Bivy Vs. Tent

“Hey gang,
I was looking at the O.R. Advanced Bivy. Do most hikers use a bivy Or Tents? or is 50/50 ? or depends on your needs ?
What is a awesome brand for bivy's ?

Thansk for feedback :-)”

“You can probably find some discussions on this subject on some other threads.

But...I have an OR Gortex bivy and use it in cool/cold weather. The bivy adds a little extra warmth. I also carry a silnylon tarp with me just in case it rains a lot. Total shelter weight is 2lbs.

Like you said though, depends upon the conditions. I also use a hammock in warm weather and a tent if base camping. :) I've had good luck with OR products.”

“snafu, I just got a setup with an OR bug Bivy and a silnylon tarp. 1.68lbs the bug bivy is basically a mesh bag with one hoop and a waterproof floor. I think regular bivy bags are something that i would want to try before I spent all of the money on one. I think that i would want more room.”

“Sounds wicked awesome :-)
I like room too, but also like the solo idea. Maybe I could get a cheapy and just try it first. I saw a few on ebay used, but like new..”

“Watch the weight on those they tend to be almost as heavy as a one man tent.”

“neither.
TarpTent”

“Lt your new setup sure sounds tempting, I'm looking foward to seeing it.”

“I love my OR Deluxe.
Kept me dry on Montanapalooza (Rain, Hail, Wind).
Room? I've got the whole outdoors and all the stars in the heavens.”

“I figure that fewer than 1 in 20 backpackers use a bivy.

I have used a Bibler exclusively for the past year and can't stand the thought of carrying a tent anymore. Lighter and saves weight.

I'm considering a hammock for warm weather use.”

“Nav,

Is that the same bivy you had on Whitney?

Moz”

“My nephew is going the hammock route too.... what if there is no trees? or not two that the appropiate distance apart?”

“Given the number of ultralight tents that are out there (Wanderlust or Six Moons for example) plus the silnylon tarptents - I much prefer the space of a light tent. It is nice to be able to sit up inside, to read, eat, change clothes, etc. I've spent a lot of rainy nights, where having a little room to move was very nice. Plus, I get too claustrophobic to be happy in a bivy.”

“I have lusted over a buddy's Integral Designs Expedition bivy (much like the OR Deluxe) for some time now, but I can't afford one. I use a w'proof, Cdn Army surplus bivy (heavy) in the winter and love it. I wouldn't use anything else for winter camping because a winter tent and a winter bag (plus stove, cook kit, fuel, winter mattress, food, etc.) would be impossible for me to pack and would probably weigh more than me. I would use my sled only for a multi-day winter extreme trip.”

“Must hike, I think that it is going to workout really well. I need to spend some time outside setting it up in different configurations. That is if it ever stops raining when I am not woking. I figure that I can use the bug bivy alone on a warm cloudless night. or even use it inside a leanto. It is incredible how small of a package that it goes down to about 3x12.
Best of all is going to be the versitility of the tarp.”

“When you say "I would use my sled only for a multi-day winter extreme trip." do you mean Snowmobile? I have been dreaming of a USA Cross country & Canada sled/snowmobile trip !!!
It would be awesome to combine my oldest sport with my newest sport.
and find someone who would want to do it with me.”

“I took my new Integral Designs Salathe Bivy out over Memorial Day weekend and I was snug as a bug in it. It's warmer than my ID tent, and when I open my eyes at night I can see the stars up above me. I used an old blue foam matt under it as a ground cloth and put my thermarest guidelite inside it - very comfortable.

I wanted a simple bivy without hoops to set up, and this one works for me. It does have a wire in the brim to help keep it off my face. Unless it's raining out, I don't think I'll ever have it all closed up except for the bug netting.”

“It is personal preference.

I prefer a tent. I hate bugs and like room to move around if the weather turns bad. My Exponent Inyo 2 weighs about 4lbs complete. Under $90.

Thermarest LE (I need a thick pad) = 2.5 lbs.

Down bag = 2 lbs.”

“Nice summer weather -- dump the tent and the sleeping bag. Just wear your long undies in a bivy sack. If bugs are a problem use a bug net.”

“I use a bivy a lot in the winter....often on short trips during the rest of the year as well.

If you expect rain for more then a day or so, stick with a tent. It takes a certain creativity to get in and out of one while its raining, a small tarp helps, but then, a bivy and tarp can weigh more then some tents.

Sure works great for those quick overnighters though....”

“I did a week long loop in the Eastern Sierra a few years back with just a cheap rectangular mos net. supported it with two hiking poles. worked like a champ.”

“Bivy or Tarp for me.”

“Snafu he was talking about a gear sled. In the winter when there is snow you load all of your gear on the sled and pull it behind you.”

“Snafu I have the OR Advanced you're looking at (as do a few others who post here). I bought it after looking at the Bibler, Moonstone & others & have been very happy w it since (about 3 years now). I only take a tent when I know I'm running into inclement weather, or in winter. Bivy's are GREAT, you'll never go back to a tent once you've tried them.”

