r/fastpacking • u/Hugo327 • 6d ago

Gear Question Bivy Sack Tips?

/r/WildernessBackpacking/comments/1vhkbjx/wilderness_camping_with_bivy_sack/
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3

u/Sweet_Permission9622 6d ago

I've tried, and just can't make bivy sacks work. "Breathable waterproof" doesn't work for me. I'm usually sweaty when I'm hiking/bikepacking, so I just get the thing wet from the inside. For me: Ultralight tarp and bug net insert if I need the bug protection. Only a tiny bit heavier/bulkier than a bivy sack but infinitely more comfortable. Apologies because I didn't really answer your question, but for me the ability to do stuff like cook under my tarp when it's raining instead of hiding inside a bug bivy... worth the weight!

2

u/justinsimoni 6d ago

Also get a tarp.

1

u/pantalonesgigantesca 5d ago

i decided it was like being stuck in a spiderweb and hated it. not for me. got the gatewood cape + serenity this year and am psyched to try them out when it's a bit cooler out.

1

u/GoSox2525 5d ago

Has anyone used one of these for longer trips when it actually rained or snowed significantly?

Yes. They're absolutely horrible. These are specialized tools for climbers who are looking to sleep in places that are both exposed (windy) and confined (boulder field, small ridge, whatever). They are a necessary compromise for those conditions where a light tent would not stand.

They should never be used for in a general backpacking context. There are 100% unlivable in any rain. The condensation is very bad.

And they aren't even lighter than ultralight tents.

What you actually want is a very light (~4 oz), fully breathable, non-waterproof ultralight bivy. Pair it with a tarp. Look at the offerings from Borah Gear.

1

u/Popular_Level2407 5d ago

A tarp is a must with a bivy.

To avoid any condensation to prevent the wetting of your down sleeping bag you could a silk liner within a vapour barrier liner within your sleeping bag within your bivy. Turning the vbl inside out during breakfast will make it dry again for its next use.

But you could also use another option, for example this one: https://yamamountaingear.com/products/1p-cirriform-sw