Hooped bivi bags

[zigrat]

Hi - am planning my first proper bikepacking trip in the next couple of weeks and am pondering over sleep system/bivi bag choice. I'm going to be riding in the Highlands of Scotland which have ferocious midges (small biting flies which swarm) and my current bivi bag has no fly netting so I'm thinking of getting a hooped bivi with some mosquito netting so i don't have to have myself sealed in all night - my choices so far are either an Outdoor Reserch  Alpine Bivi or a RAB ridge raider (http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cfm/product/rab-ridge-raider-ep/fuseaction/products.detail/code/76110048/group/864/level/2). Anyone got any experience of either of these or would like to recommend something else ?

[boddunn]

For similar money and weight you could get a Tarptent from the US, my Double Rainbow (no not that kind!) stood up to the tail end of a hurricane in the Outer Hebrides (force 8 at worst) and the midges last year. Sleeps 2 comfortably, has 2 porches and, for me, is the best tent I've owned.
 Hope you have a great trip, I'm quite jealous! You've probably heard this before but Avon's Skin So Soft worked pretty well at keeping the midges at bay which is saying something coming from a movable insect feast like myself.

[DiDaDunlop]

I just bought a dutch army hooped bivvy.

http://link.marktplaats.nl/449912115 (just for the pictures, the text is in dutch)

60 euro's with a bit of haggling.

It has netting and is quite roomy. Altough i am not sure if the netting is midge approved. I know those little feckers and you need really good netting. 

Weighs about 1,4 KG. It's a tad heavier than mij spitfire solo sul tent. But it packs smaller and is less conspicious.

Where are you planning to go? I still am planning for a Aberdeen / Fort William / up north (Ullapool) route.

[paul78]

Alternatively pick your bivi spot to minimise their numbers and get a head net ... slightly cheaper option and one thats worked well for me

[riverfever]

I've owned an OR Alpine bivy for several years now. On the bike, I've never taken the poles with me. That bivy is cut so big that I can just pull the material down a bit so the netting is on my face and be fine if the bugs are bad. If I'm backpacking, it's very roomy for one but, like already mentioned, it's for one. I like the OR because you can take both poles with you or you can just take one of them and, at least, keep the material off your face if that bugs (no pun intended) you. The other nice thing about the OR is I'll sleep inside a car wash with it and be fine. It's roomy enough to stretch out and read a book if you're in it for a while. Having said that, it's not the best bivy for a race situation because it is cut so big. I have used it before in races but switched to a more traditional style/cut for this year to save weight but I still use the OR plenty.  

[Outsider]

During the worst mosquito time I would rather have a light tent than a bivy bag, and I did get a Tarptent Double Rainbow for just that purpose. I have also used a bivy bag with a bug headnet, and while it works, it would not be my first choice when there are lots of bugs. The RAB Ridge raider is heavy for what you actually get. There are tarps with bug nests for less weight, which to me seem like a better alternative.

My Tarptent Double Rainbow in dry weather bug mode. A nice open alternative, but not the only one:

[DiDaDunlop]

Yeah those tarptents look really nice. Only downside is that hideous color... I like my tents to be a bit green and inconspicious thats the only reason I've not bought one.

I would not mind a bit extra weight for some green or dark material.

[6thElement]

My Tarptent Contrail is green, iirc

[RossC]

Roman make a neat bivvy called the centurion that I have used. I quite like mine.

[s8tannorm]

If you go for a hooped bivvy spend the extra and get the rab. The eVent fabric makes a massive difference with regard to how well the bag will breath when you're sealed inside.

[zigrat]

Thanks to all for your input. Had a change of mind and ordered
A Nemo Gogo,  will let you know how it performs.

[Mike Brown]

www.mosquitohammock.com

yes, I am a hammock fan-boy, particularly the Claytor's.
mb

[s8tannorm]

I'd be interested to know how you go on with the Nemo with regard to condensation.

[Damnitman]

I really like my OR Alpine.  I slipped and got a bit wet at a water crossing.  By the time we made camp a few hours later, I was getting a bit cold and very tired.  I didn't bother to take off my wet clothes when I sacked out, with about 12" un zipped on each side.  The netting kept the bugs out all night and by the time I woke up everything was, more or less, nice and dry.
Not quite the same experience winter bikepacking at about -20f.  Stayed nice and dry, though there was a fair bit of frost inside the bag...though not nearly as bad as with my MH Conduit SL.  The Conduit stuff frosts very badly.  probably acceptable for a snocave but if you have no shelter besides a stand of bushes next to a shallow pit in the snow, go with the Alpine.  It has enough room you can keep a moderate amount of gear and water inside with you.  It would be interesting to try a similar design made of e-vent instead of g-tex.

[SHOGUN]

I just bought a dutch army hooped bivvy.

http://link.marktplaats.nl/449912115 (just for the pictures, the text is in dutch)

60 euro's with a bit of haggling.

It has netting and is quite roomy. Altough i am not sure if the netting is midge approved. I know those little feckers and you need really good netting. 

Weighs about 1,4 KG. It's a tad heavier than mij spitfire solo sul tent. But it packs smaller and is less conspicious.

Where are you planning to go? I still am planning for a Aberdeen / Fort William / up north (Ullapool) route.

i am planning a fort william and inverness cycle...cycled fort william a few times qualty place..atb shogun

[unsponsored]

Rab and Terra Nova make hooped bivis, quite expensive unless you can find a bargain on ebay.  How are your sewing skills?

PS Good to see some other UK bikepacking folk.  Check out http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk

[boddunn]

Shameless self promotion Unsponsored! Glad you did though, just looking through the previous posts now and there's some great stuff I'd not seen before.

[unsponsored]

Yeah, sorry couldn't help it!