Ahh, 16 hours in a bivi bag in wind and rain. I imagined that I had lost my tent off a cliff in a gale and had to survive the night in the mountains without it. How would that go, making do with just my emergency lightweight bivi bag for a shelter? I always have one in my rucksack, but usually I’m using it just to protect my sleeping bag from condensation in the tent. With no tent, I intended to find out why it’s so important to carry one of these I expected this to be an utterly grim experience, but actually, it was pretty wonderful. I was fortunate enough to start out in dry conditions with only the wind to contend with, and picked a sweet lil nook among the rocks, where I’d be able to rest propped up and comfortable. I popped up for a quick look at the sunset (one of the most beautiful I’ve seen), and got myself settled into the bag. Rucksack next to me, using the waterproof liner as my storage compartment The rain came and I simply pulled the big rain hood over my head and waited it out. No bother. It felt strange to feel so cosy and warm while laying out in that weather, with the wind booming through the mountains like a freight train And then the wind changed direction and started hitting me head-on.. no longer sheltered by my little nook, it was quite amusing, watching all the random debris of broken grass and twigs flying around in the air As I dozed, sometimes the clouds would part, and I would stir and find myself under a sky of bright, sparkly stars. The wind eased off after midnight, and I slept deeply for 7 hours, waking up to morning rain. Well rested and still warm and dry, the only dislike was having cold hands in the morning. Oh and trying to pack it up in the rain. My sleeping bag was slightly wet on the outside, but not enough to penetrate, and I had survived a bad weather winter night on the mountain, safe and well. It’s nice to know I have this option if SHTF. And it reminds me why I always carry a bivi bag of some kind – this one is 285g that could save my life GEAR LIST
This gear list contains affiliate links. This means that WildBeare makes a small commission from any sales made via these links, at no extra cost to yourself - a great way to support the channel. Thank you You can also see lots of my gear in my Amazon Gear Shop :) *I choose not to be sponsored, affiliated with any particular brands, and have not accepted any free gear to try since summer of 2021. Every piece of gear that I’m using is something that I have chosen to buy for myself – my opinions on it and experiences with it are completely impartial. SLEEP SYSTEM Sleeping Bag Rab Ascent 1100 https://amzn.to/3ATy3lM Winter Sleep Mat Neoair Thermarest Xtherm Max https://amzn.to/3uSjiLt Trekology Aluft Delux Pillow https://amzn.to/3xwuhM1 Alpkit Kloke Bivi Bag https://amzn.to/3rb1nCK TREKKING POLE Fizan Compact https://amzn.to/3ggE1Gj RUCKSACK & PACKING Deuter Aircontact 60+10L SL Women’s Rucksack https://amzn.to/3MqRvcW Exped Dry Bags https://amzn.to/33OmrDu Nylofume Pack Liner - https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk DCF Zip Pouches & Dry Bags https://WildSkyGear.co.uk CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR High Ankle Boots Haix Nature One GTX https://amzn.to/47fnxmV Grangers Natural Beeswax for Boots https://amzn.to/44bT0Ft Sealskinz Waterproof Knee Length Winter Socks https://amzn.to/3ZCxUgU Fine Merino Socks https://amzn.to/3F66vvp Hikenture Gaiters https://amzn.to/49idbo1 Montane Levity Women’s Gortex Rain Jacket https://amzn.to/3NaZn5l Rab Downpour Eco Pants