Sander

Have been thinking over doing more overnight sleeps in the mountains (in nature, not huts). What has holding me back over the years, is the weight/volume of my (2p) tent. Although it is not that heavy, it would require me to use my old big pack, which weighs 3kg on its own. It would also be harder to find a good spot.

It all sounds all overkill for my use case: on a day with good weather predictions, walk up late afternoon, cook/read a bit, enjoy the views, spend the night, walk down early morning. Ideally a sleeping bag / mattress would do it, but you never know.

So I'm now contemplating buying a bivy, which opened up a bunch of questions on its own. Have found good blog https://www.carandtent.com/guide-to-bivy-camping, but would be great if you could also share your experience. What are pitfalls, do's and don'ts, etc.

Happy to share more detailed info on gear or expectations in case needed.

Thanks a lot!! 🙏

#Mountains #Bivy #Camping #Hiking

The Guide to Bivy Camping - When to Use, How to Use, and How to Choose

Bivy camping is popular among backpackers and mountaineers. Come inside to discover when to use a bivy, how to use a bivy, and how to buy a bivy.

Car and Tent
Jun 29, 2024 at 12:46pmWeb
Show threadSanderJun 30, 2024

Update: first of all, thanks a lot for all the advice and feedback. Very much appreciated.

Based on this feedback I have changed my mind regarding getting me a bivy. Instead I will go for a lightweight one trekking pole 1-person tent. In fact, I have been able to acquire a second hand Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo.

https://www.sixmoondesigns.com/products/lunar-solo-tent

Looking forward to setting it up in the garden before I take it into altitude.

#Hiking #Mountains

Lunar Solo Backpacking Tent

Show threadSanderJul 13, 2024

Frist time to have set it up. Not camping in the garden tonight, but next weekend looks like a good opportunity to bring it to the mountains. So wanted to see if everything was there and working. Very easy to set up, although there was no wind today.

#Tent #Mountains

Show threadJDSJul 14, 2024
@bergmeister to many fun nights 🏔️🙌
Show threadEl Perro NegroJun 30, 2024
@bergmeister nice. Only 740 grams too!
Show threadSanderJun 30, 2024
@elperronegro yeah, hardly heavier as a bivy and read good reviews about it. Excited to test it out.
Show threadMark OheJun 29, 2024

@bergmeister

Good article, but one point not mentioned is that bivy tents, and especially sacks, do not work well in snowy conditions, unless the snow fall is just a few millimeters. Much deeper than that and you will be wet and cold, and possibly buried.

Show threadSanderJun 29, 2024
@mark_ohe thanks, I promised my wife to take dancing lessons after she did some winter camping with me. Still outstanding (both things). In case she wants to go now, I think it would be in something more than a sack 😀
Show threadGregJun 29, 2024
@bergmeister I use this AquaQuest Hideaway bivy 'tent' when I want to go small footprint. It's a single layer waterproof design, about 1kg, so not as light as a sack, but the single pole design allows some headroom and works for a side sleeper. The dual zip up front has a mesh layer for warm nights and a waterproof one for inclement weather. When I want to go minimal and there aren't trees for the hammock, it works great. Plus it keeps mosquitoes out. $150 here in the US. https://aquaquestwaterproof.com/products/hideaway-bivy
Hideaway Bivy

