Anyone know of anywhere still selling the Pertex version of the Survival Zone? Have heard too many bad things about the new Hyperlite Storm fabric.

PS am about to purchase a Rab Summit 300 half-zip sleeping bag- has anyone anything to say on these?

Sorry Tom, not found anywhere selling the pertex ones now, but there's a chance I might have one to sell - email me if you're interested and I can explain!

Btw, what bad things have you heard about Hyperlite Storm?

It looks like field & trek might still be doing them although that doesn't mean much going by their history.http://tinyurl.com/hozge

Alternatively, Up & Under in Cardiff are showing some which weigh 350g which i think are the old pertex ones http://tinyurl.com/z64uv

*Edited to shorten links

Yes the F&T website describes them as Pertex still, but when I was in the Chester F&T shop last week they definitely had the new ones now, so I'd be careful to check (as Mike says - given some of their current track record online too)

Matt C- condensation issues- read:

http://www.buachaille.com/p223-2-23/Bivi-Bags/Rab-Survival-Zone.html


I'm getting a down bag so this is a concern.....

Thanks for the link Tom. Interesting comments and a bit disconcerting - I'll be curious to see how further reviews of the new version pan out then...

I hadn't realised they'd changed.

I think mine is pertex as i just fished out the label for it, and 360g weight.

from what I hear, the reason why there are so excellently priced is that they use offcuts of what ever material they happen to have knocking around in the factory, hence the variation in material, colour and off-set logos!

Tom,
Needle sports have got some at £40, http://www.needlesports.com/acatalog/Mail_Order_Bivi_50.html

As "the terrier" has already mentioned, Needle Sports in Keswick have the original Pertex version on sale for £40.00 (they had a basketful in store on Saturday) and the new version for £50 (or £45 with BMC Discount).

Field and Trek in Ambleside also had the new Hyperlite Storm version reduced to £39.99.

Needlesports do free delivery in the UK, and in my experience it's MUCH quicker than the 5-10 days they quote on their website. Excellent service.

(I don't work for them!)

Yeh, Needlesports always come through quickly on web or phone orders - but you don't get BMC discount that way, they do free postage and restrict the discount to shop customers.

cheers guys- have now ordered one!


£40 delivered is a bargain!

These are interesting comments re the new material. I was a great fan of the last Pertex model and plan to do a bivi trip in the next couple of weeks to see if the Hyperlite performs as well.

I'll podcast the trip I think and post the results.

It is one thing being promised these features from Rab, and completely another to sit in rain, trying to remember the telephone number of the person who sold them to you ;-)

id be very interested in your results bob as i own the pertex version with which i have no issues but plan to buy the new version for my wife soon. so i'll wait to see how you get on.

Bob, any update on this yet? I see needle sports have sold out of the Petrex ones, does anybody know if the "Storm Bivvy" also by Rab is any good? AT 60 quid, if it works it will be worth the extra money

Gooaaattt

I had a chat with the chaps at Rab and while the SZ's performance during use is really what you are after I have some performance data which might be of interest and reasons for using the Hyperlite Storm fabric.

Hyperlite Storm fabric data:

Waterproof: 10,000mm HH equivalent (test method JIS L1092 6.1.B)

Breathable: 4000gsm/24hr (test method JIS L1099 A1)

Importantly the old Pertex ones weren't that consistent i.e. some were quite heavy and others not that waterproof. This lack of consistency also meant that some bags were more durable than others.

Using the Hyperlite Storm fabric Rab can provide a product that is consistent, i.e. the new ones are all pretty much the same weight (about 315g) and all waterproof and breathable as above figures. Also the mesh backing pattern to the inside improves performance over the flat structure of the old Pertex ones, so the news ones (on paper) are more waterproof and more breathable.

I hope this helps and perhaps puts a better slant on the Hyperlite Storm fabric.

James.

Hi Goat, sorry but the bivi weekend has been put back so we can test a few new other lightweight products as well.

James has provided the facts and figures, which sound a bit wooly to me, as I've never had any customer with the problems described.

However, the long and the short of it is, it is doubtful you will find any Pertex ones now. The hyperlite material feels the same and has a very similar texture. They are also fractionally lighter too.

Rab seem to be telling people different stories,as when I explored this sometime ago, they told me they made the bags up from left over material from their jacket runs etc. So any inconsistencies, I would guess would also show up there!

Odd ....

However, I'll update this when the weather gets worse and can go out and give it a blast in some decent rain and humidity. Oh the things I do ;-)

Cool thanks guys - I decided I would rather play it safe and I got a Tera Nova Discovery Light - 496g and Goretex Flow (sweet). Also, they are on sale for 70 quid at Field and Treck so I figured the extra 20 for a more versatile bag was worth it.

Goat

£70 - bargain from £110. good stuff