Bivys

[AK Troutbum]

Tigoat has a new bivy now called the Kestrel that is designed more towards usage in a shelter. Wt. is 6 oz. and costs $85. I don't have one, so I can't give any feed back on it, but I will be getting one soon.

 

[Clarktar]

Man, The kestrel or the Omni Raven, too many options!

 

[colonel00]

I pulled the trigger on an Omni Raven and got it just the other day. Granted, I am new to the bivy as well but I am pretty impressed with its construction and design. The whole system with the bug net will take a little learning as far as getting it zipped up but that is mostly because it is unfamiliar. I don't have a Kestrel, obviously, but one thing that sticks out to me immediately is the hood section appears to be attached and set in place. I really like the articulated hood(s) of the Raven as I an fold them back should the situation ever present itself and have open air around my head and shoulders. Also, I like having the full net hood option instead of just the little section.

 

[boom]

i've never slept in a Bivy before. is getting in to a sleeping bag and zipping up everything a learning curve? sometimes i look like i am having a seizure when i try to zip up my sleeping bag..i have a wacky right shoulder, and ..ah..nevermind.

looks tight in there for zipper fun. you should see me when my zipper sucks in the fabric and locks up...good times!

 

[colonel00]

Yeah, it takes a little learning. I climbed in mine and it was a bit of a challenge. For one, the Omni Raven has two zipper pulls to close both the side and bug net so that was different. Plus, since it was brand new I was a little hesitant to just start yanking on zippers since the material is so light weight it seems like the slightest pressure will tear the seams. I am sure I will get over that part though. That and I was only able to stay in the bivy with my quilt and xlite pad for a few minutes before I started sweating since I was inside. I would definitely suggest giving it a couple trial runs instead of just heading out into the woods.

 

[husky390]

Did anyone here end up trying out the Kestrel?

 

[AK Troutbum]

Did anyone here end up trying out the Kestrel?

Yes and not really. I bought one a few months ago but haven't used it much, haven't had the opportunity to really test it out good. I bought it for the sole purpose of using in a floorless shelter, so I guess the testing that I will be doing with it won't be too extreme.

 

[colonel00]

but haven't used it much, haven't had the opportunity to really tested out good.

Why not, you guys are having the winter of a century up there. Isn't it like in the 50's?

 

[AK Troutbum]

Yes and not really. We are having a super warm winter and did, at my place anyway, have several days in Jan. with highs of 50 and almost the entire month it never got below freezing. For the last month the temps have been more towards the norm, and although we lost a ton of snow in January, we still have a couple feet in the yard. The reason for me not getting out has more to do with working too much, and having, what seems like, unending extra curricular activities with the kids. So much so, that I feel like I have to go to work in order to catch a break. It seems like work is the only place I can get any down time.

 

[husky390]

Yes and not really. I bought one a few months ago but haven't used it much, haven't had the opportunity to really test it out good. I bought it for the sole purpose of using in a floorless shelter, so I guess the testing that I will be doing with it won't be too extreme.

Thank you. Would you mind keeping us updated when you do use it. I'm considering it for use in my SL-5. That or a custom 2 person nest.

 

[AK Troutbum]

My plan is to use it for all my mountain hunts inside my SO LBO. I've been using SO's nest and it is very roomy for one and works great, but it weighs 20 oz. and the Kestrel weighs like 6 oz. So in my attempt to reduce the wt. of my pack, I won't be using the nest in the mountains anymore.

 

[husky390]

Good point. Not much sense in packing the nest for only one person. Have you talked to the guy's over at Tigoat? I haven't been able to get ahold of them.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I've only talked to them via email and they always got back to me right away. I've never tried to call them.

 

[Sundodger]

I have a bora bivy that I bought last summer and have used, it’s not a bad product, but I have a couple of things I didn’t like.

-The foot box is enormous. I ordered a wide based on their recommendation (I have broad shoulders and tend to sleep on my side a bit), so a standard might be fine here…
-The silnylon material has such a low coefficient of friction that unless my sleeping location is perfectly flat it will slide and roll. This drove me nuts because I like to have my head higher than my feet.
-My previous bivy I could close up around my face, this seemed to keep drafts to a minimum, I think my next bivy I will be looking for that.

So part way though my 8 day hunt I tied up a bunch of the extra material and it helped the sliding and rolling, not perfect, but better. I really think for my next bivy if I can get one a bit tighter fitting, something to secure my pad to the bivy, and a full hood that cinches around my face I think that will address all of my concerns.

 

[Vance in AK]

So part way though my 8 day hunt I tied up a bunch of the extra material and it helped the sliding and rolling, not perfect, but better. I really think for my next bivy if I can get one a bit tighter fitting, something to secure my pad to the bivy, and a full hood that cinches around my face I think that will address all of my concerns.

Could you not use some light bungees from the stakeout points wrapped around the pad? How about putting the pad inside the bivy? Would fill the bivy too.

 

[Ray]

This was my first time using a bivy and it was a Bora. I slid all over the place on the mountains. You have to put your pad inside the bivy to slow it down. Still slides when you move and the grass is wet.

This winter I put silicon dots on both sides of by BA pad and tried that while in the house. It slowed down the slipping. I don't know what will help the sliding on wet tundra.

 

[rhendrix]

I've got a borah bivy right now with a siltarp 2, I used it in UT in August and it worked well, but I wasn't impressed, had a lot of slipping around as well. Planning on hunting in CO this year though and think that I need a better shelter system. Looking at purchasing a bugaboo bivy II, just have a question, is a tarp necessary, or could I get by with just the bivy sack in the high country of CO?

 

[Matt W.]

I just ordered a Kestrel from TiGoat. Look forward to testing it out this spring...

 

[stephen b]

If it was me- I would at least take a light weight tarp with that Bugaboo. Either a flat one, or a formed one. I use to use just a bivy 10 - 12 years ago; and it is a major PITA when it is time to arise in the AM, or to go to bed at night with just a bivy when the weather rolls in. Under even a simple tarp- whole different ball game.

 

[tenth1]

I used the Ptarmigan bivy all last year with the SL3. Any ultralight, water resistant material will be slick and would like a simple solution myself.

Other than condensation, the bivy performed as hoped and will definitely be using it again this year.