Down bag with a bivy to replace liner in floorless shelter?

[valtteri]

Has anyone been using a bivy sack with a down bag and NO liner in a single wall floorless shelter? In conditions where some condensation may occur, like September and temps hovering below and above freezing.

I have been using a Sawtooth with one liner half with a down bag, tyvek groundsheet and stove with good results, but am contemplating about packing in the Kifaru 8 man tipi next year for a longer moose hunt. This would be backpacking in about 8 miles so I am trying to think about minimizing pack weight.

I am thinking of ditching the tyvek and liner altogether and just using a Borah bivy bag for a groundsheet and to fight off potential condensation on the down bag. I will be testing this but would like to hear if anyone already has some real-life experience.

Photos from the moose hunt a couple of weeks ago, unfortunately was unsuccessful but was a hell of a trip!

 

[ianpadron]

99% of my hunting the past decade has been in WA state or Northwest Montana. Needless to say, I've had some wet hunts.

I've never used a liner in any of my single wall shelters and don't really think I ever will. I use a down quilt too and have never had an issue even on week long soaker hunts in the North Cadcades.

A good compromise is to use a Western Mountaineering bag from their WS line (gore windstopper shell) as it's essentially waterproof. That's my late season setup (WM Antelope)

 

[valtteri]

I have had an EE down quilt starting to lose significant loft because of condensation caused by freezing/thawing temps and no liners. Now I am using a WM Alpinlite and haven’t had any problems so that’s why I am thinking of ditching the liner again.

I have a winter bag with Pertex Quantum Pro face fabric and was amazed when I tried to wash it, it took some real effort to get the fabric to soak in any water. Took a really long time too, even when totally soaked in a tub. Not sure about the WM Alpinlite shell fabric but that also seems pretty water resistant.

 

[Wrench]

That's a WM badger in a bivy inside a megalight back in the first part of this century. It worked for me.

 

[IBen]

I did this year. I think my total time with a down bag this past year was 73 days. I came to the conclusion that a borah bivy with the argon material replaced with polartec alpha direct to act as an overbag would work better. I only used the bivy when the bugs were an issue though so about 30 days with the bivy

 

[valtteri]

I did this year. I think my total time with a down bag this past year was 73 days. I came to the conclusion that a borah bivy with the argon material replaced with polartec alpha direct to act as an overbag would work better. I only used the bivy when the bugs were an issue though so about 30 days with the bivy

What type of problems and in which type of conditions did you encounter with the Borah bivy?

 

[Marbles]

I had been, recently I ditched the bivy thanks to @B_Reynolds_AK and found it actually works better that way. Rain coat zipped up over foot box to keep it dry.

 

[BBob]

I use an MLD Superlight DCF bivy under a tarp with down quilts and nothing else under them floor wise.

 

[IBen]

What type of problems and in which type of conditions did you encounter with the Borah bivy?

Even the breathable bivy fabric can make condensation between it and your bag. Thats why i only used it for bugs. Thats why i say the alpha direct material will be better because it should move the dew point away from the bag

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I do it all the time, WM down bag in a borah. I’ll get some condensation but it’s never become a problem.
If it gets particularly bad, I’ll pull the bag and hang it on some paracord while hunting inside the tepee, try to be off ground away from mice, it’ll be dried out by night. Really helps if your shelter gets some sun, it’ll bake all the moisture out, even at colder temps. I’m not saying do it this way, i’m sure there is a better way, it just hasn’t become a problem for me.

 

[mrbillbrown]

I’ve used a Slick bag & WM Badger bag inside a Borah Gear bivy in my Tut with no liner for years with no issues. I added 12” of cord and a line loc to all stake out loops and raise my Tut 4-8” off the ground for excellent ventilation.

I’m starting to play with a half nest for a little more livable space. For me, the bivy or nest is more for keeping bugs and stuff out of my sleep set up more than anything else.


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