I watch a lot of camping channels on YouTube and was particularly interested in stealth camps, even though I’m not actually sure about going full on solo wild camping! I have seen people using small tents, hammocks and bivi’s. I always thought a bivi was the way to go if you really want to be stealthy but I did not really like the idea of basically just lying on the ground in a waterproof sleeping bag which is essentially what they are. But then I discovered the OEX Salamanda Hooped Bivi on a visit to Go Outdoors in Milton Keynes and climbed in to see how it felt. I was still not sure but at least it was an upgrade from what I descibed above. At that time I kind of just laughed and moved on without making a purchase. That was in 2024.
After watching more and more wild camping channels and with the intention of starting this very website and associated YouTube Channel the hooped bivi seemed a little bit more attractive to me so off we went and grabbed one for £115, which I don’t think is too bad considering camping equipment has gone through the roof in price in recent years. Of course with the somewhat outrageous prices most camp sites are now charging per night wild camping seems a viable option – if I am ever brave enough to actually do it!
Once we returned to the marina and after a beer or three I decided to pitch it outside the boat as all the marina staff had gone home for the night. The quality of the bivi is pretty good to be honest and is alledgedly capable of withstanding heavy rain and winds as it has such a high hydrostatic rating of 7000 for the groundsheet and 5000 for the upper flysheet (although its all one unit and not separate). Predictably once I had it pitched I thought it would be a good idea to chuck my blow-up sleep mat and pillow inside to get a feel for it and to see if I actually had any room to move. I was pleasantly suprised as even when Hector the Mighty Hound (my cheeky Parsons Jack Russell Terrier) decided it was ‘Hectors House’ too there was plenty of room to sleep.
After chilling out for a while and perhaps consuming a few too many beers I decided I was going to sleep out in it at the marina and just hope that nobody grasses me up. As I write this I seem to have got away with it. I must admit I had a rubbish night sleep partly due to me pitching it on a slope and sleeping head low but mainly because of the road noise as we have a major road running just beyond the opposite side of the canal. I could not believe how loud it actually was on that night – the wind must have been pushing it at me although it was a fairly still night. It was not until around 3am when the road finally became silent and then I drifted off.
Unfortunately at around 4.20am the beer I consumed needed to come out and by now it was getting light so no sneaky wee outside for me. Back into the boat I stumbled waking up the dog and my wife and that’s where I stayed.
Packing up was far less stressful than I thought as we all know it can be challenging to get a tent/bivi back into it’s carry bag. I managed it first time which was a result. Overall I actually really enjoyed the hooped bivi although there were a few strange noises in the night, probably rats and I’m sure either a swan or Canadian goose wandered past at one point, or maybe that was the beer playing tricks on my mind ha ha.
Take a look at the video below where I share the whole experience.