Show threadSanderJun 29, 2024
@Floppyhat looking good! do I see correctly that there is even room for a back pack?
Show threadGregJun 30, 2024
@bergmeister ehh not really, but definitely a water bottle, change of clothes, and a book!
Show threadEl Perro NegroJun 29, 2024
@bergmeister I would start by concentrating on your main pieces of kit ie tent, backpack and sleep system. For below your snowline camps I would possibly have a simple tent set up, easy and quick to erect. Your backpack weight saving can be huge. My 40 litre pack weights just 650 grams for instance. Try a ultralightweight pad and also investigate a quilt instead of a bag. A summer base weight of 5kg is achievable in time. Be warned though ... going lightweight is not cheap!
Show threadSanderJun 29, 2024
@elperronegro my Deuter Guide 35+L pack and Exped Synmat UL LW mattress are already set. Love those. Have an old sleeping bag, which used to be very warm, but nowadays is actually better for my preferred circumstances as the isolation is less (therefore also thinner). But the sleeping bag will still be the bulkiest in the pack. My current tent would not fit anymore, but do not want to get another tent, but more spread out the options by getting a bivy. Together with some cooking material and food, this will not be the lightest version, but everything below 10kg in total, would be fully OK.
Show threadEl Perro NegroJun 29, 2024
@bergmeister for bivvies check out these links. They will give you an idea of what is available and what is around. Then you can use the net to read reviews and investigate further etc.
https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/bivvy-bags/
https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/tarps/
Lightweight Bivvy Bags | UK | Ultralight Outdoor Gear

The UK's best range of lightweight bivvy bags. With reviews, full tech specs and helpful buying advice. FREE UK+EU Delivery

Show threadSanderJun 29, 2024
@elperronegro ah nice, thanks a lot!!
Show threadtfJun 29, 2024
@bergmeister @elperronegro bivvy bags are very useful, but also have limitations, biggest for me is you can’t cook inside it, plus the condensation. Small summer tent that you can cook in can be under 1kg of weight. Under 10kg is totally manageable, I used to be able to do a 3 day ‘fastpacking’ trip in 8-9kg in total (tent, food, cooking bits, 1/2l water), it just takes bit of experimenting to dial it out. But yes, good quality lightweight stuff is expensive, and as someone once said, there is no ‘fast and light’, only ‘cold and hungry’, it’s a very fine line.
Show threadEl Perro NegroJun 29, 2024
@tf @bergmeister I totally agree regarding preferring a small lightweight tent to a bivvy bag. Even a bivvy with hood feels claustrophobic to me and of course nowhere to cook
Show threadSanderJun 29, 2024
@elperronegro @tf thx! 🙏 that is actually a very good point. Had not thought of that. Will reconsider because of that and look also into lightweight 1p tents.
Show threadJDSJun 29, 2024

@bergmeister @elperronegro @tf i’ve used a lot of different bivies since the early 90s. I’m no expert, casual activity perspective only, and everyone has different experience but here’s some food for thought.

IME:
- they excel for everything that’s not camping
- if they try to be too much like a tent they fail both assignments
- they’re best used to augment open air sleeping ie: protect your sleep system, not you
- any additional needs are best paired with a tarp

If you don’t want to commit to bivy/tarp, a floorless tent that props up with a single trekking pole is the lightest combination alternative that maximizes tent benefits.

Show threadSanderJun 29, 2024

@jds @elperronegro @tf thanks all for the useful insights. For me a bivy is of the list now.

As alternative a lot of people came with a tarp or a 1p tent. As I plan to stay overnight higher up the mountain, where it can become windy quite quickly, I will start looking for a good 1p tent, as a tarp does not shield me for that very well. A single trekking pole tent will be the first to look at.

Show threadEl Perro NegroJun 29, 2024
@bergmeister @jds @tf that makes sense. Let us know what you eventually choose
Show threadFoxyLad Jun 29, 2024

@bergmeister A decent 1P tent usually weighs less than an effective bivvy bag, and is far more comfortable.

I slept in a bivvy bag once... never again. Hot, wet, constricted and heavy (dew to the wet). I shelled out for a Hubba and will never punish myself in a bivvy bag again.

Show threadSanderJun 29, 2024
@foxylad thx, got the advice from multiple sides and have reconsidered. Will go for a lightweight 1p tent. Am bidding on a second hand Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo.
Show threadSchalk CronjĂŠJun 30, 2024

@bergmeister I've opted for the Durston X-Mid. Instead of a bivy I only need to use the flysheet. There is a lot if versatility in how it can be pitched with two trekking poles.

Drawback is that you still need to find a site big enough to accommodate it, whereas with a bivy you can opt for a really narrow site if you need to.