Bivy Sacks

“I have been using a OR Bug Bivy this summer in combination with a Siltarp and love the versitlity. I am thinking about getting a regular Bivy sack for colder weather use. Anyone have and advice? Can they be used in Snow comfortably?
The sacks that I have been checking out are the Bibler Tripod at 2lbs 5 oz or Bipod at 1lb 12oz.
The Tripod is almost a tent with 25" of headroom.
I think that the regular no hoop bivy sacks will be too confining especially in bad weather.”

“I have an OR Advanced, as do many I BP with. I've used it in snow, sleet, you name it, no complaints (well, OK, some "nickle-dime" complaints, the zipper on the bug net is a pain in the a$$ to name one). I haven't seen an OR Advanced fail yet, and some of the users are 16-17 YO boys who can wreck just about anything.

One of our group has the Bibler, he is sorry he bought it (I am actually a fan of Bibler products generally and have an I tent, just don't like their bivy), another has a Moonstone. He swears by it, but I think that's because he has to be different and everyone else likes their OR so he HAS to say he likes his Moonstone. Personally I think it's crap.”

“I ordered the Bibler Tripod Bivy and sent it back. It's difficult to set up and fairly heavy. I decided that if I was going to go with a bivy I didn't want to have to do any setting up, so I bought a Integral Designs Salathe Bivy. I really like it. I haven't been out in the snow with it yet though.”

“My partner swears by her Integral Designs Salathe Bivy, she loves it. You cant go wrong with the OR Advanced bivy either. I'm using a Mountain Hardwear bivy, I don't recommend it personally, I use it because I got it at cost, and my old Moonstone was leaking. I have learned to deal with it's idiosyncrasies though.

They work great in the snow, but if your in heavy snow fall, they work better in a snow cave...it is really cool (no pun intended) to wake up with 3"/4" on top of you.......”

“I couldn't remember the name of the Bibler Bivy my bud had, Wingding's post reminded me... he also has the Tripod (but he didn't send his back!). Maybe they have another model or have improved the Tripod, I don't know, but he didn't like his at all.

Mtn. Steve reminded me to also post that, while I really like my OR Advanced, in heavy winter situations I am usually inside a snow cave also. I've certainly been "surprised" by an overnight sleet / hail / snow fall, but more often than not I'm protected by some outer barrier.

My OR Advanced still hasn't leaked though.”

“I'm looking at the Black Diamond winter Bivy or the MH condiut Bivy. Anyone have any advice about a good cold weather bivy in this price range?

It's this or a pair of snow shoes, I really want them both.
last edited: 12/13/06 9:53:12 PM”

“i've got the BD lightsabre which kicks ass, but you have to seam seal it yourself. about twice the price of the winter bivy though.

are you lookin to use it alone or under a tarp/inside a tent?

using a bivy alone then i would recomend something more like the lightsabre. if your just gonna use it as an outter shell to your sleeping bag then the winter bivy looks like a great bet to me.”

“Prolly alone in shelters and such. I'm lookin' for a little added warmth and weather protection.”

“Backslacker, I have both the Winter bivy and the Lightsabre. Two different animals. The winter Bivy makes a great bag cover for sheltersand under a tarp. I don't know how much warmth it actually gives you. I have never had moisture problems with it unless I zip it clsed too far. Very light and packs super small.”

“LT, gimme yer best ballbark for the winter bivy- think it adds 10* or so?”

“most will do that easily. the major difference lies in how well they deal with condensation... all bivy sacks have condensation (at least all the ones i have used) to some degree, esp around the head where it is hardest to vent all that moisture. some bivy sacks aren't really as waterproof and are more sleeping bag covers. others are waterproof/breathable but in very cold weather ice plugs up the pores as the water "breathes" out and it stops being breathable in very cold weather. my point here is that before you dump big dough into a bivy consider what conditions you will use it under (bugs, heat, rain, cold, 3 season, 4 season, etc) and then look for a set of features that will meet most of your needs. i have yet to find a "perfect" bivy sack.

i have the bibler hooped bivy, and it's OK but heavy. i also have the rei minimalist bivy and again it's OK but not as heavy (too many zippers!) i want one of these oware bivies but i am very, very hesitant to drop 200 - 230 for something that lightweight. you have to be verrry careful with gear like that. just imo.”

“Jimmy I use the REI Minimalist....it is a great bivy and the zippers are cause for entertainment with my hiking partners. They get to listen to me figure out which dang zipper is the right one.”

“lmao! i am always fiddling with the damn zippers.”

“Sacco I would guess at about 10*, I usually sleep with the sleeping bag unsnugged at the top, down to around 10* while I am in the bivy. Having the hood up seems to keep my head and arms warmer especially if there is a wind blowing thru the shelter.”

“Put a twist tie on the pull that lets you out of the bag.”

“Can't go wrong with the Integral Designs Salathe bivy, and it's made in North America.”

“Buddha that thing weighs almost 2lbs the BD winter bivy weighs 9ozs. Apples to Apples

Sassafras, I hear you on the twist tie on the zipper, I have had a panic attack when I couldn't find the opening in the morning.”

“I have the REi minimalist that I used for winter for several years, but I'm leaning toward retiring it. It doesn't let my winter bag loft all the way and it traps some moisture. IMO, that combination seems to cut into my bag's temp rating. So, that's a long way of saying make sure your bivy is big enough for whatever sleeping bag you use.

