I’m looking to buy a 2-man bivvy and want to know how important is it to have an outer skin/wrap. What advantage does the outer skin provide?
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 A bit more cover and warmth, and less condensation.
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 Eddie is spot on , but the less condensation is the more important advantage .
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 Having just bought a brand new trakker 2 man bivvy today, it will also protect the outside poles and (if its an extended wrap like mine, provide a peak so rain will not enter the bivvy(bit with groundsheet anyway
Ryan
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My 2 man trakker is really a large 1 man trakker. Its a tight squeeze putting two bed chairs in and in fact, the only way to get two in is to have the heads more or less together, vee shaped, if you get my drift. My old JRC 2 man is like a tardis, where you get tons of room down the centre of the bivvie, and you possibly could get a third bed chair in, at a push. Rod bags and other stuff simply went down behind the bedchairs.
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 The outer skin primarily provides for full waterproofing, then due to the air gap formed between the inner and outer, it provides for warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer.
The benefits against condensation are obvious providing the outer is a full length skin which pegs down to the ground all the way around.
Make sure though that nothing pushes the inner onto the outer otherwise you may break the waterproof 'seal' and you'll be surprised how much water can gain entry in this way.
As for a 2 man bivvy, mine is the Fox Continental Easy dome which gives masses of space and the porch area allows you to store everything inside. The downside being that it is pretty large and heavy when dismantled.
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 As mentioned above condensation is the main issue. If though like me you keep the door wide open this is not a problem. Must admit i do not fish in winter with a bivvy. Also my JRC STi needs its overwrap as it as the breather panel so would leak like a sieve with out it.
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Thanks for the rapid response on this, I was thinking of getting the JRC Quad Continental for the extra space. I can’t see the point of having a 2-man bivvy if you have to climb over someone to get out.
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That bivvy is HUGE I'm sure you will love it, you will probably need a barrow to take it anywhere though.
Ask Steve Spiller, I think he has one (not sure it's the continental version tho)
Ryan
The JRC Sti brolly easily fits two bed chairs in if you wanted an open front jobby.
(my first post was meant to be in additon to what had already been said (warmth condensation etc)
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| Edited: 12/06/08 09:26 |
Thanks for the info Ryan do you think this bivvy is a bit of overkill will I have trouble finding enough ground space to erect it. My main concern is to have enough room for 2 bed chairs and the ability to move in and out without disturbing my son.
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 Steves is the continental, message him if you would like to know more.
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The STi also comes with a extended wrap that icreases space and helps keep the weather out.
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You would be best asking steve as he has it / one.
If you haven't already have a look for dimensions and lay it out in your garden with lengths of wood etc, then put your bed-chairs in and other bits and see if it feels right size wise, remember the walls will slope in a bit and you don't want you stuff touching the sides so leave a little gap.
Ryan
P.S. Havnt heard bad reviews on the Quad but have heard plenty on the STI twin skin 2 Man
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Kevin.
I easily fit both of my stepchildren on a double airbed and my own bedchair in the fox continental.
If you want any more information, then PM me.
PGJ.
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What problems Ryan. I dont use it all that much once or twice a year.
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Unsure what you mean Bryan , but if its related to the STI Twin Skin, they just say
A) It heavy compared to others
B) You need to use the second skin for it to be waterproof (first skin has mozzi panels in the roof)
C) The Bag Is WAYYYYYY to small to put the bivvy back into
Ryan
( I will be online later and will elaborate)
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Thats ok i already know this. Weight is not a issue as only use it with my barrow. Unless like me you forget the important things like the handles the have to walk half way around sywell with it. I mentioned the breather panel problem earlier in the thread also. Do they not do it now with out the breather panels. Also bought the bivvy bag it falls into that no problem. Though i must admit it was not very hard to get back in its own bag. The bivvy bag is grat as you can get a lot of other gear in with the bivvy also. Thanks Ryan i was just checking in case there was something i did not know.
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