To Bivy or not to Bivy?

Akirie

FNG
Joined
Feb 10, 2022
Messages
12
I sleep hot and condensation is an issue for me in a bivy. If not in a bomber tent I like pyramid tents. But there are so many options now....many intrigue me.
 

Franger

FNG
Joined
Nov 8, 2020
Messages
75
Huntingfarandwide,

In my opinion, the number one thing that kills animals is time in the field. It helps a ton to be in great shape, be an excellent marksman or archer, understand the animals, etc. But if a hunter is uncomfortable and not well-rested and the camping portion of the hunt is a big chore, it affects the hunt negatively more than any other variable. And that’s when hunters are less likely to hunt.

So with that said, I ditched the idea of a bivy. I learned that unless my sleeping bag was perfectly suited to the temperature, condensation was an issue. (My WM bag is too nice to get stuffed wet every morning) It added another barrier to exit when it was time to midnight piss after drinking the amount of water I need for hydration. Dust and dirt stuck to it. I didn’t have a “sterile area” anywhere but inside the sack itself. The list goes on.

Using the SO Eolus and a Borah bivy as an example, what’s the weight penalty for a a nest vs a bivy? 10 ounces. What if it’s one of the robust bivy sacks like the OR Helium? Zero difference in weight from a nest from Seek Otside or Tarp Tent. What’s the setup time difference? Virtually none.

This isn’t to say that using a bivy is universally wrong. It works for many, many people. But in my experience whether just recreationally backpacking or hunting, the weight savings and simplicity is marginal and the difference in comfort and functionality is massive.

If you’re that worried about 10 ounces to a pound, do more squats. 😁
 

mxgsfmdpx

WKR
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Messages
5,988
Location
Outside
Huntingfarandwide,

In my opinion, the number one thing that kills animals is time in the field. It helps a ton to be in great shape, be an excellent marksman or archer, understand the animals, etc. But if a hunter is uncomfortable and not well-rested and the camping portion of the hunt is a big chore, it affects the hunt negatively more than any other variable. And that’s when hunters are less likely to hunt.

So with that said, I ditched the idea of a bivy. I learned that unless my sleeping bag was perfectly suited to the temperature, condensation was an issue. (My WM bag is too nice to get stuffed wet every morning) It added another barrier to exit when it was time to midnight piss after drinking the amount of water I need for hydration. Dust and dirt stuck to it. I didn’t have a “sterile area” anywhere but inside the sack itself. The list goes on.

Using the SO Eolus and a Borah bivy as an example, what’s the weight penalty for a a nest vs a bivy? 10 ounces. What if it’s one of the robust bivy sacks like the OR Helium? Zero difference in weight from a nest from Seek Otside or Tarp Tent. What’s the setup time difference? Virtually none.

This isn’t to say that using a bivy is universally wrong. It works for many, many people. But in my experience whether just recreationally backpacking or hunting, the weight savings and simplicity is marginal and the difference in comfort and functionality is massive.

If you’re that worried about 10 ounces to a pound, do more squats. 😁

Your WM bag will be fine getting wet. I’ve used them since the mid 90s and they last decades getting wet and dirty. It’s what they’re made for. Shake it off, wipe down with a lightweight shammy, stuff it in the sack and keep rolling.
 

j-moose32

FNG
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
Messages
17
those using the borah bivy, how is it for reppeling water? Im looking to get a lightweight bivy and that name keeps coming up
 
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
7,552
Location
Chugiak, Alaska
Floorless and bivy for all my spiking out, for the last 10 years now and I don’t really have a desire to go back to a traditional setup. That’s not to say that I haven’t experienced some less than ideal scenarios while using floorless shelters, but I just chalk them up as character building and move on. I also settled on a BG bivy about 6 or 7 years ago, then asked John to make me a custom DCF several years ago, and at 4.5 oz., it’s all I could ever ask for in a bivy.
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Spinrift can sometimes be a bit of a PITA though.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

BBob

WKR
Joined
Jun 29, 2020
Messages
4,484
Location
Southern AZ
those using the borah bivy, how is it for reppeling water? Im looking to get a lightweight bivy and that name keeps coming up
Another option is an MLD Superlight. DFC bottom with DWR fabric on top is 5.5-6oz. I use a full face mesh and haven't had condensation issues but I've also never been to Alaska :)
 
Joined
Jun 5, 2017
Messages
479
Location
Portland, OR
This thread has me glued to it. I'm so on the fence between a regular tent vs tipi and bivy. Did a weekend campout with Luxe Minipeak XL and lite outdoors stove. Worked AWESOME but was ideal conditions. It was just cold enough to use the stove, light rain, light wind, and ground was grass like I was on a putting green. I doubt it's that easy or nice in the backcountry with crappy conditions.

