Carinthia
121 products
Overall rating | 23 reviews) | (
Overall rating | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
Overall rating |
The first time I found the Observer Plus online I found it genuinely funny that there could be a bivvy bag priced this high. Over time, curiosity got the better of me and I investigated further. Whilst it's still really pricy for a bivvy, it kind of makes sense when you think about how expensive GoreTex jackets are - this is much more material and, so far throughout my testing at least, it has indeed remained not only really breathable but completely waterproof (unlike the overwhelming majority of bivvies). It turns out, this thing has exceeded every expectation I had and I couldn't be happier with it. It's deceptively roomy inside (again, for a bivvy) and me, my fairly small dog and my 50L pack can fit inside on a rainy night without any of us even touching each other. The ventilation is phenomenal and it feels infinitely less claustrophobic than other bivvies I've used, and so far it has held up to any rain it's experienced. I haven't had a chance to use it in cold weather yet but am looking forward to doing so. Yes, it's heavier than many lightweight tents despite the lack of space... but it's insanely durable and will last you a lifetime if you look after it, plus you can pitch it just about anywhere in a heartbeat. Setup and packing up are bizarrely quick and easy. All things considered, this is the most incredibly versatile and useful little shelter I've ever tried and I am head over heels in love with it. I'd also like to give a huge thankyou to Vaaruste, as their pricing was good and the item arrived way quicker than I had expected. Not a single complaint about the product or seller and I MASSIVELY recommend both :-)
Overall rating |
I quite like it
Overall rating |
I bought the Observer as a replacement for my previous one person Ultralight tent. It weighs a little more, but the accommodation is significantly faster and easier to set up, and does not require wedges at all to function. So it works, for example, on a rock and doesn't take up much space, so it's easy to find a place. The air can circulate well through the opening mosquito net hatches, which prevents condensation. A plus is that the smaller zipper of the end hatch can be kept open even in the rain if necessary. During the couple of test nights, I didn't notice any condensation with the hatches open. From the inside, you can see out the hatches with their slits really well, which could be compared to sleeping under a tarp.
The accommodation was even slightly lighter than the stated weight, which was a plus. Convenient to roll back into the storage bag or fold into a narrower roll under the backpack as it is to attach with straps using the "bivy roll" model. A long wide 7cm thick air-filled sleeping pad fits perfectly inside, and there is still plenty of room for a larger sleeper, lamps and bottles, a 30-liter backpack (jacket M) and even shoes can fit inside if needed. The actual state of wonder.
The only minus is the high price, by far the most expensive accommodation I've ever had, although it brings high-quality materials, good zippers, taped seams, and breathable fabric. I haven't encountered rain with this yet, but I researched enough about user experiences before buying that even heavier rain shouldn't be a problem. I didn't want to compromise on the accommodation, so I ended up here despite the price.
I recommend the purchase if you want your accommodation to have good ventilation, high-quality materials and fast erection.
Overall rating |
Very satisfied. Gore tex is great for preventing condensation. The big advantage of the observer/micro tent plus is its discretion with a cam net on top. However, I would have liked Carinthia to offer a small frame to keep the canvas raised at the feet. Of course, even a negligible surprise goes against the spirit, but in very cold or heavy rain, this would improve comfort even more. Top because very well thought out.