Trakker NXG Insulated Bivvy Mat (a) 210119

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We have a few upgrades that can make a simple carp bivvy such as a groundsheet to keep your fishing gear off the damp terrain or a skullcap to extra layer of protection and heat retention over the top of your bivvy. In our bivvy accessory selection, you will also find a range of bivvy mats to wipe your fishing boots, bivvy tables for making rigs on, bivvy fans, heaters and bivvy repair kits. The storage capabilities really are endless. To fully maximise its space and insulation capabilities, be sure to be smart with your placement of your gear.

But if you’re racing, then pace tends to take precedence. In a short race (only one or two nights), it’s easier to rough it and sacrifice a good night's sleep in favour of better running performance. But for long, expedition style races or Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempts, the situation is more complex, with the aim of the game being to maximise performance over a prolonged period and changing circumstances. In this situation, you'll need to consider the following: will you be able to cope with prolonged sleep deprivation? Will you be able to dry out your kit? What is the terrain on the course ? What is the climate and season? What you really get with the Geertop is flexibility. It can be set up simply as a standalone netted structure to sit in if the midges are getting at you or the additional outer waterproof camo fly can be added to keep the rain off. In Scotland “ the right to roam” includes bivvying. It’s also allowed in a large proportion of Dartmoor. Otherwise in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland you should ask the landowner’s permission. Currently trespass without intent to establish permanent residence is a civil, not criminal, offence. If you are bivvying and the landowner asks you to leave, you should move on. Sleeping bag (I use a Tundra Pure and Dry 0 although for a sunny evening a cheaper Vango sleeping bag will do) I WROTE A BOOK!!** All about my first big adventure hiking the length of Israel – Three Stripes South. Don’t forget to also sign up to my newsletter to stay up to date with future adventures.

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When fishing with a groundsheet, the Mat can be used as a place to step on in muddy boots, or remove your boots before getting into bed, and helps to keep your bivvy groundsheet clean. The material used for the top section of the bivvy is Rab’s eVent waterproof and breathable technical fabric which is 40 dernier and consists of three layers sandwiched together. The bathtub uses a more weighty 70 dernier nylon waterproof floor – this won’t be letting any moisture up from the ground.

The cheaper bags are less breathable, so you are likely to wake up with the inside of the bag feeling wet (and your sleeping bag feeling damp). This isn’t a problem if you are sleeping out just for a night as you can hang everything out to dry. If you are planning multiple days though you won’t want this as wet gear = cold! Here’s my recommendation for the best bivvy bags: Although it’s a non-permanent home for you, you still want it to provide several functions when bankside: to keep you and your gear dry, to keep you warm, and to provide you with a large and safe space to store items such as your carp bed chairs , Bivvy Organiser and Rods . The cheaper bags start as low as just a few pounds. The biggest difference you will notice between the cheap and the more expensive bivvy bags is condensation.

We are massive fans of Snugpak gear – they are leaders in well thought-out, rugged outdoor gear. The Snugpak Ionosphere bivy tent is no exception and straddles the line between bivvy bag and compact 1-person tent really well. There’s no wonder it’s often used by the US military – not bad for a company from Yorkshire in the UK! As a cold sleeper, this is my biggest consideration when bivvying. Without the shelter of a tent – which warms up with your body heat – it is easier to get cold in the night. Alastair Humphrey’s Microadventure book has some bivvy inspiration plus other small adventure ideas

The hood area can be zipped up to obtain complete coverage at night, although this does increase the chances of condensation forming inside. Maximising internal storage is a must, especially for carp anglers with lots of gear, so some bivvy accessories are designed to keep your bivvy organised such as rig stations, cooking stations, bedside pop-up cabinets or other organisers that can be attached to the interior of your bivvy or shelter.

Some one-man tents are now so small and light, it’s hard to imagine that it’s even possible to take a more minimalist approach. But it is: enter the bivvy bag. What is a bivvy bag? The Insulated Bivvy Mat comes supplied in its own draw cord sleeve for storage and transportation, along with four small pegs which can be used to peg the mat in place should you need to. The Helium bivvy itself uses a flexible fibre glass pole to form a hoop shape above your head with a zippable hood which can be pulled down over the hoop to fully zip up the enclosure if required. In good weather, the hood can be withdrawn and toggled up on the hoop, leaving a net mesh to keep bugs out. The Paratex Dry technical material is a breathable and 100% waterproof fabric. It is treated with what is known as a Hydrophillic Polyurathane (PU) coating to raise the hydrostatic head to >5000mm.

Trakker’s USB Bivvy Fan is a must-have in all conditions – not only does it keep you cool when it’s hot, but it helps reduce condensation when the temperature drops. Additionally, it works great as an insect repellent, with capabilities to add a few drops of citronella. A bivvy bag is basically a waterproof cover for your sleeping bag. It allows you to go camping without a tent.

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Slide the mat under your bed once you are inside your sleeping bag, and the mat creates a barrier between the damp, cold ground and the underside of your bed. If light rain is predicted, then you can provide a bit of shelter by using a tarp (I recommend this one). Use bungees or the rope provided to pitch up your tarp between trees, a fence or your bike. In use, I tested it on two separate occasions. The first on a mild autumn night when I was able to keep the hood pretty much open all night. It was wonderful to see the stars, and I recommend reading this great stargazing guide if that’s of interest to you. On a second occasion, I had some heavyish rain but found that I stayed relatively dry overnight with a small amount of condensation on the hood from my breath – nothing to worry about and my sleeping bag was not wet at all. A bivvy bag is essentially a lightweight sleeping bag cover that protects you from the worst of the elements but offers little in the way of shelter. It is usually composed of a waterproof bottom fabric (groundsheet) and a lighter upper fabric that is waterproof but also breathable. What is the difference between a bivvy and a sleeping bag? When does a bivvy bag turn into a one person tent, and does it matter? Our answer is “when it uses two fibre glass poles rather than one or a separate fly sheet”, but no it doesn’t matter.