Best Bivy for Winter Outings?

99f250: Interesting idea. I already have a fleece bag liner that is quite substantial. It probably weighs around 18-22 ounces. It doesn't compress very well but it isn't huge either.

Martin: I wrote a comment on the Terra Nova bivy but it was the middle of the night (and a big storm) and it doesn't seem to have successfully posted. In any event, it looks like a truly top-of-the-line piece of gear.

Thanks,

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK, my experience with the AMK Thermo-Lite Bivy matches what you have heard. I was very dissappointed. Minimal carry option for me now is the AMP Emergency Bivvy with either my SilPoncho or a Heat Sheet as a tarp.

For winter treks that aren't intended as overnights, I now carry the Superlite Bivy (7.7 oz) from MLD. Paired up with the Nunatak quilt and I'm stylin' !!! The quilt was not cheap, but it is my primary 3-season sleeper now. (Mine has a little extra width and down, so it weighs in at a porky 21 oz!) I have a torso-sized piece of closed cell foam that comes along as well, but it isn't any smaller than my NeoAir. Not sure which is warmer.

I've been thinking about down pants also. Perhaps the MontBell Down Inner, which has 1.9 oz of doown and a total weight of 6.7 oz.

MLD Superlite Bivy:

2010slb1.jpg
 
Nice setup!

The fellow I spoke with at WM said that the medium-size Flight Pants weigh around 6.5-7 oz., so they sound pretty close to the MontBells. I looked at the slightly heavier MontBells that are made for external wear and the loft didn't appear quite as good as with the Flight Pants. Of course it's hard to judge from photos and I'd really have to handle both to make that call. [And unfortunately, sixth grade was about the last time mediums would fit me!]

DancesWithKnives
 
Sounds like for the slight weight penalty, the WMs might be the way to go. At this point, the outer fabric is accounted for, any additional weight would be down. I have the MB Down Inner Jacket, which is a fleece replacement, not a proper down jacket. Are any of the WM jackets baffled, or are they all sewn thru?
 
Pritch said:
Are any of the WM jackets baffled, or are they all sewn thru?
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I'm not sure about the WM ones but Feathered Friends makes some baffled jackets....look in the Midweight and Expedition categories.

I'd probably also go with FF for pants if I was going that route. Their Helios pants are heavier but use Epic for the shell and have more fill weight. They also make baffled pants.
 
You beat me to it! The FF Volant Jacket and Pants are their lightest baffled products. The jacket weighs 22 oz. in the medium, with 9 oz. fill. I can't recall clearly but I think the baffled pants go around 17-20 oz. Very nice. I have a FF expedition overbag and some friends have a couple Icefall Parkas. Good stuff.

DancesWithKnives
 
Thanks guys - FF is local too! Oh crap! Time to sell something. Anybody need a kidney?
 
DWK2 said:
You beat me to it! The FF Volant Jacket and Pants are their lightest baffled products. The jacket weighs 22 oz. in the medium, with 9 oz. fill. I can't recall clearly but I think the baffled pants go around 17-20 oz. Very nice. I have a FF expedition overbag and some friends have a couple Icefall Parkas. Good stuff.

DancesWithKnives
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I love FF stuff. I have an old Swallow bag and a Helios vest. A few years ago I was in a shop and compared my vest to a Mtn Hardwear down one: the FF vest had about twice the loft and the total weight of it was the same as the fill weight of the MH vest.
 
Agreed: I have generally not been impressed with Mountain Hardware stuff. OK, but not great.

Visiting the FF shop is the way to go, if you can. I had several custom modifications made when I went there to plan out my expedition overbag.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
Agreed: I have generally not been impressed with Mountain Hardware stuff. OK, but not great.

Visiting the FF shop is the way to go, if you can. I had several custom modifications made when I went there to plan out my expedition overbag.

DancesWithKnives
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The old MH stuff was good but I think they've went down in quality since they got bigger. I have a Winterlight II tent and it's amazing IMO. The vestibule is huge (it has a full length pole) and it weighs under 6 lbs.

I like WM stuff a lot as well but FF just trumps them for me because you can customize their stuff.
 
Well this kind of ticks me off: Two days ago the WM website did not list the weight for the Flight Pants, which is why I called them Friday. The guy on the phone sounded knowledgeable when he told me the weight but he obviously confused it with their lighter Flash Pants. That surprises me because we discussed my Flight Jacket experiences at some length. At any rate, today the WM website lists the Flight Pants at 11 oz. for med., not 6.5-7 oz.

WM doesn't permit nearly as much customizing as FF but you CAN order overfill for their bags.

DancesWithKnives
 
I would recommend looking into Black Diamond Bivy-tents.
I own a couple and have been more than impressed.

They are made by Bibler, which are one of the top brands...

Everything you could expect in terms of lightness and carry, but with a solid bottom footprint, strong seams, a self-wicking inner liner so no condensation, which is an issue with Bivy's, and insect mesh's.

Some come with a small pole or two to keep the area about your head raised, and inner pockets.
 
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