Thanks Sam and Ursula - I've become a real tarpaulin fan during the last 24 hours!

There's a very good tarp. factory not far from home, I've been there today and ordered a made-to-measure 3.6x4.4m in the dullest colour he had. Just the right size to cover my bike in those dodgy parking situations. Very cheap too I thought - GBP32 quoted for 3x4m.

Rich - I'll come back to you on that one -I'm going to have a look in the camping shop on Saturday hopefully, and familiarise myself with my options as regards bivvy's etc. Is there anything actually at the Bermuda Triangle, apart from an old man and his dogs? I only ask as I think you said previously that I should make sure I stopped there!

I haven't been the Sahara yet but have any of you considered using a swag. As in "Once a jolly swagman". I have one that can be pitched like a tent or used traditionally perhaps a little big although it fits on my GS nicely.
You can even get biker swags as well which are smaller and more compact that mine.
The folk at
http://www.montrim.com.au/swags.html
were great when I ordered mine and they will do mods as well.
If you are interested in seeing mine in action drop me a line

Steve

Wahey!

Another swag user. Always. The BEST bit of kit for the desert (assuming you have a car!). Even the locals are impressed.

Never go to sandy places without it (I actually have a double as well - very cosy).

Unfortunately, I haven't found anyone importing them to Europe, although I'm trying to find someone to fabricate some for an upcoming trip - it's not as if they are complicated to make. A good sailmaker (and, ideally, a swag to copy) and you are 90% there.

Sam.

hey Sam, I bought two more including a 7 1/2 ft x 5ft one from that mob in Alice and got them sent over before the trans africa. Worked out fairly cheap - Just got the covers sent and then got foam in this country. Brilliant bits of kit. Think its probably the same mob that made the ones you picked up in Alice.

On a general note I would have throught one would generally need a car, if one was slimmed down enough for a bike then I doubt it would be particularly comfortable. I can't see it having enough padding in if its small enough to go on a bike. Would have throught an inflatable mattress + sleeping bag would be a better compact option.

Toby,
You got it for the bike ones that's how they come. With an inflateable mattress to reduce size.
Pleased to see I haven't made afool of myself. I will be performing further heavy weather testing in UK on mine.

Steve

yeh could work with an inflatable mattress to keep the size down. Won't with foam - the 7 1/2 ft x 5 ft one involved an olympic style weight lifting movement to get it on to the roof rack of the truck. To big to go inside the vehicle. Single ones are a bit better but would present to much of a wind barrier I would of thought on a bike. As to heavy weather testing in uk. We only used ours on their own in deserts / dry climates or inside tents. You could start waterproofing them and trying to make them more robust but then its like trying to create a bivvy bag and it might be easier to go straight for a bivvy bag.

No mine is already water proof.
I used down in Wales last year and came home in the tipping rain no problem. It has two top sheets and you can pitch the top one as it is oversized for that purpose. I can send you a snap of it on my GS if you're interested

Stephen - I like the sound of these. I'd be interested to see it on your bike if you can send me a pic.

Cheers

Hi Ian,
sent tonight let me know if it doesn't arrives

Hi!

What exactly is a bivvy bag and how it works?

I'v seen pictures,but no one explains real purpose of it.

Note that i'm new to camping and everything. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/redface.gif


cheers

jondoe

A 'bivi' (bivouac) bag is essentially an over-sack for a sleeping bag. You should only buy one made of a breathable; one way material - gore-tex is the best known of these, but there are now others around.

They are 100% waterproof (ie rain and ground damp can't get in) but allow the sleepers perspiration to get out. If the material didn't do this, the perspiration would condense on the inside of the sack, and then return onto to the sleeping bag inside, making it wet - and the person colder. You can sleep anywhere and you don't need a tent - soldiers have them as standard personal kit, not a tent (too bulky/heavy).

Great kit, usually around the GBP100 mark. You get ones which start turning into mini-tents - the 'hooped-bivi' etc. etc.

When I am in temperate climes, I use a bivi bag around my sleeping bag, and my bache (tarpaulin, for a little luxury/cooking under etc.). Lots of respect to Stephen for using a swag in this environment, but not what it is designed for.

One final thing (though not really Sahara related); you shouldn't use a hooped (or any type where the bag is away from the sleeping bag) bivi-bag below 0°C. Your perspiration will freeze on the inside of the bag, then melt as water onto your sleeping bag.

Sam.

PS For a bike swag, see:

http://www.downunderswags.com/catalogue/index.asp

Hi!

So,bivvy will keep you and the bag dry from condensation,
Could one sleep in it in rain with it,and be dry when one uses that overhead thing(some even got a moskito net)

A swag is like a very small tent with moskito net and some rain protection,and got's a matress in it.

Whats better,for sahara bivvy or swag?

generaly,what to take with me:
1) bivvy,and insolution mat or inflating matress,and tarpaulin for various use
2) swag
3) or a small lightweight tent+insilation mat..

What's the smartests thing to go with,considering weight,practicalaty...

What's an esencial
What about moskitos? I'll be going round the Med,with sahara deture of north Algeria

Thanks

jondoe

Great subject!!! Loved reading up on it.

Been experimenting with a tarp myself, using the bike as centerpole. Wasn't ideal.

Have been using the tarp principle even in serious winterconditions (-20°C). Is light, easy to repair, can be pitched almost anywhere,...
Only downside is that it wont protect you very well from a windfactor. Then a real tent or bivy bag is a better bet.

Not ure yet what I will take with me, tent of tarp when I ride around the Baltic in September. Guess an early storm in fall would give me a hard time if I only have a tarp with me.

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http://users.pandora.be/pieter.maes2/

Which is best??!!

The swag is best if you have a 4wd, and are going somewhere that will be 90+% dry.

Mini-tent with sleeping bag is just the best (most practical) for any conditions - nothing like as comfortable as the swag.

Bivi-bag and bache/tarpaulin best if you don't want/need the weight of a tent (and you know what you're doing).


The middle option will take you anywhere in the world efficiently, with only a small loss in comfort. So will the third, but you need to know much more about living in the outdoors (shelter/personal organisation/cooking technniques) otherwise it can get miserable very quickly!

Sam.

PS I always use a bivi-bag around my sleeping bag, regardless of where I intend sleeping. If nothing else, it will also remain completely dry (with anything else you put in there) in your rucksack, when you are out in the rain for a whole day...

Sam,

Great short review!

Think I will go for the third, bivi bag with tarp shelter.
Guess you also need to bring a ground sheet then.

What I also like about the tarps it the fact that you can 'personalize' your setup. If it only rains or 'drizls', and you have to use your tent, it almost always get so thight you have to sqeeze yourself in.
With a tarp you can make a set up wich will keep you dry while you still have a view.

But it is true it can get miserable quickly. You need to have some experience to be able to cope with less comfortable situations.


Where would you best buy a bivi bag? What are the things you look for? What prices are accebtable?

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http://users.pandora.be/pieter.maes2/