wanting a bivy

“alright boys and girls. I\'m seriously wanting a new piece of gear and I\'m thinking it\'s bivy time. I\'m looking for something that can keep me dry in pouring rain. I\'ll use this sucker year round, so it needs to be able to fit my winter bag (MH King Tut long...800 fill down baybe).

I\'m looking at these options:

B-diamond Sabre

The MH Ethereal Bivy...if I can find one

Biblar Tripod Long

anyone with personal experience?”

“Why do you want a bivy?”

“seems like the trips i've been doing latley involve people that have their own gear...and frankly I'd rather sleep in a bivy then in a 2 man tent. Hell the way I fit in my tent it's like i'm in a double wide bivy anyway.

besides...it's gear...you never ask why”

“I love my OR Deluxe.
It's kept me dry in hail and rain.”

“DM99, I used a bivy for a few years and loved it. It was way warm in the winter and fall. Mine was goretex and I stayed bone dry. I dont know the brand it was Army issue but they are sold online.”

“i was actually looking at that one, or the OR advanced which is the same plus one pole. I think i'd need to get in some to sese if i like having that extra airspace over my head.

I do like the fact that the OR bivys are actual 3 layer Gore-tex, but I've heard a lot of good thing about biblar from some of the local mountaineering guys. So i'm not sure if their ToddTex is comperable or not. Regardless, weight really isn't much of an issue as all the ones i'm looking at varry by less then 5 oz and are all under 2 lbs. I just want to stay dry and have adequate venting options”

“Have you checked out Integral Designs bivy's? I bought one last year and have used it in winter spring and summer. They use a Tood-Tex material on everything except thier eVent shelters. I own the Salathe, and love the fact that it has great venting options, and that it would accomodate either right or left zip bags. It uses the Toodtex stuff, and I have yet to be plaugued by condensation problems. Anyway, check it out. The company is one of the few tent makers that still make thier products in N. America.

Good luck!

jay”

“The space over my head in my OR I consider important. I do not like sleeping with anything lying on my face. Also, the bivy seem to insulate my bag better than a tent.
Downfalls? No place to keep my gear out of the weather, and have to cook without a vestibule when it rains.”

“I use a siltarp (under 1 lb), and trekking poles to create a vestibule. It's the best when you wake up on a rainy cold morning and you can cook breakfast without having to get out of you bag.”

“Ahh, good thinking BB!”

“Do you guys get any lightweight gear out there?”

“Buddha,
I actualy used an ID bag cover on a trip across the lakes near Ely, MN a few winters ago. Worked rather well at keeping frost off my bag. I like their designs, but the only thing I don't get is their warning. Says you have to leave 6" of zipper open for porper ventalation. Shouldn't that be accounted for in the design? Not sure I want to be leaving 6" of my zipper open if it's raining like mad

Too bad there are no gear shops within 3 hours of here that sell anything like this.”

“They put that on there because some dude suffocated in one of thier bivys a few years back. The Salathe has flaps over the zippers and the velcro hood, so you can leave it open and not get wet. It works perfect with the siltarp, I usually leave the hood totally unvelcroed.”

“I used a Salathe Bivy for two years - it just started to leak - I guess it wore out. I'll buy a new one next summer, but for the cold weather I'm going to carry my tent because it's a pretty long night in a bivy when the days are short.”

“I'm an OR Advanced fan. Mine's been in everything from snow to sleet to rain to winds you wouldn't believe along the ocean, and I'm always warm & dry!”

“I have the Bilber Light sabre and the Bibler Winter Bivy, The Light Sabre is a lightweight version of the Bibler Tripod which weighs over 3lbs. The light sabre is 1lb 4oz and the Winter Bivy is 7oz, both are made with Epic fabric which they say is highly water resistant but I have never had a leak.
I have experienced alittle condensation in the winter bivy when I got twisted around away from the opening. I usually use them both with a tarp so that I have gear storage and a cooking area. The light saber does have enough room in it for my small pack and my boots. down by my feet.
The pack size on the LS is great, about the size of a 12" sub at subway. the winter bivy is baseball size”

“LtHiker, I've been eyeing that Bibler Winter Bivy. I'm looking to use it in conjunction with a tarp (possibly a Betamid) for my winter gear set-up.”

“I thought hte thread title said "wanting a baby" LOL I had to read it twice LMAO”

“JohnnyWlkr has the Integral Designs and I am always overcome with jealousy winter camping with him.

Todtex is really just Gore-Tex, but there are issues about flame resistance and responsibility.

The ID bivy sack that doesn't have the loop over the head has the 6 inch warning because a few years ago a camper that had been drinking heavily apparently suffocated. The deluxe with the head loop is no problem closed.”

“i use the ID unishelter. i love it. i also use and 8x6 sil tarp with my poles when extra weather protection is needed for gear or getting in and out of the bivy. i doubt i will ever carry a tent again when going solo.”