bivy's

[rebel]

What do you know about bivy's? They are kind of expensive. Are they as good as they say? Thanks.

[MCBushbaby]

As I'm sure you're aware, the pros and cons are:

pros
- lightweight
- pack easier
- easier to set up
- more versatile on differing grounds (less space, doesn't need stakes, etc)
- same benefits as a tent (water shedding, bug-free)
- gives your sleeping bag an extra 5-10F warmth rating

cons
- small (basically a sleeping bag shell)
- expensive (because it appeals to the UL crowd)


If you want to go ultralight or are in areas that may prevent the use of a normal tent (winter camping, mountaineering, vertical climbs, etc). They also allow the use of tarp camping in areas prone to excessive rain or bugs.

[rebel]

Thanks MC. I was hoping to get your response. I lucked into a military goretex bivy for thrity-nine dollars. I thought it was too good a deal to pass up.

[Tony uk]

Ive used a bivy before, Not good in winter but ok in summer, The lightweight shelter system i would reccomend (For summer) would be a bivy and a basha, Both are lightweight and versitile

[go2ndAmend]

What is a basha?

[dilligaf2u2]

I have used a Bivi and a Busha(Tarp) before.

If it is not wore out from over use, then you got a great buy Rebel.

I use an army mountain sleeping bag and a 9X14 gortex tarp. This seems to cover me in all kinds of weather.

Don

[Ken]

I would recommend a good goretex bivi, sleep in your sleeping bag inside it. They are breathable, allowing moisture out but at the same time keeping you dry, goretex also has windproof qualities and if you take care of it will last you forever and save you money in the long term. If you want some extra space get a bivi tent. Good luck mate

Have a look at http://www.bivibag.org.uk

Sorry bout the plug!

Thanks for the info! Speaking of "extra space," we have plenty of extra space in our Introductions Section. Why not head over there and tell us a bit about yourself?

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

[grundle]

I like the hennesy hammock, but then I am scared of creeping things. It can double as a bivy if you don't have a tree to hang on. It also comes with a rain tarp you could use as your busha.

[Rick]

Harris, the plug is okay as long as your aren't affiliated with the site. You can put it in your signature just not in the post.

[vegasrandall]

I've got a bivanorak and a bod-i-bag for summer camping down to the 40 degree range and I really like both.when it gets really cold I have a wiggy's bag that will fit into the bivanorak.

[pgvoutdoors]

Something new from North Face - the Backpack Bivy.

http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/backpack-bivy.html?parent_category_rn=&cm_vc=Search

Details:
Versatile and stable for use in foul-conditions, this two-poled bivy features HyVent® DT shell that's waterproof and breathable. Mated with an expedition weight floor, and color-coded Featherlite™ poles, this lodge for one features a crystal clear, waterproof window to watch passing wildlife outside.



Features

Poled bivy utilizing a 40 denier HyVent® DT waterproof, breathable shell
DAC Featherlite™ NSL poles
Expedition-weight floor
Ultralight Twist Clip canopy pitch system
Easy-to-use Ball Cap clips on brow pole ends
Comprehensive color-coded pitch system
Crystal clear PU window allows weather watching
Fully taped bathtub floor
Imported

[Rick]

I have one similar to that. Actually quite a bit of room inside.

http://store.eurekatent.com/products/364749/Solitaire_Tent

[BENESSE]

Rick, what would be the advantage of that vs. a light tent?
Where would you store your gear?

[Rick]

Great questions. The advantage is weight. I have a Marmot Twilight 2P that comes in at about 5.5 pounds. The Bivy is less than 3. It's 8 feet long and I'm 6 foot so I have a smooth 2 feet to store my pack in it if I need to. I can actually mush stuff around so that I can sleep on my pack as a pillow. Also, with the bivy I don't use the Alice pack. I have a cut down rig I've put together. I took a pair of H suspenders and hooked a butt pack to them so it lays like a back pack. Then I took another butt pack and hooked to them to use as a butt pack. It's really pretty small so it doesn't take up a lot of room.

[Alaskan Survivalist]

I use mine in the winter. The big advantage is no stakes into frozen ground and no messy around building a camp. Just throw it out and crawl in. Glaciers tend to create thier own weather and the wind is always blowing and it's hard for me to sleep with the tent flaping in the wind. Another advantage of the bivy is visability. I use the kind that only cover my bag and if I want to look around all I have to do is open my eyes. Mine is not expensive because it is Dutch Army surplus and only cost 20 dollars.

[finallyME]

I use an army mountain sleeping bag and a 9X14 gortex tarp. This seems to cover me in all kinds of weather.

Don

Why would you want a gortex tarp? Your tarp doesn't need to breath. Gortex is a whole lot heavier and expensive than silnylon, or even urethane coated nylon.

To answer Bennesse's question and kinda go against Rick's answer. You can get really light 2P tents that are lighter than most bivy tarp combos, or stand alone bivies. 5.5 lbs for a 2p is really heavy.
http://www.tarptent.com/products.html

Anyways, to the OP. There are two types of bivies (there are probably more, but I only know of two). One is a stand alone that is generally waterproof/breathable. Because it has to be very waterproof, the breathability is less. The other type is meant to be used with a tarp. They are generally very breathable and have some type of bug net that you hang inside the tarp. They are meant more for splash protection and wind protection.

In the winter, I use the army gortex bivy.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4363577304_454518283a.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4362835479_c84b038d50.jpg
I wouldn't want to use it by itself in the summer. It would suck to be trapped inside during a rain storm. And, it is too much bivy for a tarp (i.e, too heavy and doesn't breath enough). I use my hammock in the summer, so no bivy, just a tarp.

You can make a cheap bivy that is just as waterproof and breathable as the $200 ones you see at REI. There are a lot of option.