Name: Louis Luangkesorn
Age: 33 Gender: Male Height: 5' 6" (1.7 m) Weight: 140 lbs (63 kg) Email: lluang at yahoo dot com Date: November 3, 2003
I am a beginning to intermediate backpacker. I have gone camping on occasion over the past 10 years. I have started going on backcountry trips over the past 1 1/2 years. I also go on day trips in Illinois and Indiana. I am also a photographer and I try to have my hobbies go well together. While I am lightweight for a serious photographer (manual SLR, 2-3 prime lenses, Ultrapod, and occasionally either a compact tripod or a light (relatively) full sized tripod) the volume and weight of this effectively removes me from the ultralight backpacker category. My total weight (everything but the clothes I'm wearing) for a weekend fluctuates between 25-40 lbs (11 - 18 kg) depending on season, how serious I happen to be about photography and cooking on that trip and who I am with. Since I've already given up on ultralight, I give myself the luxury of a tent, sleeping pad, cooking stuff and an alcohol stove.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Integral Designs eVent South Col Bivy (2003)
Regular, left-sided zipper
Color: Gold (Note: product tag states Yellow)
Maker: Integral Designs
Website: Integral Designs

Specifications (Website):
Length: Regular 84" (2.1 m) fits to 6' 1" (1.85 m)
Width: 32" (.8 m) at shoulders tapering to 22" (.55 m) at foot
Girth: 69" at shoulders tapering to 55" at foot
Weight: Regular 20 oz (.6 kg)
Packed: 8" (20 cm) long x 5" (12.5 cm) wide
Price: USD $235 (Regular)

Measured:
Weight: 20 oz. (.6 kg)(including stuff sack)
Length: 84" (2.1 m)
Width: 30" (.75 m) at opening, 20" (.5 m) at foot
Packed: 9" (23 cm) long x 5" (12.5 cm) diameter

DESCRIPTION

The eVENT South Col Bivy has a black coated seamless nylon floor, and a top of gold fabric. There is a zippered opening across the head, and along the left side. The head opening has three zipper pulls, one that opens on the left side, and two to the right of it that create an open between them. Presumably, this means that you can create a hole in the zipper of any length and at any position in the top. The bivy when shipped has a label near the zipper which reads "WARNING: Suffocation Hazard - Always leave inside zipper open at least 6 inches to allow air to enter". The top zipper is protected by a 1" (2.5 cm) wide flap, much like the flap that covers the main zipper on my parka. In addition, there is a 5" (12.5 cm) wide flap over the zipper. Presumably, this is meant to protect the zipper against rain, especially when the zippers are positioned to provide the recommended 6" (15 cm) opening.

Running alongside the top zipper is a stiff wire. It folds readily, so does not inhibit stuffing the bivy into its stuff sack. It is not stiff enough to hold the fabric of the bivy off the face, but does provide enough support that there is some space underneath the top, which mitigates the suffocating sensation when that is not the case.

The left side has a 21" (53 cm) waterproof zipper. (Note: all zipper pulls have double tab sliders, so there are pulls on both the inside and outside of the bivy.) The top of the bivy is 21" (53 cm) from the zipper. When I'm in the bag, there is quite a bit of room above my head for small items (extra clothes, water bottle, etc.)

Looking at the inside, it seems that all the seams have been taped, presumably to prevent leakage at the seams.

I have tried the bivy with a full sized Therm-a-Rest pad and a 15 F (-10 C) sleeping bag. It is comfortable, and while the fabric is touching my face, there is space underneath the wire by the zipper. The fabric does not feel uncomfortable to the touch when I am out of the bag. Actually, the fabric feels just as comfortable as my bag, so it may help in adjusting the zippers for the weather condition. (Since it does not feel clammy, I can adjust the bag and bivy based on temperature, for example, having the bag and bivy closed, bag open/bivy closed, bag closed/bivy open are all comfortable choices.) I have also noted that air does go through the bivy fabric, demonstrating its breathability. In particular any air that is trapped in the bivy escapes through the yellow fabric when stuffing the bivy into its stuff sack.

TESTING

Well, a friend of mine seems to be looking forward to his first winter backpacking trip this season. No doubt this bivy will see good use in the near future. I will be considering comfort and condensation inside the bivy, its adjustability to weather conditions, resistance to water (snow and/or rain), durability (floor, seams), tendancy of leakage (zippers, around face) and any feelings of claustrophobia.

Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear
Read more gear reviews by Louis Luangkesorn

Initial Report

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