I loved the space of a tipi compared to a tent but have trouble getting dressed and not having my feet end up outside of the bottom of the tipi.

Loved the option of using a stove, but not sure how much I'd use it throughout the year.
 

j33

WKR
Joined
Jun 11, 2020
Messages
431
Location
Calgary, AB
Floorless and bivy for all my spiking out, for the last 10 years now and I don’t really have a desire to go back to a traditional setup. That’s not to say that I haven’t experienced some less than ideal scenarios while using floorless shelters, but I just chalk them up as character building and move on. I also settled on a BG bivy about 6 or 7 years ago, then asked John to make me a custom DCF several years ago, and at 4.5 oz., it’s all I could ever ask for in a bivy.
5062fe4e819bbe388e5b3eaa30672f97.jpg


632bac048067b09b71cd9e7a75eea877.jpg


d3158612cb3570c4f273ed4fe41a6c97.jpg


a5b8a19ac337d32889c2714ed8cfc170.jpg


5677e2457b825ce1e1f0e36eb1969dd5.jpg


c7b63e09ce9d7333b0dec282d69a42e1.jpg


1eedbb42d6e58d9af2cd510bf1228efa.jpg


Spinrift can sometimes be a bit of a PITA though.
ccfc1b491cdcaf6bfe12409d551ce461.png



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
how does that mid height tipi from the first few pics handle the wind? Lets say compare to like a Kuiu mountain star or something similar if you have experience with those? thanks
 

chibirds

FNG
Joined
Mar 23, 2022
Messages
3
I also use a Borah Gear Bivy (the silpoly bug bivy, ~6.25 oz) with a mid (Locus Gear Khufu silpoly, something like 16 oz). and I really like the setup. I used to use a more traditional bivy that had a water resistant/breathable fabric on top with a little netting over my face and found the condensation to be just terrible! Switching to a bug bivy with netting over the whole top really solved this.

I've waited out some nasty T-storms in my mid and bivy and haven't had to deal with splashback or water in my setup. I think the most wind my mid has been in was a night when there was 45 mph wind gusts. My mid handled it like a champ. Definitely think floorless mids + bivys are some of the most flexible shelters.
 
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Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
7,552
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Chugiak, Alaska
how does that mid height tipi from the first few pics handle the wind? Lets say compare to like a Kuiu mountain star or something similar if you have experience with those? thanks
I don't have any experience with any of the Kuiu tents, but Mids, like most tipi's, handle wind very well. My biggest one is that green HMG Ultamid 4, which stands about 6 1/2' to the peak (depending on how high off the ground I pitch it), and I've experienced sustained winds of up to about 50 mph without any issues, other than worrying that the thing is going to come apart with the next big gust.
 
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Joined
Dec 12, 2018
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the Bitterroot
From my experience:
  • Bivy only + tarp backup - just did this when I could cowboy camp without a tarp or floorless with pretty good certainty rain wasn't on the way. I found that I don't sleep well with even nest fabric directly on my face or even wearing a cap which the ultralight guys do to keep the fabric off their faces in a bivy. Didn't work for me. Sleeping under the stars though, quite the pleasure as long as no bugs

  • Borah Bivy + floorless shelter - super easy and nice as long as no bugs (ticks). If no bugs, I basically just keep the borah bivy unzipped with the fabric off my face and so it can breathe better.

  • DCF ultralight tent + nest - If you can swing the cost, the weight penalty from vs bivy+tarp is so small that I find myself far more comfortable in this setup. Personally I sleep better. Setup is still super easy and flexible with the Tarptent Notch Li. Even for my basecamp when I use the MLD Supermid I ended up getting a nest vs. bivy as it just works for me.
 
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