Bivvy bags simply slip over the top of your sleeping bag and protect them from getting damp or wet. They are lightweight, easy to pack, discreet and are often cheaper than a tent. Once you’ve slipped your bivvy bag onto your sleeping bag, pop yourself in and tighten it around your face.
How to choose a bivy sack for summer camping?
A camping tent would be ideal in the summer and hot climates, and this should be an essential factor to consider when choosing a bivy sack in the summer. How Do Bivvy Bags Work? Bivvy bags are like a waterproof jacket for your sleeping bag; they work as a tent and protect your sleeping bag from rain, dust, bugs and add warmth to your sleeping bag.
How do you lay out a bivy bag?
This can be from layering the internal area of your sleeping bag or from sleeping in warmer clothes. A bivy bag is colder than a tent, so make sure you are wearing warm clothes, especially at night. The first thing to do is to unfold your bivy bag and then put your sleeping bag inside it. There are two ways you can have your mat laid out;
How to use a bivy bag like a tent?
A bivy bag is colder than a tent, so make sure you are wearing warm clothes, especially at night. The first thing to do is to unfold your bivy bag and then put your sleeping bag inside it. There are two ways you can have your mat laid out; Inside: Inside your sleeping bag.
Can a bivy sack replace a sleeping bag?
Both bivvy and sleeping bags serve different purposes, and one can not replace the other. Bivvies don't offer the warmth and protection that sleeping bags provide, and be ready to stay frozen if you try to sleep in a bivy sack without a sleeping bag.
Why do bivy bags have straps?
Some bivy bag models will have straps to hold your sleeping mat in place, which is good because you would lose most of your body heat through the ground. The straps would help keep your sleeping mat in place if you are someone that tosses and turns while asleep.
How to put a sleeping bag in a bivy bag?
In And Out Of A Bivy Bag. The first thing to do is to unfold your bivy bag and then put your sleeping bag inside it. There are two ways you can have your mat laid out; Outside: underneath your bivy bag. Inside: Inside your sleeping bag. Once you are in your bag, pull it up over your head, leaving a gap for your face.
What is a military bivy bag?
If like me you’ve ever thought of how to use a military bivy bag, then it is worth noting that a military bivy bag is a bit larger than the regular kind of sleeping bag. It was initially designed for soldiers out in the open or camping through rough terrain with very little cover during bad weather. Most typical military bivy bags are made of ...
What to carry on a camping trip?
Where possible, you should have the items on the list below when planning a camping trip; these are basic items that you should typically carry along with you in your bag. Roll mat. Sleeping bag.
How to keep warm in a bivy bag?
Staying warm. You need to good insulation in your sleeping bag to keep you warm during cold weather. This can be from layering the internal area of your sleeping bag or from sleeping in warmer clothes. A bivy bag is colder than a tent, so make sure you are wearing warm clothes, especially at night.
Why do you need a pack liner?
It will also depend on how much space you have because you can decide to pack your stuff in tote bags and sacs, but opting for a pack liner, helps you maintain orderliness. It also prevents your camping gear from getting wet from the moisture that would have gathered underneath your bag.
How to keep your face warm in a bag?
Once you are in your bag, pull it up over your head, leaving a gap for your face. If you have a down string pull this tightly around your face to keep you warm and to keep any cold drafts out.
What is a bivy bag?
A bivy sack (or bag) is simply a single layer material bag that you sleep inside.
How much does a bivvy bag weigh?
Most bivvy bags weigh less than 500 grams (17.6 ounces), and more often between 300-450 grams. Carrying less weight always equals to a more enjoyable experience.
How to stop a bivy from rolling?
If your bivy does not have straps, you can install some by using flat elastic straps and gluing velcro material on the middle ends to be able to adjust it, and then gluing each end to the bivy base.
What is the best material for a bivy sack?
Since both warm and cold climates can cause condensation inside, you really want it to breath as much as possible, and getting a Goretex or E-vent type material is the best way to go.
Why use a water resistant sleeping bag?
