Basic advice for a bivy virgin

[OwenM]

it's the only place i go
But looking at bivi set ups of 1kg i'd rather the comfort of a tent.

This, the weight of tents has come down so much over the years so unless your planning on going somewhere you wouldn't be able to put a tent there really isn't any advantage in biving anymore. If you're sleeping in a bivi bag with a tarp over your head you're as inclosed as you would be in a tent. I can roll up the doors of my tent so if I wished I can be open to see the stars and still be protected should it rain.

I think my days of sleeping on alpine ledges with my feet dangling over the edge are over. Can still see a use for the bivi for bikepacking when small pack size is as important as low weight. As I now live in Scotland maybe my attitude to biving is perhaps more influenced by the midge as anything else.

 

[BogTrotter]

If you require spaciousness in your bivvy you can opt for a hooped bivvy and omit the hoop. On this occasion I didn’t but I did have a long wide Thermarest which is about 62cm wide and still had room for sleeping bag loft. I even had a Thermarest lounger in there which enables you to sit up and watch the view supported. I put a 3mm mat underneath as well to prevent any punctures.
This was an Outdoor Research Helium. Top entry, with bug net and breathable. Works well at around 500g.

 

[old-skool-lite]

If using a CCF mat under a bivvy peg it down. I usually run a cord across it between 2 pegs in case I roll off it, to stop it blowing away

 

[Rog Tallbloke]

This is what I had seen of someone inside one. Didn't look great

What can I say? He's not the sleekest of models.
I found it useable as a side sleeper. YMMV.
If Nathan wants something a bit roomier, and is ok with mesh, The Paria breeze is another inexpensive option. About 200g heavier though.

Breeze Mesh Bivy

Looking for a perfect ultralight bug shelter? When paired with a lightweight backpacking tarp, such as our Sanctuary Siltarp, our Breeze Mesh Bivy makes it one of the best values in ultralight shelters. FREE shipping and Lifetime Warranty. Click now for more info!

www.pariaoutdoorproducts.com

 

[Rog Tallbloke]

If you're sleeping in a bivi bag with a tarp over your head you're as inclosed as you would be in a tent.

Depends how high you pitch the tarp. I like being able to look out under the tarp edge while I'm laid down on my side.
For several years I used my Golite Hut1 with a mesh skirt sewn on with no bivy inside. That worked well and gave reliable cover that could be pitched to the floor in heavy weather.

 

[Teepee]

A great thing about bivvies is you can camp in places where a tent won't fit. Ledges and flat rocks are useable.

It's very unusual to not be able to find a flattish body shaped bit of ground.

One morning in Sweden , I woke up and blinked after a night sleeping by a lake and my eyelashes froze together.

 

[Rog Tallbloke]

A great thing about bivvies is you can camp in places where a tent won't fit. Ledges and flat rocks are useable.

True, but you can always wrap a tent fly or tarp around your sleeping bag and tuck the edges under your mat to make an impromptu bivy.

 

[Tychonius]

I think best advice (from me) for a bivy is to leave the tarp and just embrace the misery it brings. If you're not from Yorkshire then there's a chance that you might get caught fortunate and have a really dry night.

I just pack the shoes under the pillow (or maybey shoes are my pillow) and anything needing to stay warm, like water, inside the bivy). Try and get some kip and move on at the earliest convenience. It's a way of life of embracing the misery, but fast packing.

Other may differ in opinion

You -- and others -- make this sound like SO MUCH FUN!!

 

[Norrland]

What can I say? He's not the sleekest of models.
I found it useable as a side sleeper. YMMV.
If Nathan wants something a bit roomier, and is ok with mesh, The Paria breeze is another inexpensive option. About 200g heavier though.

Breeze Mesh Bivy

Looking for a perfect ultralight bug shelter? When paired with a lightweight backpacking tarp, such as our Sanctuary Siltarp, our Breeze Mesh Bivy makes it one of the best values in ultralight shelters. FREE shipping and Lifetime Warranty. Click now for more info!

www.pariaoutdoorproducts.com

Didn't realise they were selling those again. I remember looking at one a while back and they said they weren't shipping to Europe anymore. Seems they are again

 

[Shafiq]

Oh... another thing (and for me the biggest advantage). The commando bivy setup doesn't lend itself to sleeping in. So you wind up getting the best sunrise aswell as the scariest pitch black walks/rides (with good lights obviously.

Also, which tent or tarp can be safely pitched on a 10% boggy hill.


The January bivy for BAM over at Bearbones bikepacking forum. Before I went all soft (and too busy to continue). Slept on this wonderful tussock of a hill. Camera work taken in the flat plane but it was at least 8% slope. Used shoes to wedge myself in and create a bit of a flat area.

Then worked hard to not shuffle too much and balance myself to sleep. Must have managed about 2 to 3 hours before finally chucking in the bivy (sorry). Packed up in a jiffy and the frost hadn't yet come in as it was about 2 or 3am. Then rode across towards Burnley and the back of Gawthorpe Res. Freezing but I was moving.

Then some of them wonderful views were enjoyed without worrying about packing up in the freeze. The point... It is a wonderful 'sport' if you embrace it and don't do too many days at once

Best ride this year...

 

[Tweaker]

Problem with bivvy bag and no tarp is you get covered in dew/rain/ice/snow etc.
Although you remain dry inside bivvy the outside of your sleeping bag will be wet. Also if it's raining/snowing etc when you get up there is no shelter to cook/admin yourself.
Add a tarp stops all that but as it is rectangular in shape will be sub optimal above the tree line.
Trailstar shaped traps the only "tarp" to use. Bombproof in all weathers weighs next to nothing. AliExpress copies cost a fraction of TS if the expense is an issue.
Combine with a bivvy bag and you have all bases covered.

 

[Tychonius]

Just don't go to Scotland 🫣

Read a recent post on Reddit suggesting that the only real problem with Scotland is that people just don’t hike it fast enough…

 

[Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat]

Learn to pee whilst kneeling or laying (use a ziploc for draining when laying...

 

[Taz38]

Learn to pee whilst kneeling or laying (use a ziploc for draining when laying...

I might pass on that...

 

[Baldy]

I might pass on that...

Typo?

 

[Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat]

I might pass on that...

Shewee type thingy for the win

 

[Taz38]

I can perfectly pee in a cup at home, use a shewee in the shower, out n about however, nope. Hence a quick exit from sleep set-up needs to be possible. (You guys are quite lucky with that one.)

 

[old-skool-lite]

Roll-up Nalgene Cantene - also serves as a backup water carrier

 

[cathyjc]

I can perfectly pee in a cup at home, use a shewee in the shower, out n about however, nope. Hence a quick exit from sleep set-up needs to be possible. (You guys are quite lucky with that one.)

Ditto.

 

[Nathan Toulouse]

Thanks so much everyone for all your helpful and interesting replies. Lots of food for thought! Half of me is put off the idea, half of me wants to embrace the challenge.

 

[Franky]

Watch Border Rambler on You Tube.. (Carlisle guy) he messes about with simple cheap set ups usually ending up in horrible conditions.