Hey,

I am new in the forum, I read a lot in the last few weeks, and this is my first post, since I did not find exactly what I am looking for. I am looking for advise.

I am going to buy my first bivy sack. I am buying it now for a upcoming backpacking trip in the Cordilleras Blanca in September but in the future I will mainly use it in the Alps (year round).
I drill down the options to ID South Col (in eVent) or BD Hooped Bivy (in Toddtex), both fully waterproof, good breathability and a pricetag < 200. Reading the forum I understood the eVent fabric is probably the best bet for a bivy, but on internet I read really good reviews on the Toddtex. The BD is a little more heavy, not much, but it has an easier entrance and it is 30 bucks cheaper...
What do you think? Any suggestion? Anybody had experiences with both of them to compare pros and cons?

Thanks
marco

Edited by msaraceno on 08/23/2012 23:13:42 MDT.

Hi Marco, welcome!

Are you planning to use the bivy as a stand alone shelter, and if so have you used a wp/b bivy like that in the past? I used to own an ID south col, but it's best suited to a couple of niche activities (climbing and certain winter trips) and isn't really that fun in cool rainy weather--other shelter options with a similar weight are much more livable most of the time.

I can't comment on the BD bivy, but I recommend describing the kinds of trips you like to take and people here might be able to give you some nice suggestions for other shelter options.

-David

Hey David,
thanks for your reply.

Answering your question, apart from South America, I am willing to use the bivy mainly in the Italian and Austrian Alps where the rain/light snow is often guarantee, for the following activities:
- ski touring and mountaineering in late winter / spring (can be at the bottom of the mountain the night before as well as in the middle of a three days tour)
- backpacking in the summer and shoulder seasons above tree lines

I would like to use the bivy alone, without any tarp.
I normally do not spend more than 1/2 night out doing those activities.

Until next April I will use it in the Colorado Rockies pretty much for the same activities.

Thanks again
marco

You've probably already considered them, but, just in case, Rab/Integral Designs offers two hooped bivies in eVent that look quite nice -- the Rab Ridge Raider (ID Cocoon) and the Rab Ridge Master (ID Nestor). They're more expensive than the other options that you're considering, but a hooped bivy in eVent might be worth the price difference. I haven't used eVent personally, but I've read a lot of anecdotal evidence from bivy users that suggests eVent lives up to the hype.

Edited by EarthDweller on 08/24/2012 10:47:45 MDT.