Condensation....the beign of my existence

[rhendrix]

I have slept two nights now in CO with my ID bugaboo bivy and a tarp, with a BA air core pad and EE RevX 20 degree quilt and both nights I've been absolutely miserable, the condensation is ridiculous. I know everyone talks about how awesome eVent material is, but I'm not impressed. I never had this problem at home. But I live at 100ft above sea level and I'm sure the dew point in the winter time is much lower than CO's in the summer. I've got one day before I head out for a 7 day hunt and I need to get this figured out fast. Should I just buy a tent and forego the bivy sack altogether?

Thanks for any input!

 

[rayporter]

thank heaven you did the test! my one event item was good, but i did not have an event bivy. luck-ray

 

[duchntr]

I ran the same bivy for about a season a few years ago, I will say every bivy I've ran always has some kind of condensation build up. Things I do to slow condensation is use a groundcloth and never zip the bivy over your face, I think thats the most important thing. When your out on long trips its very important to pull your bag out of the bivy and let it dry as much as possible.

 

[rhendrix]

I ran the same bivy for about a season a few years ago, I will say every bivy I've ran always has some kind of condensation build up. Things I do to slow condensation is use a groundcloth and never zip the bivy over your face, I think thats the most important thing. When your out on long trips its very important to pull your bag out of the bivy and let it dry as much as possible.

What are you using for a ground cloth?

 

[Ironman8]

When you say "tarp", what exactly are you using as a shelter? Can it be pitched all the way to the ground to give you an semi-enclosed shelter? If so, I'd ditch the bivy and run just the ground sheet.

I'll be using the Polycro ground sheet from Gossamer Gear this year.

 

[rhendrix]

Beni...it's a rab siltarp2. And yeah I could definitely pitch right next to the ground if I had to.

 

[Ironman8]

Gotcha. Yeah I'd pitch it with the closed off side into the wind and just ditch the bivy if you can't figure out the condensation issues. You should be able to tuck that EE quilt around you almost like a bag to seal off drafts. Hope the hunt goes well brotha. Keep us updated.

 

[FreeRange]

+1 polycro ground sheet, find a harware store. I'd say if you're really in for some weather use the bivy but protect your upper half as good as possible and leave the bivy open at the top as much as you can afford. Clear skies, ditch the bivy for the night. Also for me trying to maintain a cool and comfortable temperature, not a warm and toasty temperature, helps drastically with condensation. I jumped on the bivy bandwagon and back off when I realized the weight of a ultralight silnylon mid was the same as a bivy + tarp. You can make it through the trip, just make every effort to reduce condensation and keep your quilt dry. That is, every effort you're not devoting to killing an elk. Good luck.

 

[duchntr]

Im using a piece of tyvek.

 

[DaveC]

Sell the bivy, get a bigger tarp or a mid. Function/weight ratio of any bivy is poor.

 

[murf45]

I used an EE quilt, a mountain laurel designs bivy with a bug net, xtherm pad and the megatarp. It was a great combo. I had no issues with condensation, and my quilt and pad stayed dry as a bone. My bivy only weighs 7 oz. so weight is negligable and it adds some warmth to my sleep system. We were in some driving rain and had a little condensation on the walls of the megatarp, but other then that it worked great. The Ti Goat bivys sound pretty nice as well.

 

[Biggs300]

For the past 3 season's (CO 2nd rifle) I have used an ID Bugaboo (e-Vent) bivy with a Mountain Hardware Phantom 0 degree bag. Two of those years in non-heated tent and one in a heated tent. While there was some minor condensation inside the bag, there is no comparison with the amount of condensation on the outside of the bivy. I use either a tarp or a Tyvek sheet under my sleep system and I never completely zip the bivy all the way up.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Just curious, why do you guys use a ground tarp if you're using a bivy?

 

[_Nick_]

Just curious, why do you guys use a ground tarp if you're using a bivy?

It provides abrasion protection, since most of the UL bivies have silnylon bottoms. I just use a 1.5oz polycryo sheet. Could probably get away with nothing though with proper site selection and cleaning (remove sharp rocks/cactus spines).

 

[HellsCanyon]

What are you wearing to bed? Know it sounds weird but I always have to wear a light merino top or similar and boxers. If not I'm gettin really bad condensation. Just something that crossed my mind

Mike

 

[Biggs300]

I use a tarp or tyvek sheet to hopefully add an additional barrier from the cold ground. I always wear my merino base layers and a clean (or at least dry) pair or wool socks when I turn in for the evening. I've been chilly but never been too cold to get a decent night's sleep.

 

[murf45]

Just curious, why do you guys use a ground tarp if you're using a bivy?

I've been just fine with nothing under my bivy. Just clean the ground before putting your bivy down.. As far as clothes for bed I wear merino bottoms and a synthetic or merino top.

 

[TD1]

Personally I'd ditch the tarp, bivy and groundcloth and go with an ultralight tent w/floor. The new ultralights are going to be within ozs of the weights of the tarp/bivy/groundcloth together and most of them very versatile as to conditions, MUCH better in poor conditions. Getting up at 2am to re-pitch a tarp when the wind picks up/changes sucks. Can go floorless with a groundcloth if wanted, I like the floor for ants/bugs/critters. You can have condensation issues in some conditions with them as well but usually can be dealt with, ventilation being key.

I like tarps, most times will pack one (10x10 cat cut) as well for spike camp. Makes a great kitchen/hangout area. A nice luxury. =D

 

[luke moffat]

I really dislike most bivys. Having used a couple the waterproof ones don't breath and the ones with waterproof bottoms and pertex tops aren't waterproof anyways so you are still relying on your shelter to keep you dry. Generally I will just leave the bivy behind all together (if the bugs aren't bag) and just go with my pad and quilt in a floorless shelter. In southeast alaska or PNW I would just haul a my nest for the inside of my tipi even if going solo. 16 oz of worth it and no feeling like I'm in a burrito to climb in and out of.

 

[rhendrix]

Luke and TD1, I'm ditching the tarp and bivy combo for all but the warmest of hunts like NV or UT mule deer in August. Spending hour upon hour wrapped up in that ID bugaboo bivy made me claustrophobic and definitely put a damper on my mood during all the rain. For a pound more I could have a bomb proof two person tent that I could take just about anywhere.

Right now I'm looking at big Agnes copper spur 2.