“Mozark, no, this is a new bivy. That was an REI Cyclopes. It didn't have anything to keep the top off my face if I had to zip it up. The OR, on sale, with my dividend, with an e-coupon was affordable and it as been an excelent investment.”

“I have a crossover Eureka Gossamer that's not much more than a glorified bivy that I like. Problem is mostly I'm with my hubby, so a regular tent is usually the case.”

“Bivys run too confining for me, I use a 2 man tent if it's really buggy, but I like to use clear 4 mil plastic for a tarp,, can be set up in infinite ways, completely waterproof, and you get to see the stars and wildlife.”

“i got my black diamond bivy today. Not sure why I haven't thought about this earlier...I guess I wasn't expecting it from a bivy, anyway, but what about condensation? Its the exact material as my lighthouse, and even though not much, my lighthouse does have condensation. In a bivy that would mean wet sleeping bag.No?

I know some of you have the lightsabre, can you post experience, tips, likes, dislikes?

thank you VERY much”

“This may not help since mine's an OR Avanced Bivy, but I've never, ever had a condensation problem. It's been in rain, snow, sleet, every condition imaginable.

I love my Bivy :)”

“lightsabre, i like it very much. it can be a little akward gettin in and out but it's not too bad for us shorter folk.

i like the headroom. i usually do get some condensation, especially if i bring any clothes inside it.
seam sealing it was the worst part. make sure you pull the seams out when you do it or you won't get a good seal.”

“I just want to know how you change in a bivy!?!”

“LOL..Tango..do one week in a winter situation...Actually I use a bivy and a tarp, I got used to it and I actually prefer it. Took a bit to get over the NO PRIVACY thing...but I got used to it.

I have never had trouble with condensation. Now the downside....after a few days on the trail when the trail food trouser coughs begin to get rough...I found they can only escape by the top of the bag....can lead for long nights.”

“At least you don't have to worry about actually killing yourself with your farts. They covered that one on Mythbusters.”

“I would use the bivy only for the hikes where every ounce counts. like XL said hopefully I'll get used to it.

Thanks sacco. you never had to deal with a completely soacked bag then?”

“I like to hike with cute guys that have bivies!!! ;-D”

“Damn Tango, if you just ask we'll change in front of you...”

“LOL I was going to post that Bitpusher.”

“I have the Microzoid which is a glorified bivi. Terrible with condensation. Damm hard to change in it too. I changed outside at Old Rag last year Gem, but you were getting water so you missed it! :-P~~~~~~~”

“Ha ha ha!!! Don't be shy!”

“I have an OR bivy made with gortex. Yes, it will have condensation in it under the right circumstances. I've had a few drops in it from time to time...no soaking wet sleeping bag though. The condensation usually happens based upon different factors like humidity, outside temperature, etc. I don't see it as a show stopper.”

“I love my bivy bag and sleep in it all the time. Condensation is an important consideration and dealing with it is all in how you use the bivy and vent it as far as I am concerned. I have learned to love Tarptents, but a bivy is such a warm and cozy place to sleep in that I keep going back to the bivy bag.

I wish I had a lighter bivy bag. Mine is the Bibler bivy at around 22oz. It's pretty hard core and I love it but these new ones that are 6 oz are on my "gear lust" list but I haven't been willing to shell out 250 bucks for one.”

“never had a wet bag gem, just a few drops around the head/tenty part.”

“thank you guys...makes me feel much better. after all what good does a superlight bivy if I have to carry another liner that keeps by bag dry.

I will only use this bivy for extreme situations anyway. [unless I'll start liking it a lot, it IS amazing how light it is]”

“Once you use it and CARRY IT, you'll really start wondering why you need your tent on the next trip.”

“I've had the Lightsabre a year or so now and used it about 12 times. Latest on a trip to utah. I've only had one trip with condensation problems in the Gila Wilderness in a rain storm at 10,000 feet. Sleeping bag got really damp but never penetrated through.
I've changed in a bivy ( need to be real flexible) and even cooked one time in it ( not recommended) when I was in a rainstorm and forgot my sil tarp. Not fun having an open flame 4 inches from your nose.

I think it's great for off trail trips where you want light weight and the weather forecast is fairly good.
For tough weather though I'll take my Marmot EOS one, plenty of room for me and a vestibule to cook in.”

“i had a big mouth just a couple of weeks ago why someone would need more then one tent, now I am back to 3. my black diamond lighthouse, my tarptent and now the black diamond lightsabre.

it's bad, really bad! it was cheaper when my knee was messed up.”

“Don't you hate when your own words come back to bite you in the a$$?”

“best is to use a bivy inside a tent on a groundcloth... belt and suspenders approach.”

“Use bivy/Betamid or tent depending on needs or weight issue. Sometimes bivy only, sometimes no bivy.

The awesome brand is the one on sale. (Got a Mt Hardware for cheap. Even though it zips up the wrong side. You got to spend $ to save $)”

“I bought an REI bivy on sale a few weeks ago. I have no need for it whatsoever but for 60 bucks for a brethable bivy I could not pass it up. Anyhow, it looks pretty good. I'll prolly use it on a trip coming up just to give it a whirl.”

“Jimmy what type of REI bivy, I got the Ultralight ( I think ) I like it.”