SOL reflective/breathable bivvy

[Moondog55]

I have just bought S/H but barely used SOL thermal bivvy for an affordable price
It isn't large enough to go over my sleeping bag, not by a long shot [ 100+ mm] but interestingly it fits perfectly as a liner so my question is for those who may have used it as a semi VB.
I have found that my old Tyvek SB cover gave me a good temperature boost when used a a partial VB but due to age and wear and tear it needs replacing and this offer is cheaper by a few dollars
I know they are not lightweight and 8 ounces of down would work better but I am a little stressed money-wise just now and this is a lot cheaper than 8 ounces of good down
I have always been very skeptical about the claims of the S2S liners and I'd appreciate your thoughts for deep winter use. Inside my sleeping bag but over my down clothing as is my usual practice at well below freezing and of course with decent pads and comfort mats and inside a tent or full Goretex bivvy as standard
I'm looking at this as part of my kit for the proposed bucket list trip to Alaska and the Canadian Arctic

[nq111]

Get the non-breathable SOL and do the vapour barrier thing properly I say. At 100g it will probably add more warmth than 100g of down plus preserves the insulation of the down you do have.

Wear light thermals to bed and don't overinsulate and you won't get too damp in the non-breathable bag.

Plus the non-breathable bivy is cheaper than the breathable.

I reckon the S2S type liners do bugger all for warmth.

[Moondog55]

I'm already familiar with VBs but I've not tried this breathable unit
I'm looking for feedback from folk who have used this model from my POV it is the RFL that may be important

[Rileyr]

Is it the sol escape bivvy? Is it too short?

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[Moondog55]

https://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/amk-so ... eeper/1228

The one in the link
Way too short and narrow to use outside but I didn't buy it for that. I bought it to try as a liner. This is a big winter bag after all and I'm interested to see if other folk found the reflective surface helps at all and if so by how much.
I advertised my SB as being a full 60 inches in girth; the Ultra may actually be 62 inches in girth

[Warin]

Physics:
The reflectivity works well IF it is not in contact.
Once in contact you gain little, if anything and loose a fair amount by conduction - all that reflective material is metal and will conduct heat and then re-radiate it too.

So .. to use it effectively you would want some insulation between it and you - say some fleece jacket/pants. Then it will add something. Is it worth the weight and trouble and $? Don't known.

[Violet_Femme]

I've got the SOL Breathable bivvy and have used it the during the past year over my sleeping bag in Winter in the Blue Mountains with success. Never had thought to use it inside of the bag as it I used it bivvy like with no tent. It's breathable but if you have your face directly on it, your breath will condense and leave it and yourself a little damp. I'm not sure I'd want it inside my bag, purely as the feel of the material is not that snuggly.

I've been told by 2 people who have tried the s2s liners (not sure which one) that it adds warmth but they couldnt quantify how much warmer. Part of me thing thinks they add a sense of cosiness - they are made of stretchy tactile material and I saw one with fleece lining which looked verry inviting.

[Moondog55]

OK So it is breathable Good to know
Like a lot of my gear this will be an experiment.
I'll have a play around when it gets a little cooler and see how much clothing I can wear inside it without crushing the loft of the clothing, my big duvet will probably not fit comfortably

[Rileyr]

My partner has one and we have both tested it. We have both found it adds a lot of warmth used over the sleeping bag and neither of us have had condensation issues. I will be buying one to add warmth and some extra water proofing under a tarp.

I reckon its an awesome bit of gear. So light

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[Moondog55]

I'll try and make time this week to see how much clothing I can wear inside it without destroying the loft of my clothing.

[ricrunner]

I have an S2S +8 Deg thermolite liner that I think does not work as well. It is only good enough to keep the bag clean. I did try it on it's own one night in early spring here in the New England. I was back in the sleeping bag within an half an hour!

[Moondog55]

I tried out the liner today while checking out the OP Cocoon sleeping bag
That reflective surface actually works for those parts of the body that are not in contact

[gonetroppo]

Does anyone use these bivvy's as a summer sleeping bag and have any feedback on its effectiveness? considering using it stand alone in a hammock ideally down to the manufactures claimed 10 degrees, but concerned about loss through my back without a mat, and if that rating is comfort or extreme.

[Moondog55]

I'd say in call cases that the ratings should be viewed as "Extreme" ratings.

[Rileyr]

Does anyone use these bivvy's as a summer sleeping bag and have any feedback on its effectiveness? considering using it stand alone in a hammock ideally down to the manufactures claimed 10 degrees, but concerned about loss through my back without a mat, and if that rating is comfort or extreme.

I slept in a 2gosystems bivvy last week on a wet 10deg night and was warm enough with a light fleece jumper and beanie. That was with a thermarest ccf mat though.

I sleep warm, and am pretty sure i would be fine in a sol bivvy on a 10 deg night. With a mat though.

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[Moondog55]

What has me concerned is people trying to use it in winter, simply due to the small size.
I think it will work well for my in the specialised application I have in mind and for protection from splash etc under a tarp in the mild seasons.
I'd say tho that something bigger would be better for the white times unless you used one of these inside a bigger 2 person sack or bothybag perhaps