Hey guys, after looking into bivys I came across the Bristlecone by Katabaic Designs.
It ticked all my boxes, lightweight, waterproof base, water resistant upper, a mesh hood and it has wiggle room, its also priced reasonably!
I'm just wondering if anyone on the forum has had any experience with one? I'm hoping to use it in huts and under a tarp to boost the rating of my Golite 1+ season quilt in conjunction with either ccf pad or a Synmat UL 7.|
How small does it pack?
Is it warm?
Does it breathe well?
Just general details and any critical points are appreciated! Cheers.
Bristlecone bivy input?
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TIP: The online Bushwalk Inventory System can help bushwalkers with a variety of bushwalk planning tasks, including: Manage which items they take bushwalking so that they do not forget anything they might need, plan meals for their walks, and automatically compile food/fuel shopping lists (lists of consumables) required to make and cook the meals for each walk. It is particularly useful for planning for groups who share food or other items, but is also useful for individual walkers.
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Bristlecone bivy input?
by mattmacman » Thu 24 May, 2012 7:59 pm
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Re: Bristlecone bivy input?
by aitch » Fri 25 May, 2012 9:26 am
Hi,
I'm also looking at this bivy. Katabatic gear is a small company and the reviews on 'backpacking light' indicate that the quality and workmanship on all their products is top notch. There isn't too many reviews of this bivy out there, but I was just gonna buy the thing anyway (but not for another month...).
I also would like to hear a first hand review of this bivy.
Cheers.
I'm also looking at this bivy. Katabatic gear is a small company and the reviews on 'backpacking light' indicate that the quality and workmanship on all their products is top notch. There isn't too many reviews of this bivy out there, but I was just gonna buy the thing anyway (but not for another month...).
I also would like to hear a first hand review of this bivy.
Cheers.
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Re: Bristlecone bivy input?
by ninjapuppet » Sun 27 May, 2012 8:07 am
Might not be your cup of tea, but the rab ascent bivi is currently on sale at campsaver at 40% off.
Ive got the same one in red, and pretty happy with it. At RRP $300 USD Its one of the most expensive bivies on the market, and I think $156 is a bargain for it.
Ive got one of those ultralight BPL 150 gram bivies but find that the floor is so thin that i would only feel comfy bringing a groundsheet with it. You also need a tarp too because its not 100% waterproof.
I would feel perfectly comfortable using the rab ascent bivi on its own.
http://www.campsaver.com/ascent-bivi
Ive got the same one in red, and pretty happy with it. At RRP $300 USD Its one of the most expensive bivies on the market, and I think $156 is a bargain for it.
Ive got one of those ultralight BPL 150 gram bivies but find that the floor is so thin that i would only feel comfy bringing a groundsheet with it. You also need a tarp too because its not 100% waterproof.
I would feel perfectly comfortable using the rab ascent bivi on its own.
http://www.campsaver.com/ascent-bivi
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Re: Bristlecone bivy input?
by mattmacman » Sun 27 May, 2012 6:23 pm
Hey NP, thanks for the post, I'm not sure whether is stated it in the original post but the bristlecone will be used primarily in huts, ill be sure to use a ground sheet under a tarp.
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Re: Bristlecone bivy input?
by ecowain » Tue 05 Jun, 2012 7:57 pm
I have a Bristlecone Bivy.
I've used it for approx 60 nights sleeping under a tarp in Australia and NZ (owned it for 2 years, the first one they shipped to Oz), including some nights under the stars and some that were under the stars before starting to drizzle. It handled it fine.
It has been used without a groundsheet the whole time. With care when picking a site, I have had no issues with the base being damaged. It has been used in dry conditions, in rain, in snow, and all between. I have been using it with the fly of a Golite ShangriLa2 with a skirt of mossie netting. The only issue that I've found is that the silnylon floor is pretty slippery. I painted SilNet in stripes on the bottom, and it helped heaps.
