• Wide opening bivi bags

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 12:51 am**

I’ve got 3 bivi bags but I can’t stand the top entry, does my head in and was wondering if anybody’s found a large size bag with a side zip that goes from shoulder to knee?

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 8:30 am**

In usual forum etiquette I'll suggest something I use... have a look at the Sierra Designs Backcountry Bivy. It is roomy and easier to get in and out of with a large opening. The opening is on top so you have to be a bit careful getting in and out in steady rain but obviously fine under a tarp. But hey, it's a bivvy bag! I've only used mine a couple of times and am very pleased with it so far

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 8:40 am**

RAB Bugaboo also has a top zip but you'll need to find a SH one I think.

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 9:13 am**

The Borah bags have a zip that goes down to around waist level - I'd need to check to be exact. Whether that's far enough for you. John (at Borah) will do custom work as well, just ask for a longer zip.

Edit: here's the spec - https://borahgear.com/ultralightbivy.html

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 9:32 am**

My MLD Superlight and Borah bivvies both have a j zip across the chest and down to the knees neither are waterproof though so it depends what you need.

For standalone waterproof I'd echo Stu's suggestion of a Rab eVent bag, mine is a Sierra which I think replaced the Bugaboo

MLD Soul are worth a look too

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 10:02 am**

Borah used to do a Snowyside bivi using event fabric. IIRC all the details correctly and whether they still do. Same zip configuration as their "showerproof" bags. Plus a bug net. Also voluminous for you beefy Cumbrians ;-)

Edit - currently unavailable according to a quick Google. If of interest worth contacting the chap there who is v.helpful.

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 11:27 am**

More waterproof than the usual Borah lightweight bags is more preferable as it might not be used with a tarp.
Carinthia do one but its 300 euro's and the zip doesn't go down as far as I'd like.
Mil-tec do pretty much what it wan't but it's bloody heavy, 1.3kg

Must be muted colours too as I'm not a harlequin.
A decent size footbox wouldn't go amiss either.

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 11:55 am**

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 12:05 pm**

Looks like you're looking for something Taylor made. IGMC

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 1:00 pm**

Applauds

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 2:24 pm**

Personally I love the humble brag about the size of his feet -fnar-

Worth an email to Borah, you never know?

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 2:45 pm**

I have a normal Borah bivi and a snowyside event one

Bug net works better on the normal bivi because it velcros in on the snowyside, but if I’m going somewhere without a tarp and think it’ll be bug free and might rain, I’ll take the snowyside

It’s roomy and zip is good, v similar to the normal borah. Have slept in the rain quite a few times with it, just leave a little gap in the zip for me to breathe

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 2:48 pm**

I wonder if Alpkit might fit a zip to one of their Hunka bags via their repair station or custom bag making folks?

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 4:47 pm**

Bearlegged wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 2:48 pm I wonder if Alpkit might fit a zip to one of their Hunka bags via their repair station or custom bag making folks?

I have thought about that, next time I'm passing.
I've got an XL that could be the donor.

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 6:46 pm**

Bearlegged wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 2:48 pm I wonder if Alpkit might fit a zip to one of their Hunka bags via their repair station or custom bag making folks?

Yep, I was talking to one of the Betws folk about altering a Kloke bivy, so don't see why not.

Posted: **Sat Mar 05, 2022 7:37 pm**

google Dutch M90 NATO issue Olive Green "Gore-tex" Military Bivvy.

Has a top side diagonal opening with studs and velcro that might do.

Posted: **Sun Mar 06, 2022 11:27 pm**

Mariner wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 7:37 pm google Dutch M90 NATO issue Olive Green "Gore-tex" Military Bivvy.

Has a top side diagonal opening with studs and velcro that might do.

Long zips are common on military bivi bags - for getting out in a hurry - but as said above they tend to be heavier than most folk want for bike packing.

Posted: **Mon Mar 07, 2022 10:32 pm**

If you want a new event one with a long zip, then I *think* the Mld Soul is the only game in town. My family got me one for Christmas and after a couple of bivy a month uses so far, I'm liking it.... Especially the very long zip. I'm less keen on the fairly small mesh window, but it gets the job done.

My Ti Goat Ptarmigan has a much better half length zip /mesh / head area design (it's excellent), but obviously not waterproof

Posted: **Tue Mar 08, 2022 7:34 am**

Chrisps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 07, 2022 10:32 pm If you want a new event one with a long zip, then I *think* the Mld Soul is the only game in town. My family got me one for Christmas and after a couple of bivy a month uses so far, I'm liking it.... Especially the very long zip. I'm less keen on the fairly small mesh window, but it gets the job done.

My Ti Goat Ptarmigan has a much better half length zip /mesh / head area design (it's excellent), but obviously not waterproof

Closest so far, although I’ve not managed to get to alpkit to see if they’ll modify.

Posted: **Tue Mar 08, 2022 2:05 pm**

I'm watching this thread after having hooped bivy rage.
Trying to slide a folding exped foam mat down to the bottom of a hooped bivy was rage inducing. Also an inflatable pillow in a bivy is as welcome as a fart in a space suit. No matter what you do, it's in your face.

Posted: **Tue Mar 08, 2022 2:35 pm**

Gpl23 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 08, 2022 2:05 pm I'm watching this thread after having hooped bivy rage.
Trying to slide a folding exped foam mat down to the bottom of a hooped bivy was rage inducing. Also an inflatable pillow in a bivy is as welcome as a fart in a space suit. No matter what you do, it's in your face.

If I'm using a sleeping bag then the pillow usually goes into the hood of the bag.

Posted: **Tue Mar 08, 2022 2:42 pm**

hooped bivy

Always found a hooped bivvy the worst of all worlds.

Posted: **Wed Mar 09, 2022 9:58 am**

Closest so far, although I’ve not managed to get to alpkit to see if they’ll modify.

I asked this a few years ago and they said no as too busy.
I do however have a largish piece of red Hunka material that they sold me.
I was going to get an outdoor equipment repairer to cut up the Hunka and put a zip in
but I think the quote was more than the cost of the Hunka.
I still have the material if you want it.

Posted: **Wed Mar 09, 2022 3:58 pm**

Mariner wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 9:58 am Closest so far, although I’ve not managed to get to alpkit to see if they’ll modify.

I asked this a few years ago and they said no as too busy.
I do however have a largish piece of red Hunka material that they sold me.
I was going to get an outdoor equipment repairer to cut up the Hunka and put a zip in
but I think the quote was more than the cost of the Hunka.
I still have the material if you want it.

See what they say first

Posted: **Thu Mar 10, 2022 9:57 am**

Popped into Bristol alpkit and the repair heroine said about £30 to put a waterproof zip into my Hunka.

Wide opening bivi bags

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