Lightweight tent recommendations?

£34 for a piece of foam...

It's the warmest pad you'll ever sleep on, they are amazing. I use one under my inflatable for camping on snow/in winter.

But they are huge so no good for bikepacking.

That was my plan. Well, depending on when the mat arrives - if it doesn't in time then I'll try my Thermarest first. I have a cosy balcony sleep over planned soon. Might have to give the spiders notice before I move into their home.

I'm selling my hilleberg tarp:

http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/283895/

But really you need to test, test, test, rather than asking questions!

So, I slept in the backyard last night.

Alpkit Hunka bivvy
Thermarest Prolite 3 S in the bivvy
Mountain Designs Travelite 350 in the bivvy

I have a silk liner too but it looked a bit skanky so will clean it before using it.

It was supposed to get down to 1-2 degrees according to forecast. I had thermals on, thin cotton socks and a buff folded into a beanie. It got a bit cold but wasn't 'I'm going to die' cold, just mildly uncomfortable cold.

Noticed the top of the bivvy was a bit tight on my legs when lying on my side so got cold spots there.

Breathing was a bit hoarse because head was tucked into sleeping bag and bivvy hood while beanie was over eyes a bit to block out the nearby security lighting.

Moving in the bivvy kind of sucked. It is quite limiting and the Thermarest grips the grippy insides of the bivvy and the whole lot spins around when I lie on my side vs. back.

In the end I was in it from 12-5am and must've had some sleep but not sure how much nor how quality it was. I went back into the house at 5am and proceeded to sleep in until 10:30am, having forgot to set any alarms. Oops.

So, I want to try it without the sleeping pad to get more room and make turning over easier. My neck got sore lying on my side with no pillow - I tried sleeping on my shoe but that wasn't comfortable (imagine that?!). A jacket or something under my head would help.

A lighter buff over my neck and mouth might help when I struggle to breathe in cold air but I don't know if I can sleep like that.

Some things to consider and improve but not entirely as horrific as I expected it might be. I guess the more you do it the more you get used to it as well, which would probably help sleep quality.

Sleeping pad outside of bivvi.

The more you do it, the more you get used to it, for sure.

Get a better sleeping bag.

^ this

Bivvi is never comfortable, its definitely something with compromises you have to get used to.

I think I will try the jack wolfskin again in the garden this week. Maybe after a hill ride so even setting up the pegs is an ordeal. Must look to see if I threw away the damaged sleeping mat.

I'm not putting the Thermarest outside the bivvy - it's staying clean. It's too big anyway so I'm waiting on a yoga mat to arrive and will be trying that out - as it can't puncture it will be outside the bivvy.

I was about to pull the trigger on a PHD bag but now I'm debating sleeping bag vs. camping quilt. The quilt is lighter and you're not so wrapped up in it, getting all twisted and stuff.

What size hunka have you got? I hate the hunka, could never sleep well in it. And you really need the pad outside the bivvi, unless you've got a big bivvi. The Rab ascent I have is huge and so nice to sleep it, but it's 600g!

Why are you using a bivvi? You won't be sleeping in the rain? Why not just get a lightweight sleeping bag cover to insulate from the wind. If you're sleeping in the rain you're doing it wrong.
http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/sleeping-bag-cover-proofed

Which PHD bag? I'd be surprised if anything is lighter. I like sleeping bags and in a bivvi it works well. In a tent I do often unzip my sleeping bag and use it as a quilt. But that wouldn't really work in a bivvi.

Bivvi is never comfortable

Not true! Found the greatest spot on the BB200 last year, soft, smooth grass, small tussock made the perfect pillow. It was just up the bank from the river crossing in a little clearing, sheltered from most of the wind and with a great view of the sky. Seemed a shame to set the alarm for only 2 hours sleep...

I have the normal Hunka. Maybe you're too fat for it ;) but I seemed to fit in it with the pad and sleeping bag. It wasn't super comfortable though which is why I want to try ditching the pad. 600g is only a couple of hundred over what the Hunka weighs so it isn't that heavy.

Why am I using a bivvy? Because I want my expensive sleeping bag to last. Because it might get cold enough to require a bivvy?

That PHD cover looks just like a bivvy, just 300-500g lighter. I want to be warm though. I was in polypro thermals last night and could definitely be warmer but I presume I will also have a down jacket in my kit for the race.

I was looking at the Minim 200, on sale at the mo'
http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/minim-200

PHD also do a quilt but it's not much lighter than their sleeping bag:
http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/single-ultra-down-quilt

Well, it might help if I was more tired but I certainly would like to be warmer than I was and with more room to move. Also a pillow of some sort, using a bike helmet with my kit on it perhaps, would be best.

I just cant stand getting in and out, and adjusting my position in it. Such a faff!

Hippy, try it again without the pad, and let us know how you get on.

I already had the bag and pad in the bivvy which helps.

The first time getting into the bivvy was a bit sucky because the inside of the Hunka bivvy is quite grippy so it was a ballache trying to move the pad and bag independent of the bivvy to get everything in the right place.

In the end I just carried the whole lot outside ready to go.

If its not windy, i'll just lay the bag on the mat, on the bivvi bag as a groundsheet, and put a tarp up from my bike to the ground.

Yeah you're too big for the normal hunka. I struggled it in, even without my pad. It is restrictive and not nice.

You need a better sleeping bag (if you want to use a sleeping bag). I have an ok bag Phantom 32 (only 800 fill down) and I can sleep out down to -5 easy in that. No thermals. Just shorts and t shirt. I woke up one morning to find all my water and milk had frozen! I was warm.

If you sleeping bag was getting compressed in the bivvi (it will be) you'll be getting cold.

That PHD bag will cut out the wind but allow you to breeth. It's also super light. You don't need waterproof non breathable (alpkit) as you won't be sleeping in the rain.

Sleeping pads are quite happy outside the bivvi.

Looks like I threw out the old sleeping mat (nooooo!). Did a few reps with the gossamer tent and it feels too heavy, even at only a couple kg. It's also bulky. Thinking about a bivvi again.

What yoga mat material are you using @hippy ? What's the plan on sizing?

OK, I'll have another go, maybe with a PhD shell and better bag or just down jacket. Ta.

Whatever link was given to me up thread. Orange 3 or 4mm mat I think it was.

Order Confirmed:Orange Yoga Exercise Fitness Workout Mat Physio Pilates Camping Non Slip 3mm

This ∆

Yep thanks I realised after going back a few pages. I know you said you have a thermarest already, but, are you going to have that + yoga mat? Or just sleep on the yoga mat and wake up with pins and needs?

My Thermarest is old and doesn't fold small enough so won't be taking it I don't think, just yoga mat.

Pins and needles from what?

From sleeping on your arm on the yoga mat. Or, do you think it's soft/thick enough to avoid discomfort?

Not really sure until I try it. I think, if I was warmer I'd be more likely to sleep on my back and less likely to scrunch into foetal position, which might help.

Fingers crossed on that for you. I'm tempted to go buy one of those fold-up egg carton foam mats from Sports Direct or ebay, and try it on the friend's floor thurs night. I'm very much a side-sleeper so I really struggle with this - bony shoulder goes straight through most inflatable mats, and the damaged ulner nerve doesn't help matters.