https://amzn.to/47laBvg North Ridge Convect Women’s Merino Base Layer https://amzn.to/3MPqbrw Rab Women’s Capacitor Hoody https://amzn.to/3oRpJ2Y Merino Wool Vest https://amzn.to/44R0ZrH Gloves Sealskinz https://amzn.to/3s48ucX WATER x2 1L Bottles LifeStraw 650m Filter Squeeze Bottle https://amzn.to/3TSeDVe TOILETRIES & PERSONAL CARE Tissue Baby wipes Hand sanitiser Trowel https://amzn.to/3etBVz9 Palm Hair Brush https://amzn.to/3QIUumd Hair band Lip balm Talc Toothpaste Tiny mirror Mini Tweezers Tiny Pots https://amzn.to/3aJytgC Toothbrush https://amzn.to/2LqwgxY Sleep Mask https://amzn.to/3tD2lUs Ear Plugs https://amzn.to/40swCVh MED KIT Pain relief Antihistamine Plasters Blister plasters https://amzn.to/3qvrzHA Torniquet (only use with knowledge of how to use safely) Wound Dressing Small Bandage https://amzn.to/401pHUI Alcohol Wipes Med kit pouch https://www.wildskygear.co.uk/ TICK PREVENTION Lifesystems Ex4 (tick treatment for outer clothing coming into contact with long grass etc) https://amzn.to/38XozuB Head Bug Net https://amzn.to/3u7JbeD HEAT Ocoopa Electronic Hand Warmer https://amzn.to/3BDyels ELECTRONICS 20,100 mAh Anker Power Bank https://amzn.to/3jqTQr2 Headtorch Decathlon GPS / NAVIGATION / PLB / EMERGENCY Garmin Inreach Mini https://amzn.to/3sVBi9f Garmin Backpack Tether https://amzn.to/3sTRibM Phone https://amzn.to/3An5PQ7 Whistle https://amzn.to/3uRvwbM FILMING Camera Sony ZV1 https://amzn.to/3t4VamJ Ulanzi Wide Angle & Macro Lens https://amzn.to/3CC6Jaq ZV1 Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3tYOnPA Rode Lav Mic https://amzn.to/44Qte8M Lav Mic Wind Muffs & Clips https://amzn.to/3TkNQUJ 128GB SD Card https://amzn.to/3tckuY8 Light Clip https://amzn.to/2MZjCGK Tripod https://amzn.to/3nxGg7p Ball Head https://amzn.to/3G3obrL Rain Cover https://amzn.to/3VctprU x2 GoPro 10’s https://amzn.to/3T9CDUB Wind Shields https://amzn.to/3TesuWA Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3ww70Lf Chest Mount https://amzn.to/2TlfxQI Selfie Stick https://amzn.to/3zRjDTh Rucksack Mount https://amzn.to/32Ojy4M 128GB Micro SD Card https://amzn.to/3p8XQ0v Gorrillapod Tripod https://amzn.to/3u9Tb3j Suptig Sml LED Waterproof Light https://amzn.to/3GUwzLL Suptig Lge LED Waterproof Light https://amzn.to/3EPqTQC TRAIL CAM GardePro A3 Wildlife Camera https://amzn.to/3LOa8Y0 AA Batteries https://amzn.to/3jkj5w7 128GB SD Card https://amzn.to/37xKebX COMPUTER & EDITING Editing Program – Davinci (Free) Headphones Audio-Technica https://amzn.to/3Hbtk1J Headphone Stand https://amzn.to/3TSgKfn Mouse https://amzn.to/3yjY24t Personalised Mouse Mat https://amzn.to/414UsZ5 Dell PC https://amzn.to/3CAp3mX Monitor LG Ultrafine 32” https://amzn.to/3H6lXsg Seagate 10TB External Hard Drive https://amzn.to/3MnK4Vj XP Pen Graphic Drawing Tablet https://amzn.to/479ghZE MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO
Thank you to these amazing artists for producing such great music.. Romi Kopelman – Gymnopédie no 1 Steven Beddall – Restless Mind Yoav Llan – Sky Blue Yoed Nir – Cello Suite No1 in G Major Ziggy – Harvest Moon Waltz Spearfisher ft. Cicely Parnas – Lullabye All from Artlist & Bensound with license Ooh, I do love bad-weather testing tents! On this December day, it was the turn of the Durston X-Mid 1 to get a good seeing to. I was pretty sceptical of my flimsy-looking shelter and was fully prepared for a potential surviving-the-night-in a-ruined-tent type of situation. However, to my surprise, none of that happened. The afternoon started with standard Welsh weather, nothing fancy.. 