Bivy Sack

[paxton coyote]

now THAT bivy this looks like what I've been waiting for!

[bdstorer]

I have been using a Black Diamond Bipod bivy on my shorter tours and overnighters for the past year or so. Works well in cold and wet conditions, the fabric is definitely waterproof! Major gripe with mine is that it's too tight to allow side sleeping.. everything else is perfect except for this issue, and for this reason I'm ditching it and looking at other bags.

[MilesGear]

Most bivy sacks are just too small.  Mine is 8 ft long, 36" wide at head and 26" wide at foot, and 24" high.
It will fit 25" wide pads and lets me sleep on my side and roll over easily.  Fully waterproof and very breathable.

Dave

[stevage]

I saw a bivy sack in a specialist camping shop yesterday: $500, 900g, sleeps 1. My tarp tent was about $200 from memory, 1300g, sleeps 3. I guess there are times when the bivy sack works better (no room to pitch a tent...) but I don't think I'd ever go that direction.

[bartspedden]

Waterproof bivy's do tend to have a high weight to usable space ratio, and in comparison to a tarp pack down rather large. That's why I'm headed down the tarp path. While bivy's do offer better protection in wind, I'll never choose to camp above treeline while bikepacking. If I was winter camping a waterproof bivy might find it's way into kit, but for the other three seasons, the goal is to get the weight/space down as much as possible, and tarps excel here for sure. They are loud in the rain, but I'm a sound sleeper. It does take a little skill to set one up properly and it does practice to be efficient, but these are small things for the bikepacking crowd.

[mattyp]

i have a nemo gogo ex  http://www.nemoequipment.com/nemo2011-gogoex-tent
i haven't used it in a down pour, but it packs pretty small and is reasonably light for how big it is.  i can get it and my sleeping bag into the handlebar bag (carousel medium) with a little room for other stuff.  i like the mesh interior, makes it more breathable compared to a lot of bivies and you have the option to go with no fly if its warm and dry. i have been in it several times during beach side drizzle with no problems. the extra vestibule on the side is not big, but you can get all your bike bags under the fly.  inside is just big enough for me to change and comfortable for reading.  

[phil_rad]

I bought a REI Minimalist bivi last year and so far it has been pretty good. It packs up small; I can get my sleeping bag, pad, bivi bag and my Patagonia Nano pullover in my handlebar dry sack (Revelate Designs Atacama bag). It does get some condensation but it's nothing I can't deal with. I haven't used it in the rain so I can't say if its waterproof but for the most part you can always find some kind of shelter if you look and use your imagination. For the price, you can't beat it. I got rid of my ultra light one man tent and now I don't need a backpack, big plus. :-)

[stevage]

>for the most part you can always find some kind of shelter if you look and use your imagination

Hey Phil, can you elaborate on this? Do you mean human shelter (abandoned buildings), caves, ...?

[phil_rad]

Yeah, you get the picture. Usually there's something, you ever heard of the infamous "Montana Hilton" ? Stuff like that. Thick tree or bushes wold also be better than being in the open. I'm referring to ultra racing though, if you're out touring maybe you'd want a little more comfort. So a ultra light tarp would be helpful.

[grannygear]

Anth, like you, my mountaineering/climbing backgorund is richer then my mountain biking background, but I'm working hard to change that  I used a moonstone gore-tex bivy for about 10 of the last 15 years and finally sold it.  For me it came down to weight and functionality (more on this later). At 15oz, the marmot is pretty sweet option though! My moonstone was almost 3lbs, but I did buy it in 1992 and it had two poles.

