Liners VS Bivy

[seanBLAMMO]

I own a Seek Outside Silex. I like it so far. However, I've only used it elevated so far with 6 inches or so of gap between it and the ground. I know on colder/windy days I'm gonna drop it right down, but I am tall enough that touching the sides will be an inevitably. I'm in the market for a bivy for this purpose. I also own a Cimarron, for which I am considering buying liners.

I'm interested in other's experience with bivy's and if buying the liner is still worth it if I have a bivy. Lightweight bivy recommendations are appreciated. I am considering a Borah bivy with added fabric at the head end. Thank you in advance.

 

[mrbillbrown]

You won’t go wrong with a Borah Gear bivy.

Sometimes I use a BG bivy in my Tut shelter. Sometimes I use a half nest in there. Both work perfect my and just kind of depends on the trip I’m taking and what I want to or need to carry with me.


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[WyoKid]

I like a bivy as it adds warmth, protects the bag and you from the elements when sleeping out and you can use the bivy for an UL overnight by sleep in the bivy with your clothes on and no bag. Liners are uncomfortable for me and I have used the bivy to add warmth in sub freezing temps.

 

[Rams horns]

Poncho liner is good to about 50 degrees F. Bivy provides no appreciable warmth although it does block wind.

 

[bmart2622]

I like a bivy as it adds warmth, protects the bag and you from the elements when sleeping out and you can use the bivy for an UL overnight by sleep in the bivy with your clothes on and no bag. Liners are uncomfortable for me and I have used the bivy to add warmth in sub freezing temps.

Are you talking about a sleeping bag liner or shelter liner?

 

[seanBLAMMO]

You won’t go wrong with a Borah Gear bivy

How well does it work in place of a ground sheet? I live in the PNW and I'm interested in how it fares with condensation.

 

[Drenalin]

I'm not a bivy user anymore, but have used Borah and Katabatic bivies a bunch. I would think that if you're pushing the size limit without a liner, the bivy is likely your only option. I used my bivies without a groundsheet and rarely had condensation issues, but that was in TN not the PNW. I never had an issue with condensation in the Borah UL bivy though.

 

[seanBLAMMO]

I'm not a bivy user anymore, but have used Borah and Katabatic bivies a bunch. I would think that if you're pushing the size limit without a liner, the bivy is likely your only option. I used my bivies without a groundsheet and rarely had condensation issues, but that was in TN not the PNW. I never had an issue with condensation in the Borah UL bivy though.

Thank you for your input. Did you make any modifications to your borah or did you stick with the full mesh head?

 

[Drenalin]

Thank you for your input. Did you make any modifications to your borah or did you stick with the full mesh head?

No mods. I figured the abundance of mesh was part of the reason condensation wasn't an issue for me.

 

[seanBLAMMO]

No mods. I figured the abundance of mesh was part of the reason condensation wasn't an issue for me.

Ya, I'm wondering about that. Hoping that argon stuff truly is breathable

 

[Drenalin]

Ya, I'm wondering about that. Hoping that argon stuff truly is breathable

It does a really good job keeping stuff out, which makes me think it would also keep stuff in. I'm not aware of a better bivy on the market though.

 

[mrbillbrown]

How well does it work in place of a ground sheet? I live in the PNW and I'm interested in how it fares with condensation.

Great question. I always use a piece of Tyvek under my bivy in my floorless shelter. (Tipi & tarp). To me….its cheap insurance to protect my bivy, gives me a space to lay stuff right outside my bivy and not on the ground surface where it might get moist, dirty, lost, etc. The white Tyvek ground sheet is perfect to see items placed on it and to notice any creepy crawlies that might be near my bivy before I hop in. For the cost, space, weight, and usefulness I’ll always use a piece of Tyvek when I go floorless.

***Not to say the BG bivy wouldn’t hold its own used without a groundsheet, I’ve just never used mine that way.

Condensation has never been an issue with me but I primarily use mine during archery elk in Sept in the high mtns of Colorado. Temps range from the upper teens to 70* depending on the given Sept trip. I’ve also used mine on a couple of quick overnight trips in the spring where temps were never cold enough to worry about condensation.


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