It is light, and packs to about the size of a softball. It breathes OK - quite a bit of moisture escapes, but dependent on the night it can get damp between the sleeping bag and the bivy. One thing to be aware of, is that the mesh does not have a solid cover, so if you are sleeping out in the rain, it will get in.
Plenty of space for a sleeping bag to loft - I've used a MontBell #1 or an overfilled Katabatic Palisade quilt inside easily.
It's nicely made, impeccable quality.
One puzzled question though. Why do you want to use it in a hut? I'd sleep on top of it as a groundsheet, but not in it. That would keep the sleeping bag breathing better, keeping you warmer.
cheers,
owain.
I've used it for approx 60 nights sleeping under a tarp in Australia and NZ (owned it for 2 years, the first one they shipped to Oz), including some nights under the stars and some that were under the stars before starting to drizzle. It handled it fine.
It has been used without a groundsheet the whole time. With care when picking a site, I have had no issues with the base being damaged. It has been used in dry conditions, in rain, in snow, and all between. I have been using it with the fly of a Golite ShangriLa2 with a skirt of mossie netting. The only issue that I've found is that the silnylon floor is pretty slippery. I painted SilNet in stripes on the bottom, and it helped heaps.
It is light, and packs to about the size of a softball. It breathes OK - quite a bit of moisture escapes, but dependent on the night it can get damp between the sleeping bag and the bivy. One thing to be aware of, is that the mesh does not have a solid cover, so if you are sleeping out in the rain, it will get in.
Plenty of space for a sleeping bag to loft - I've used a MontBell #1 or an overfilled Katabatic Palisade quilt inside easily.
It's nicely made, impeccable quality.
One puzzled question though. Why do you want to use it in a hut? I'd sleep on top of it as a groundsheet, but not in it. That would keep the sleeping bag breathing better, keeping you warmer.
cheers,
owain.
Last edited by ecowain on Wed 06 Jun, 2012 8:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Bristlecone bivy input?
by mattmacman » Tue 05 Jun, 2012 8:30 pm
I want to use it in a hut because I would like bug protection, to boost the warmth of my quilt and to give that secure feel =) Im a quilt convert and have to say that golites quilts make it easy for me as a side sleeper.
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Re: Bristlecone bivy input?
by ecowain » Tue 05 Jun, 2012 9:10 pm
Bug protection, yes it does give that. But if it's moderately hot, there's no way I'd be locked up inside a bivy bag. I'd rather sleep in my quilt with a headnet over my head and a baseball cap to keep it off my face.
The bivy bag will add 2 or 3 degrees to your system, for sure.
And with quilts, yes they work for me as a side sleeper (the Palisade is one), but when the temp is dropping towards minus 10 you feel the gaps developing when you sleep on your side. Most quilts I've tried need about an extra 20cm width in those temps to give a good seal.
The bivy bag will add 2 or 3 degrees to your system, for sure.
And with quilts, yes they work for me as a side sleeper (the Palisade is one), but when the temp is dropping towards minus 10 you feel the gaps developing when you sleep on your side. Most quilts I've tried need about an extra 20cm width in those temps to give a good seal.
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Re: Bristlecone bivy input?
by Miyata610 » Fri 22 Jun, 2012 2:32 pm
ninjapuppet wrote:Might not be your cup of tea, but the rab ascent bivi is currently on sale at campsaver at 40% off.
Ive got the same one in red, and pretty happy with it. At RRP $300 USD Its one of the most expensive bivies on the market, and I think $156 is a bargain for it.
Ive got one of those ultralight BPL 150 gram bivies but find that the floor is so thin that i would only feel comfy bringing a groundsheet with it. You also need a tarp too because its not 100% waterproof.
I would feel perfectly comfortable using the rab ascent bivi on its own.
http://www.campsaver.com/ascent-bivi
Rock + Run in the uk have the Ascent on sale for £75. (the website says £90, but vat is deducted at checkout)
Mine arrived last week. Very impressed.
Phil
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