21km/hr gusts and rain. The tent went up easily and I settled down for the night, bracing for the coming gales that were forecast for the next day. The tent took the weather like a champ all night. I found that the magnetic door toggles don't hold the doors open in strong wind, so I needed to use a clip when cooking etc - just a minor issue. And a bit of rain water sprayed in occasionally via one of the vents, but after closing them, I woke in the morning dry and well rested. The winds continued to increase, and on that rocky outcrop in front of the tent, I measured gale-force 65km/hr gusts. However, the gusts by the tent just a few meters away were not quite as severe, being blocked slightly by the rock. The tent was, however, still taking near-gales (I measured 59km/hr next to it), with no issue whatsoever. I didn't even have to use the Delta pegs or stronger guy lines that I'd bought Curious, I unpegged the guy lines to see what would happen. This is a tent that doesn’t require guy lines to hold it up – it’s certainly the only trekking pole tent that I’ve tried that calls guys ‘optional’.. Free of the guys, the tent swayed and shook in the high winds, but still did not budge. The poles stayed exactly in place. Nothing broke. Nothing fell down. Nothing happened at all aside from some flapping polyester. I still have an inconvenient dislike of the non-stealthy colour of this tent. And these wind speeds, in my mind, still do not constitute being able to confirm if it is “stormworthy” or not.. but damn, did this impress me, and it is definitely bad-weather-worthy. Which I did not expect Gear List
This gear list contains affiliate links. This means that WildBeare makes a small commission from any sales made via these links, at no extra cost to yourself - a great way to support the channel. Thank you You can also see lots of my gear over in my Amazon Gear Shop :) *I choose not to be sponsored, affiliated with any particular brands, and have not accepted any free gear to try since summer of 2021. Every piece of gear that I’m using is something that I have chosen to buy for myself – my opinions on it and experiences with it are completely impartial TENT Durston X-Mid 1 + Footprint (for stats & details about this tent, here’s one I made earlier: https://youtu.be/zVpciPkBSgM?si=oDdLVEyK9N8m70yE) Trekking Poles https://amzn.to/3ggE1Gj Clips (used on door) https://amzn.to/47IJACR Grey Microfibre Towel (for condensation, drying up) https://amzn.to/43qSZwh Extra Pegs https://amzn.to/3hPfVTQ Extra Guyline https://amzn.to/3hlefRW SLEEP SYSTEM Sleeping Bag Rab Ascent 1100 https://amzn.to/3ATy3lM Sleep Mat Neoair Thermarest Xtherm Max https://amzn.to/3uSjiLt Trekology Aluft Delux Pillow https://amzn.to/3xwuhM1 Light AF Mat https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk Alpkit Kloke Bivi Bag https://amzn.to/3rb1nCK (protects sleeping bag from condensation or tent failure) RUCKSACK & PACKING Deuter Aircontact 60+10L SL Women’s Rucksack https://amzn.to/3MqRvcW Exped Dry Bags https://amzn.to/33OmrDu Nylofume Pack Liner - https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk DCF Zip Pouches & Dry Bags https://WildSkyGear.co.uk WHAT I’M WEARING Footwear: High Ankle Boots Haix Nature One GTX https://amzn.to/47fnxmV Sealskinz Waterproof Knee Length Winter Socks https://amzn.to/3ZCxUgU Fine Merino Under-Socks https://amzn.to/3F66vvp Hikenture Gaiters https://amzn.to/49idbo1 Waterproofs: Montane Levity Women’s Gortex Rain Jacket https://amzn.to/3NaZn5l Rab Downpour Eco Pants