Using a water resistant sleeping bag is recommended as the issue of condensation becomes less of a problem. Most modern, high q
Why do you need a sleeping mat?
Using a sleeping mat is recommended since you lose most of your heat through the ground. The straps help keep the mat in place as you toss and turn.
Can you put gear in a bivy sack?
Keeping all your gear inside the bivy sack, which is usually not an issue in tents with their larger internal space, becomes a hassle at times and requires some forethought on how to best approach it.
What is a bivy sack?
The bivouac sack (or “bivy” sack) is merely a weatherproof cover for your sleeping bag with a breathing hole— the perfect bear burrito, filled with your ambitions to complete those ultralight objectives. Some call bivies “cramped.”. Others call them “miserable nights” spent in the harsh wilderness, when the car is far beyond your physical ...
Why do climbers use bivy sacks?
Traditionally, alpine and big-wall climbers relied on bivy sacks for hunkering down during multi-night objectives in technical terrain, where sleeping ledges are too cramped for a tent.
What is bivy camping?
While tents cut off your sense of place when you’re inside, bivy camping—out in the open, with the enormousness of the mountains surrounding you—is an experience all its own. The peaks of the Picket Range or the red rocks of the southwest feel closer, larger and more rugged when you have an immersive, front-row view.
How to keep bivy from condensation?
Cinch the bivy’s hood down around your face, but avoid breathing inside the bivy which can create condensation. A buff or balaclava makes a great lightweight face mask. If possible, during the day turn the bivy inside out and air it out.
What is a MSR bivie?
MSR’s bivies feature a water-resistant, breathable ripstop nylon for the top layer to reduce condensation and keep you drier and more comfortable inside. By their nature, bivies are far more enjoyable when the weather is fair—most will offer little protection in a nasty Cascades or Rockies storm blitz.
What is the choice to bivy?
The choice to bivy is one of priorities and goals.
Why are bivies important?
Under the right conditions, bivies equal freedom. They enhance your connection to the outside world and they demand a true adherence to the minimalist mindset, which is an achievement all its own. Here’s why a bivy may be your ultimate ally on big mountain endeavors. Less weight.
What is a bivy sack?
Winter bivy sacks were first developed as solo shelters for mountaineering and climbing where participants were interested in lightweight and highly compressible camping gear. Bivy Sacks are also an attractive option for backpacking hunters, backcountry skiers, and winter backpackers who want the lightest and smallest shelter they can carry for overnight or emergency use.
What are the benefits of a bivy sack?
Don’t forget to consider the weight of the bivy sack and its packed size, since one of the chief benefits of using a bivy sack is gear weight and size reduction. There’s often a tradeoff between features and weight/size, but some winter bivy sacks are surprisingly lightweight and compressible.
Why do bivy sacks need to be waterproof?
Having a waterproof/breathable top fabric is important to vent water vapor and help minimize internal condensation that can make your sleeping bag wet. However, unlike rain jackets, most bivy sack manufacturers do not list the laboratory measurements used to rate waterproofing (hydrostatic head, abbreviated “HH”) or breathability (movable water transmission rate, abbreviated “MVTR”). That can make expected performance comparisons between different bivy sacks difficult.
How many types of winter bivy sacks are there?
There are basically three types of winter bivy sacks to choose from:
What is a MSR pro bivy?
The MSR Pro Bivy is shaped like a sleeping bag with a simple slit to get in and out of.
Why use a winter bivy sack?
Despite these disadvantages, I have friends who swear by their winter bivy sacks because they’re so fast to deploy compared to a tent or tarp. I’ve used winter bivy sacks and can appreciate their strengths, but winter nights last a very long time and it’s nice to have a little extra space to change your clothes or sleep with your gear inside your tent. Whichever you choose though, really depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.
Is it easier to put on shoes in a bivy sack?
It’s much easier to get in and out of a bivy sack that has a zipper along the side than one that only has a “hatch” at the head end, to crawl in and out off. You’ll stay drier if the ground is covered in snow and it’s much easier to put on and take off your shoes.
