Outdoor Video Magazine

So I’ve always rather fancied a bivi-sack. I like the idea of being minimalist, sleeping under the stars, being hardcore, lol. I finally got round to buying one.

After much decision, I decided I wanted some I could use in any condition for all 4-seasons. I mean why spend money on something you can only use a few months a year? With that in mind, I opted towards a bivi-shelter as opposed to a bivy-bag. The difference being that instead of being just a waterproof sleeping bag with an open face area, a bivi-shelter is more of a sleeping bag sized tent. They normally have one pole, that serves to give you a nice big area for you head/face. And they can be fully closed while sleeping, so rain directly into the sack is not an issue. They often have room round the head for boots, some gear, and reading space.

Breathability is obviously a huge issue for a single-walled design like a bivy, and normally weight is a large consideration too. Some bivi-sacks can weigh nearly as much as a lightweight tent. I decided that the sensible option was to go for the lightest, most breathable bivy-shelter on the market, which be all accounts seemed to be the Integral Designs eVent Expedition Unishelter. Quite the title huh?

This little baby weighs in at just 1lb 15oz (or 880 grams, depending how you like it), and apparently the eVent Direct Venting waterproofing system (add all the necessary TMs and registered trademarks as required. There are a few.) results in an unprecedented level of breathability. Cool.

I found one on the MEC online gear swap for CDN$270, as opposed to the normal price of CDN$370. It was this years model and had only been on 4 trips and looked brand spanking new. It came with an Integral Designs ‘footprint’ for it. Though I think this was more of an approximately sized tarp, cos the fit was not perfect.

My trial run for the bag was 3 nights in Jasper on the Skyline Trail in October. Snow guaranteed. I figured it would put the bag through it’s paces pretty well.

Night 1
Fairly dry night, temperatures around -1C. I slept with a gap in the door, and the other vent wide open. Sleeping bag had slight surface moisture around face.

Night 2
Snow on ground. Set up bivi in small enclosure in the trees. Mositure in air, slight snow flakes falling all night. Temperature down to -5C ish. Bag had surface moisture along it’s entire length. Bivi-bag wet to touch inside. Sleeping bag dried after brief airing. Figured it was a mistake camping under trees! Excess humidity, and no wind.

Night 3
Sleeping on VERY wet snow. Temperature was above freezing and raining hard before bedtime. Over night, rain turned to 3 inches of snow, and temperature dropped to -8C. Sleeping bag damp to the extent where it was effecting loft in my opinion. Glad I didn’t have another night, because I was sure I would be a lot colder.

So…..every review I have read on the eVent has said how amazing it was. All I’m saying is…don’t expect miracles. Yes it worked, yes I was warm, yes I stayed dry. But it was not as breathable as I was led to believe. Maybe I’m just not very good with bivies. Anyway, I still like it, and I will be trying it again and hopefully I can figure a way to prevent the build up of condensation inside next time. I did make an effort to peg it out and keep out taught so that air could circulate down the bag. But in reality, it seems hard to stop the bivi-bag from resting directly on your sleeping bag from the waist down. I will be experimenting with using a silk-liner OVER my sleeping bag (apparently this helps), and also an overbag later on in winter.

So this is the first of a few gear reviews I have planned, and it was inspired by a recent purchase of mine: a custom made down jacket.

I needed a new winter coat in a rush, after having inadvertently forgotten my primaloft jacket in a cave in Crowsnest Pass. I was doing the Skyline Trail in snowshoes in two weeks, so a warm layer was going to be essential. I took the obligatory trip to MEC, and browsed their down jackets. The cheapest was too heavy (only 500 fill), however the medium priced one was nice ($230), 700 fill and 585 grams. But the fit of it was pretty baggy for me round the waist (if I got one big enough in the shoulders), and it lacked a drawcord for me to stop any draft from going right up my torso, and the neck was similarly loose. The most expensive one, $310, was a very nice jacket. All the features you could need, great fit, but it was nearly 900 grams and a little expensive for me. I wanted something a little more lightweight.

So I took a trip down Whyte Ave, to a place a friend of mine had once mentioned: Kluane Mountaineering. I stopped in on my way to work, and stayed for nearly 45mins….it’s a fantastic place! They specialise in handmade down products: sleeping bags, jackets, parkas, vests and booties. And it can all be customized. I was hooked immediately and made a choice on the spot.

The jacket I got was 800 fill (they do nothing less), in awesome lightweight DWR (durable water repellency) nylon , with hydroflex for the shoulders (to add some water-resistance there). The material was my choice, I could have got any mix of cotton, two weights of nylon and the hydroflex. I also opted for an extra thick, high collar, a flap cover for the zip, and a narrower fit in the waist. The pockets are also original, and awesomely warm. Perfect.

And the best thing of all? You can pick your colours and they have a huge selection! You can mix and match, and choose the inside colour. Haha. Obviously the most important thing to consider. And it all weighed in at just 550 grams.

I used this jacket for 3 days on the Skyline so far (and sleeping outside for the MEC gear swap, haha) in temperatures down to -10C. And it is COSY. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Not only that, but it was ready in just 1 week (she made a special effort cos I was going on a trip) and it was only $260 (including all the customizations I asked for).

So go check it out. And I promise I got no discount for writing this article, it’s an honest review. Although she did knock $2 off my price because I didn’t have the exact cash……does that count? lol.

In case you didn’t figure, the jacket is the bright blue/turquoise one featured in the photos. It’s so sexy!

www.kluane.ab.ca