

Cue the Elan!

To be honest it'll be one of a number of systems I use according to the weather and how long I want to hang around camp and create a gastronomic experience. If there's trees l have the hammock!

But if its a quick a dirty overnight wild camp on the edge of a field (I live Surrey/Hampshire), then the Elan sounds perfect. And for £99 its a bargain to I reckon.

I hope the service you get from Alpkit is better than what I'm currently experiencing. I've been trying to find out what's happened to the new frameset that I ordered from them on 5th April (and which is supposed to be in stock). They seem to be in a state of disarray at the moment which is entirely understandable with the current state of the world but I don't think they're being very honest about whatever problems they're evidently having. I've already received a headset from Germany, Disc adapters from Merlin and a fork bung from CRC that was all ordered after the frame so it's not a delivery problem.

Thanks dave.

Im tempted. I have a lunar solo, and various other tents and all are nicer to sleep in than my bivi bag. If im going to spend time in it purposely awake these are the choice.

My bivi is non hooped and accepting the fact that its a bag and you lie in it to sleep, nothing more then its pretty good. Kind of bugs me to have all the material on my face. Having a little vented door to leave open is tempting.

Laying anywhere like a normal bivi is a plus

Pack size puts me off though.

I don't think they're being very honest about whatever problems they're evidently having

Thy quite possibly dont know and are also being promised delivery etc
Never had a problem with Alpit personally though I can see why you are frustrated and hope it gets sorted soon

Lazarus wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:06 pm

I don't think they're being very honest about whatever problems they're evidently having

Thy quite possibly dont know and are also being promised delivery etc
Never had a problem with Alpit personally though I can see why you are frustrated and hope it gets sorted soon

No, I've bought loads of stuff off them as well and never had an issue. I hope for some progress tomorrow as Alpkit Nick (founder/MD) has got involved but we'll see. I don't have a problem with delays, I totally get the fact that everything's up in the air just now but the lack of communication has been frustrating and worrying. All I want is an honest update on what's happening so that I can plan accordingly.

PaulB2 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2020 6:07 pm It'll be interesting to see how small this packs:

https://alpkit.com/products/elan-kelp

I'll let you know, I have one on the way in a week or so.
I'll do a review and use it at the WRT (May) back garden bivi out weekend

JohnClimber wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:15 pm

PaulB2 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2020 6:07 pm It'll be interesting to see how small this packs:

https://alpkit.com/products/elan-kelp

I'll let you know, I have one on the way in a week or so.
I'll do a review and use it at the WRT (May) back garden bivi out weekend

They pack down very small, even smaller if the poles can go elsewhere, that’s assuming it’s exactly the same as the Snugpak

I've got a TN Jupiter, i actually quite like it

Wotsits wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:38 pm I've got a TN Jupiter, i actually quite like it

Same here! Had mine for ages, but I don't get to bivvy huge amounts, so happy to defer to the experienced whitebeards among us for bivvy experience! It can be a bit of a faff to get in occasionally, but I feel pretty snug once inside it, and I can move enough inside it to change clothes. Find it nice and breathable and nice to have the choice between net or flap.

The Elan does look good and the side zip a very good idea. I was tempted initially, but i've no cause to replace the Jupiter yet.

It does look similar to the Snugpack but I hope it's more breathable. Every time I slept in a Snugpack version I came close to drowning.

I’ve never used a bivi, use a wild country zephyros tent which is only about half a kg heavier than the bivis being mentioned and it was only 80 quid. If you end up with a tarp and groundsheet with your bivi the weight advantage is pretty much negated.

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.