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New bivvy needed - suggestions please (43 posts / 8,035 views)
Beyonce
Posts: 1,711
Post #31 9 Oct 2025 22:07
1
In reply to Post #27
It depends what you are after in a shelter tbh. If I recall correctly, the night you mentioned in your OP was about 80% humidity in the SE (I was out too). You are going to get condensation in those conditions unless you can justify the time to use a ground sheet, inner dome and overwrap. Even then you will have a build up between some of the layers.

Unless it's dripping on your face does it really matter?

Aqua has always had a certain following.The ultralight is a brolly for the kind of people who like to say things like..'the Tempest design is nothing new, just a copy of the original Chris Manifold design'

It's high and has great visibility, but that means that any rain in your face you are getting wet. You can buy a little hat that gives a peak, but rain is still coming in for any kind of inclement weather as it's so open.

If manifold really put his original pioneers in a wind tunnel they neglected this test with the ultralite as it's so high and wide and open it catches the wind like a spinnaker. It's much better if you face away from the wind but that's not always where you need to be watching. Alternatively you put on the front, but then that's not a brolly.

The fabric is heavy and takes ages to dry. You need to carry two steel bars around that weigh more than a normal brolly just to put it up. Pack up length is about the same as a Toyota Yaris. I think the 1.0 Yaris weighs about the same.

On a sunny summers night it's a decent shelter. When they were recently going for about £380 they were decent value. 9/10 I take my Solar Undercover brolly and would recommend one of those, or possibly one of the new ESP brollies instead.

If you don't want a brolly I would look at a Hide XL. Never had one myself but seen a few and they look ok.

808
Posts: 198
Post #32 12 Oct 2025 10:52
0
In reply to Post #31
The Solar brolly dont look much different to the brolly i have. I am edging towards the Solar Tackle SP Quick-Up Shelter MKI tbf. Bloke at fishing has one impressed with what I have seen.
Baky
Posts: 118
Post #33 12 Oct 2025 14:23
2
In reply to Post #30
I have the hide xl pro camo and I love it,quick to erect,relatively light,like a tardis and pitch black when closed up,nice square back also,to push up the bedchair.My only negative is the condensation is actually quite bad,compared to other shelters I have had.It's in my garden drying out ATM after the 48hrs I've just finished. I'm probably gonna invest in an overwrap at some point.
808
Posts: 198
Post #34 13 Oct 2025 17:48
1
Pulled the plug and got a RS Tempest 150.
mrjcarter mrjcarter
Posts: 1,370
Post #35 14 Oct 2025 11:52
0
In reply to Post #33
Spot on assessment of the hide.
I've removed the vapour shield as its so much easier when drying out the bivvy and I don't really see the point of it.
Ohhh for a skull cap
essesxandy essesxandy
Posts: 3,197
Post #36 17 Oct 2025 07:58
0
In reply to Post #35
I'm pretty sure that Cotswold were making a skull cap for the original Hide at one point, I wonder if they'd do one for the Hide XL?
mrjcarter mrjcarter
Posts: 1,370
Post #37 17 Oct 2025 15:35
0
In reply to Post #36
Sadly not..
I'm certainly not paying £250/300 for an overwrap either lol
808
Posts: 198
Post #38 19 Oct 2025 10:47
0
First night in the Tempest, luxury! went up so easy, mind you didnt put the front on last night it was so mild.
CityKoi CityKoi
Posts: 3,243
Post #39 22 Oct 2025 18:12
0
In reply to Post #37
I've had most bivvys ...the only way to eradicate condensation completely is an overwrap. Twin skin for the win! My quest defier mk3 is always dry as a bone.
Winkler
Posts: 663
Post #40 22 Oct 2025 19:29
0
No love for the Exo+ on here?
CityKoi CityKoi
Posts: 3,243
Post #41 26 Oct 2025 10:08
1
In reply to Post #39
Also the overwrap is same material as the bivvy 20,000 rated. Most of the other bivvys the wraps are a thinner normal polyester material. So its a proper thick twin skin which is why its so effective at eliminating condensation.
Euroboybobbin Euroboybobbin
Posts: 4,644
Post #42 26 Oct 2025 10:22
0
In reply to Post #33
Nash Titan Hide XL

Fantastic bit of kit IMO

Light solid and as said like a tardis inside.

Only thing I would prefer is a zip in groundsheet but it's not a game changer
InTheMargin
Posts: 451
Post #43 26 Oct 2025 12:16
0
In reply to Post #41
How would you rate the build quality of these bivvy?

They do look an impressive bit of kit.

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