Post by: bowhiker on September 29, 2014, 09:27:04 PM
Post by: jtw on September 30, 2014, 05:43:06 AM
If it's below 50 you'll be having a miserable night with just this bivy.
Post by: bowhiker on September 30, 2014, 09:17:23 PM
Post by: biggfish on September 30, 2014, 10:52:11 PM
Post by: Seahawk12 on September 30, 2014, 11:17:26 PM
I went to amazon to take a look and read through the reviews.
A lot of comments that were unsatisfied with the size of it. Even a person at 5'10" 185lbs complained of it being too tight to rest comfortably.
On another site I read this:
Quote
Went on a Junior Forest Wardens outing in a Wall Tent with temperatures at -15°C. As there was not enough room in the tent for everyone I took the opportunity to sleep outside in a down mummy bag and the Sol escape bivy.
By 3:30 in the morning the cold and dampness had prevented any sleep. The amount of condensation was such that the socking wet interior of the bivy was turning the bag into a damp and cold sleeping bag. I contemplated taking off the bivy and just using the bag, but it was already wet, so I went to my truck and got my 25 pound down rectangular sleeping bag. This was only good for the lower half of my body as the top was still open to the cold air as it lacked a drawstring.
Rather than get up again and go back to truck for another down mummy to put inside the 25 pounder, I put up with it for the rest of the night. In the morning I discovered the drawstring of the bivy had come out of the bivy and would require repair, though this was the first time I had opened the package.
I only used it for a night but in a multi-day survival situation the amount of condensation could be dangerous or even life threatening, if there was no way to get the sleeping bag and bivy dry every day. I only tested it in the -10 to -15 range, and it is possible with the right bag and outside temperature there would be less condensation, but as this is meant to be a survival bag, it should work in relatively mild winter conditions such as this.
It is fortunate I got the chance to test the bivy before taking it out on an expedition.
I think it looks neat. And maybe something to get to keep under a truck seat for emergency situations, but I would be nervous about taking it as my sole means of a comfortable sleep in the mountains.
I suppose the pros appear to be size, weight, and cost.
If you do end up buying one I would be very interested in your leaving a review of it here after using it.
Post by: bowhiker on October 01, 2014, 09:38:45 PM
Post by: Seahawk12 on October 01, 2014, 09:57:29 PM
I would definitely try it out in forgiving circumstances like warm weather camping or at least have a reliable back-up with me.
Again, if you do go ahead with it I would sure like to hear your reviews on it.
Post by: Bmcox86 on October 04, 2014, 08:32:41 PM
Post by: bowhiker on December 04, 2014, 08:32:02 PM