Bivy Sack

[Chomp09]

I have come into posession of a military issue gortex bivy sack that I am considering replacing my current 2 person tent with. I am looking for the thoughts and experiences of those who use, or have used a bivy sack for any extended period of time. How do you do normal camp stuff, essentially cooking/eating, without getting gear soaked?

[mnof1000v]

I tried to deal with a bivy for a few weeks during my thru. I couldn't deal with it. You really can't do anything other than sleep in a bivy. If the weather is bad, you're pretty much forced to do any cooking at a shelter or out in the weather. If you're dry inside during a storm and nature calls, you're pretty much going to get the inside soaked. Yes, a bivy is light. Yes, I loved the weight savings. But in the end, I switched back to my heavier tent. If you want weight savings, but actually want to be able to do more than sleep, go with a hammock or a tarp tent. I don't think the bivy is worth it.

[jimtanker]

I used a US GI goretex bivy for a while. That coupled with a good Poncho/tarp works out great. If its going to rain, just stake out the tarp in a flying diamond so it covers your upper body. Lots of ways to use a tarp as I'm sure you already know.

Check out these ways to stake out a tarp at: http://hikinghq.net/gear/tarp.html

[StarLyte]

I tried to deal with a bivy for a few weeks during my thru. I couldn't deal with it. You really can't do anything other than sleep in a bivy. If the weather is bad, you're pretty much forced to do any cooking at a shelter or out in the weather. If you're dry inside during a storm and nature calls, you're pretty much going to get the inside soaked. Yes, a bivy is light. Yes, I loved the weight savings. But in the end, I switched back to my heavier tent. If you want weight savings, but actually want to be able to do more than sleep, go with a hammock or a tarp tent. I don't think the bivy is worth it.

Hey Yahtzee-
OMG - I hate bivies. I've tried 2 different kinds - it's like sleeping in a friggin coffin! It will not accommodate your pack either. Once I got real wet from rain and was very very cold and my friend was trying to warm me up and we almost got stuck in one.
Nope - bivies suck.
I'm liking that Henry Shires Double Rainbow tent.

[saimyoji]

Once I got real wet from rain and was very very cold and my friend was trying to warm me up and....

Any pics???

[hikerjohnd]

I thought most folks used a tarp with a bivy... I thought about making the switch, but there was no real weight savings in the end - bivy+tarp+ropes came out to about the same weight (close enough anyway) as my one man tent that I could sit up in. I sold my bivy and do not regret it at all!

[Footslogger]

The bivy I have is from OR (the Bug Bivy) and is mostly netting with a waterproof floor. True that when you add the tarp there isn't really any weight advantage. The only plus I found was that on clear nights you can sleep in the bivy without the tarp and do a little star watching.

'Slogger

[dloome]

Even W/B bivies have SERIOUS condensation problems IMO. Claustrophobic, no room for gear, hot and stuffy. Ugh.

Most people I've seen who use them normally have a very light Ray-Way type tarp as well, and use the bivy if it gets nasty. As a stand alone shelter, bivies kind of suck.

[greentick]

I have come into posession of a military issue gortex bivy sack that I am considering replacing my current 2 person tent with. I am looking for the thoughts and experiences of those who use, or have used a bivy sack for any extended period of time. How do you do normal camp stuff, essentially cooking/eating, without getting gear soaked?

I have used that bivy alot to include several nights that I had frost on the outside and in a few drenching rains - never noticed a condensation problem. This was with the issue sleeping bags which used Primaloft. If you use it with a poncho as a fly you will like it. You can cook and keep your gear under the fly. This assumes you don't have any deep seated bivy issues as noted in this thread.

[Ridge]

A bivy of almost any brand will be fine for a night or two, but I would still go with a high quality one-man or (what some call) a 1-1/2 man tent. You'll learn fast the bivy is claustrophobic as hell. I gave mine to my brother to keep in his kayak for emergency's.