My combination of choice has always (well, at least for the last ten years) been the Snugpak Jungle Bag and the SOL Escape Bivy, which is breathable and heat reflecting. I was able to sleep in -6°C / 21°F, on a foam mat, no tarp, with sleet. When it comes to price, versatility, performance and weight / bulk - I think it's just an unbeatable combo.
The snugpack bivy for sure has its place because of its size, but it doesn't fully replace the mss bivy. If you are gonna be drenched like potentially laying it in serious mud or exposed without a tarp then I would always select the mss bivy. That is 100% water proof and though the snugpack can claim to be waterproof it's not the same thing. The mss bivy you can fill with water like a balloon and hang it overnight and all that water will still be inside the bivvy like a water balloon. That's real water proof. The snugpack bivvsy will soak through in a downpour without a tarp or laying directly in the wet ground with you inside overnight. I do really like the jungle bag, mainly for the bug mesh and I do think that bivy paired with it is worth while for most applications. That all said if I wanted to carry a few items in a 20L pack in case I got stranded or what not it would be the mss bivy and the jungle bag both inside the small mss compression sack. I have a little generic ground sheet that is in a sack the size of an orange I use also. Then I also carry my poncho when I hike as an emergency tarp. With that poncho, the mss bivy and that jungle bag with the mosquito net I can feel fairly comfortable and confident in almost any situation. If I want to account for potential colder nights of early spring late fall I'll add a fleece liner or blanket and a sol emergency bivvy to that kit and have some wool long underwear, change of wool socks, maybe a fleece onesie etc in a dry bag inside your 20-30L pack along with that sleep system inside the compression sack and the poncho/tarp you're set.
Great video brother. I opted for the SF1 bag and SF bivy bag as my go to system. I love it. (I did a whole video on the breakdown of my system.). The quality on the SF is a huge difference over the jungle bag and the central zip is perfect. “This is the way” Cheers 🤙🏽
I own jungle bag simply for the bug net face cover.. but.. where the zips all meet foot end leaves a couple of very small holes in jungle bag that bugs could get into.. so I got nan to sew the holes up then 100% bug proof.. great video too
I added a kylmit camo sleeping pad to that it goes inside the bivy , and a snugpak sleeping bag liner, just because we are a little cooler up here in Canada, hand a poncho low in an a frame set up and boom you are dry and comfy i feel like it could take me down to maybe 5 C or 41 F. and be very warm, any lower than that and I would need more insulation.
So I just got the jungle blanket and a few things I noticed that’s concerning / dislike. The zippers seem low quality, I would pay little extra if it was YKK. Also I don’t like the zipper isn’t continuous along the long length and footing. The two separate zippers leave you with two small openings at each corner of the foot bed. Haven’t tested it yet but I could assume you’ll loose heat and gain possible critters. However I do like the bug net and small packability. It’s also wider by a few inches compared to the Swagman roll. Although the zippers are disappointing, I think I’m going to return the swagman roll and keep the jungle bag.
The route I went was 2 different ways. My main system (as I noted in another comment) is the SF1 sleeping bag (superior quality to the jungle BAG) and the matching SF bivvi. My “bugout” system is the same bivvi with the Jungle BLANKET (just a blanket no zippers). I then sewed my own YKK zipper on with additional paracord loop tie outs. Problem solved.
You can : put the bivvy upside down, with the hood on your face :) plus, snugpak makes an xl version of the bivvy that is 30 cm (1 ft or so) longer, so 2,6 m long. It narrows later at the foot end so you have more room and if you cinch down the xl version you are able to be fully enclosed ( leave a hole for breathing!). I never had any condensation in these bivvies. They are excellent.
Crap, never knew this has a bug net. Also 2.5 inches wider then swagman roll. Also packs smaller. Same weight and temperature. You’re killing me. Now I’m considering returning the swagman roll. Only two cons I see compared to the swagman roll. Can’t wear as a jacket and I’m sure it can’t beat the water resistance like the swag. But O think I can give that up. Ok I’ll stop rambling Thanks for showing the bug net. Knew about this blanket for years.
Ok placed the order on Amazon. Tomorrow I’ll have the onewind alternative swagman roll and the jungle blanket both coming in tomorrow. I’ll let you know what I decide on the 3 and then return the 2
I made the mistake of buying a bivy once with no zipper. So I now use it to put my sleep system in to make a bivy roll. I use the SOL bivy at least it opens partially I hate that they don’t open maybe I’ll add a zipper or something to it but that bothers me what’s the point? lol PS also I feel like if you are going to spend money on a blanket why not just go for the swagman roll? It’s wearable which is a big plus here anyway 🇨🇦
A solution is to put bag in bivy and step in them while you're standing. This works if you don't use a mat inside the bivvy. I have the special forces regular and XL version because of ease of installation inside the bivvy.
I find the blanket to be a tiny bit warmer and thicker. I use them in conjunction if it's getting cold, from O celsius ( freezing) to 10 ( 50 Fahrenheit I guess). This plus the bivvy makes a good job and it is rather modular, the additional bug net is a real plus
There is an XL version , and take it in special forces version. I am 6'1 and bulky and this covers more than my entire self, plus jungle bag and self inflatable mat ( as long as your mat is less than 2 inches thick and not rectangular).
I like the jungle bag but the plastique zipper is bullshit. I broke it the first night... They should put a metal zipper. Fortunately i can use it 👀 but for how long...
I never had a problem with mine, I heard that their quality dropped for a moment when they lived factories to china, and now it is better... The zips were a little bit capricious on my jungle bag... I opened and closed them about a hundred times in a row and now they are smoother.