https://amzn.to/47laBvg Hiking Clothes: Rab Women’s Capacitor Hoody https://amzn.to/3oRpJ2Y Merino Wool Vest https://amzn.to/44R0ZrH Peter Storm Neck Gaiter https://amzn.to/46iXwSz Gloves Sealskinz https://amzn.to/3s48ucX Clothes for Camp: Down Puffy Decathlon Fleece hat Decathlon SIT MAT Cheapo one https://amzn.to/3yP22u8 FIELD REPAIRS / KNIFE Tenacious Tape https://amzn.to/2PmjxOq Duct Tape (I wrap it around my trekking pole) https://amzn.to/3qPKFEF DD Superlight Guy Rope (spare cordage) https://amzn.to/3hlefRW Opinel Pocket Knife No.5 https://amzn.to/45P33RH COOKING Hiking Stove https://amzn.to/3cM173q Jetboil Gas 230g https://amzn.to/3z5qV5L Gas Canister Stand https://amzn.to/3GLhHh4 Toaks 900ml Titanium Pot https://amzn.to/3j5Mwot XBands https://amzn.to/43SVFE8 Tito Titanium Spoon https://amzn.to/3xgwcqi Bag for rubbish WATER x2 1L Bottles LifeStraw 650m Filter Squeeze Bottle https://amzn.to/3TSeDVe TOILETRIES & PERSONAL CARE Tissue Baby wipes Hand sanitiser Trowel https://amzn.to/3etBVz9 Palm Hair Brush https://amzn.to/3QIUumd Hair band Lip balm Talc Toothpaste Tiny mirror Mini Tweezers Tiny Pots https://amzn.to/3aJytgC Toothbrush https://amzn.to/2LqwgxY Sleep Mask https://amzn.to/3tD2lUs Ear Plugs https://amzn.to/40swCVh MED KIT Pain relief Antihistamine Plasters Blister plasters https://amzn.to/3qvrzHA Torniquet (only use with knowledge of how to use safely) Wound Dressing Small Bandage https://amzn.to/401pHUI Alcohol Wipes Med kit pouch https://www.wildskygear.co.uk/ TICK PREVENTION Lifesystems Ex4 (tick treatment for outer clothing coming into contact with long grass etc) https://amzn.to/38XozuB HEAT Ocoopa Electronic Hand Warmer https://amzn.to/3BDyels ELECTRONICS 20,100 mAh Anker Power Bank https://amzn.to/3jqTQr2 Headtorch Decathlon Bivouac USB (100 lumen) Light Goal Zero https://amzn.to/32RI1pR Anemometer (wind speed meter) https://amzn.to/400wiyF GPS / NAVIGATION / PLB / EMERGENCY Garmin Inreach Mini https://amzn.to/3sVBi9f Garmin Backpack Tether https://amzn.to/3sTRibM Map & Compass Phone https://amzn.to/3An5PQ7 Whistle https://amzn.to/3uRvwbM FILMING Camera Sony ZV1 https://amzn.to/3t4VamJ Ulanzi Wide Angle & Macro Lens https://amzn.to/3CC6Jaq ZV1 Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3tYOnPA Rode Lav Mic https://amzn.to/44Qte8M Lav Mic Wind Muffs & Clips https://amzn.to/3TkNQUJ 128GB SD Card https://amzn.to/3tckuY8 Light Clip https://amzn.to/2MZjCGK Tripod https://amzn.to/3nxGg7p Ball Head https://amzn.to/3G3obrL Rain Cover https://amzn.to/3VctprU x2 GoPro 10’s https://amzn.to/3T9CDUB Wind Shields https://amzn.to/3TesuWA Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3ww70Lf Selfie Stick https://amzn.to/3zRjDTh 128GB Micro SD Card https://amzn.to/3p8XQ0v Gorrillapod Tripod https://amzn.to/3u9Tb3j Suptig Sml LED Waterproof Light https://amzn.to/3GUwzLL COMPUTER & EDITING Editing Program – Davinci (Free) Sony Headphones https://amzn.to/3yds75R Headphone Stand https://amzn.to/3TSgKfn Mouse https://amzn.to/3yjY24t Personalised Mouse Mat https://amzn.to/414UsZ5 Dell PC https://amzn.to/3CAp3mX Monitor LG Ultrafine 32” https://amzn.to/3H6lXsg Seagate 10TB External Hard Drive https://amzn.to/3MnK4Vj XP Pen Graphic Drawing Tablet https://amzn.to/479ghZE Music in this video
Thank you to these amazing artists for producing such great music.. Ardie Son – A Winter Migration Nick Petrov – Clear Skies Bonnie Grace – Highland Hymn Eden Maze – Into the Wild Again All from Bensound, Epidemic Sound & Artlist with license |
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