If I get a new bivy, it will be with poles like the Lightsabre (even with the added weight) rather than the minimalist style to trap some warm air over my head.”

“all bivies trap moisture to some extent. some are worse than others but all of them condense.

it's much worse at very cold temps, esp when it's so cold that the water breathing out the pores freezes the pores shut in the fabric (making it not breathe anymore).

i agree that the REI bivy is on the worse end of the scale for condensation”

“Thanks everybody, I think for my needs, the BD winter Bivy will do just fine. You can't beat the wt or price.”

“hey Backslacker ... get in touch with Crazypace. He is selling a black diamond bivvy that is better than the winter bivy. I think his is the light sabre. He is selling it for $100 which is the same price as the winter bivy. He's only used it maybe 5 times. It's really nice and roomy. Much nicer than the winter bivy.”

“hopefully I didn't post this too late.

Plus CP lives not that far from you... no shipping.”

“Great ENS, Thanks! I'll pull up his thread and see if I can get some info.”

“I use the REI Minimalist as well. The thing has six zippers. But I love it.”

“I have a Canadian army bivy (I guess they bought him a tent) that is w'proof and not breathable.

I get round the condensation problem by using a VBL, but there still is quite a bit of frost round the opening. I just brush it out.”

“LOL...Jimmy my first bivy was the Micro Mesh Bivy ( I think Mountain Hardware or something) you actually zipped it to the bag so there were two zippers for the zipper to zipper thing, the Main Zipper, zippers for the hood, zippers for the ventiliation.

The first night I used it was something like this

ZIIP (up)...(ME) SHI_! wrong one
ZIIIIP (down)..(ME) crap, wrong one.....
for about ten minutes. My tarp buddy was laughing himself silly by the time I finally turned on a light and fixed it.”

“OR Basic Bivy does me just fine down to -20.”

“After much research, I'm still up in the air between the BD winter bivy and the REI minimalist bivy and maybe the MH conduit sl. All the reviews I read on the BD said it was hard to get in and out of. All the reviews for the REI said too much condensation. Not much said on the MH. The BD is 9oz, the REI is 15oz all are compatable in price. Any thoughts?”

“i got the oware epic bivy. just under 10 oz and supposedly very nice. i have not tried it in the field. the rei bivy is nice but i do think it gets a lot of condensation. too many zippers on the rei bivy... needless weight.”

“I saw that, and checked out their website. They look pretty nice, but way more expensive. My plan is really only to use it in the cold prolly in shelters. Is there enough room in the REI, or does it compress the bag?”

“BS... I say you get in touch with crazypace about his.. email him. His is much better than those other two. his email address is crazypacehiker at yahoo dot com ..”

“CP wanted $150 for it, plus it might be a little more than I need. At $100 I would consider. Thanks though...”

“BS I'm 5'11 and I have gobs of room in the minimalist. they make a long. Also stayed dry in rain using it directly on the ground. I like it alot.”

“compression of my sleeping bag was never an issue but i don't carry a huge sleeping bag. there is plenty of room. i think i have the long and i am 6' tall and fit easily with room to spare. it weighs about 1 lb, a tad more. that's not bad for a bivy for 100 bucks (less if you wait, they go on sale all the time). it would be a lot lighter if you removed all the zippers.

i don't find it very breathable but it is waterproof. i air out my sleeping bag every morning or in the evening if there is a chance to do so. this helps with this bivy.”

“You do have to do the shimmy to get into the BD Winter Bivy but hey less zippers equals less weight and less leak spots.”

“I use the minimalist...never had a problem. Taken it down to the mid 30's.”

“i have toyed with the idea of removing all the zippers and replacing them with one or two lighter zips. i can't sew worth a darn.”

“Yours truly last January.



Photo courtesy of ENS”

“Yo Jim, do you use a tarp over that bivy or will the bivy protect from a downpour?”

“I just ordered the BD winter bivy from Back country. Got it for $79 and change with a 20% off coupon they mailed me. I guess the weight and price is what did it. Also got a GoLite heavyweight fleece for 30% off. Thanks for all your imput people!”

“BS just make sure that you do not zip it all the way closed. It traps too much vapor and I feel like I am suffacating.”

“FYI I use a tarp....or soon (the third of January) I will start using a Tarptent.

My problem with at TENT TENT is that they limit what I can do and see.”

“People have died from closing their bivys all of the way when they are sleeping. All of the bivys I have seen have a warning label in them about this.”

“With the right combination, I think I can get the pack weight down to 10 pounds for a few multi day trips this year.”

“Tent tent exactly XL, will the TT have a floor or not?”

“i've been using this set up for about 4 years now.

”

“and jimmysan, i'll respond to your email soon. yes, i'm definitely going.”

“You suck! Hopefully I will be there next year.”

“no time like the present (year).”

“Thanks for starting this thread!

How about tthe Integral Designs Bugaboo bivy? I got a serious gift card for REI and was looking there. I saw the minimalist long and tried it on, but I don't think it is big enough to let my winter bag loft all the way. I gain a few inches in diameter with the ID Bugaboo, but the cost is sooo much more!! What is the deal - is it the eVent fabric? Anyone??”