>>932380Thanks!
SOL actually makes at least two different bivvies, The Escape model is the one made from 14-S, I don't believe the other one is breathable. I doubt that the Escape is the one you've heard bad things about, but again, it is aluminium and will need to be separated from the skin or it'll actually make you colder, so misuse may have been the problem on their end. Personally, I love the thing. I got about a hundred or so uses out of it before I started noticing cosmetic damage and a possible loss of efficiency. Still, that's extremely durable for something that wasn't actually intended to be used as a primary sleeping bag.
I use a closed cell foam pad with a aluminiumized mylar backing (which faces down - there's been whole threads discussing that, lol). It's not very compact, but it is still one of the lightest options (my entire sleep system weighs less than 2lbs total), and almost certainly the warmest and cheapest, and the durability is undeniable; there's at least 50 holes in mine, not to mention I cut it down to about 2/3 of it's original size, neither of which an air pad would handle very well.
Pic related is what I carry for 40+F. Consists of a groundsheet (just a section of PE tarp), SOL Escape bivvy, CCF pad and Thermolite Extreme liner. I really like the way this is set up; I can hike until it's too dark to see the trail in front of me, roll out my bed and crawl inside with no setup whatsoever.