This is just a personal preference, but I like the ability to change in/out of wet clothes without getting my base layers wet and a breathable bivy/tarp seems to be an option that foots the bill here. And at a combined weight of 9.2 oz for 4 stakes, titanium goat bivy, and a cuben fiber tarp it seems to be a better weight-to-functionality ratio for me.   The tarptent Moment is another option that I keep coming back to for some reason.  I know it's 30oz, so it's more then 3 times heavier, but it's ease of setup is amazing and it does offer better protection if needed.  I guess the thing that will keep me from going the moment route is the fact that I know I don't need it, even if I want it.  The downside of the tarp is increased setup/breakdown time and more difficult camp site selection. Not that it's "hard" to set up the tarp, but in comparison to the moment there is more work for setting up a tarp. Here, the bivy wins hands down, just roll it out and jump in! I guess that's why I like the tarp option with a breathable bivy, I only have to set up the tarp if it's raining. Otherwise I just use the bivy.

Does anyone use a tarp in combination with a waterproof bivy? I can see the benefit for changing clothes and eating/cooking.

I have been playing with a combo of a tarp/bivy and so far it seems pretty versatile.  I run the pad under the bivy and a 20d down quilt inside and it does not seem to compress the quilt very much.  It is an REI bivy.  Is it truly waterproof? Not sure.  Hopefully I will not have to find out.  Condensation ahs not been too much of an issue so far, even in an all night rainstorm (under the tarp of course).

[Mental-Miles]

Hi outthere,
after doing an overnighterhttp://www.grenzsteintrophy.de/?p=3158 last weekend with an alpkit bivy, I placed may order for an Mountain Laurel Designs bivy http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=30... as Phil mentioned, in most cases you will find a "rain save" spot to sleep and the bivy is an backup, so I go for a light one. No tarp

Thanks for all the hints!

[elobeck]

I used a mountain laurel bivy during the 2010 divide race and it was perfect FWIW. I had a few personal mods done at the factory. And, it is waterproof.

[offroute]

Seems this thread has sort of wound down, but thought I'd throw two cents into the pot anyway...

Like bdstorer, I've been using a Black Diamond Bipod. Not the most weight conscious solution (average packed weight 975g, 2 lb 2 oz), but no question in my mind about the stormproofness of the unit (when seam sealed thoroughly), and the convenience/efficiency.

One night in a storm in a classic (body bag) style bivy sack will reveal how demoralizing a pole-less shelter can be. Of course poor weather is often avoidable in some fashion, but sometimes it's not. There is an advantage in being able to ride until the last minute before the deluge and then dive off the road/trail and instantly set up a storm-worthy shelter for you and some gear.

Side sleeping: I agree with bdstorer that there isn't enough room inside the Bipod to accommodate. I took to not staking down the foot end of the sack so it would articulate with my body as I moved. The pole may not stay perfectly upright and produce max interior space this way, but it still functions.

And skeets...I would have gone psycho this summer in Oregon if I didn't have some respite from the bugs. A bug net in a biking shelter is pretty much mandatory for me now.

Thanks for entertaining the musings, and for the good info here.

Mike

[MilesGear]

I thought some of you might enjoy a video of a bivy test.

Testing the Uber Bivy

[THE LONG RANGER]

The REI Minimalist bivvy is not waterproof. Trust me on that one.

[offroute]

MilesG, great demonstration. Really cool looking piece (pieces, saw your site) of gear.

Do you do custom work? Thinking Uber Bivy for two. Thanks...

Mike

[NT]

I have nothing add, but this is a useful comparison tool:

http://www.tenpoundbackpack.com/gear-lists/lightweight-bivy-bags/

http://www.tenpoundbackpack.com/gear-lists/lightweight-tarp-tents/

[MilesGear]

I laugh every time I watch that video.

Mike, I was really set on making a Uber Bivy during summer 2010.  However, for a couple, I prefer a tent.

For my rescues I built the Double Trouble.  With a person on each side they function as the pole to keep an open volume between them.

http://www.milesgear.com/DoubleTrouble.html

Dave

[Scatman]

If you want a light bivy try this one.


http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/vapr_pertex_quantum_ultralight_bivy_sack_r.html

Scatman
Http://www.adventuresofscatman.com

Get out there!

[mikemack]

I have had good luck with this Northface backpack bivy.  it's dry in rain, but condensation is a problem, but easily balanced by proping opening up to eliminate moisture-buildup

mike