heyisforhumans

army surplus

https://cgi.ebay.com/ARMY-GORTEX-BIVY...ht_1745wt_1143


how'd it go?

Gotte

I've not tried one, but I've done a lot of research concerning bivis vs hiking tents. The bivis are good in that they are versatile, but you can only really sleep comfortably in one if the weather is good. Even though they are goretex, if it rains the water can pool on them, and, of course, you get a wet face. If you combine the bivi with a tarp, which is an ideal way to go when biviing, because, even if it doesn't rain it can shield you from the wind, you end up with a package that it bigger and often heavier than a backpacking tent. You also have to think about insects. In midge/mosquito areas, you'll need a hooped bivi with a mosquito net.
That's a good price, though. On average used British army bivis are about £30. You might get charge by customs for bringing the item into the country. Also, there's no mention of postage, which could make it more expensive that a British bivi, and all in, maybe more expensive than a cheap lightweight tent.
All in all, if it's a bivi from a US army sleep system, they are very good quality. The British ones are good quality also, but, from memory, quite thick and heavy compared with newer commercial (though more expensive) types.

hope that helps.

heyisforhumans

Thanks. I'm pretty sure I want to go with a bivy and lightweight tarp or something like that. You brought up good points that I missed with the mosquitoes. Hmmm thinking....

Mr. Jim

I've got a hooped civilian bivy that works well. No experience with the military models. I use mine for backpacking only and have done up to two weeks in it. I prefer a tent for cycling. Mine does have a screen for bug protection and star gazing, it does tend to collect condensation if I have to zip it all the way closed.

valygrl

Also, pretty much all you can do in a bivvy is sleep. You can't change your clothes, read, look at your map, sort your gear.... while protected from rain, wind or bugs.

MilitantPotato

It's easy enough to stitch in some velco and purchase some mosquito netting. A few lengths of tent pole can cure the water issue by bowing out the bivy near your trunk (guyline the pole so it doesn't fall.) I'd venture a guess that with those two things and a small tarp you'd have a decent shelter for all but the worst conditions.

clayton c

Did anyone mention claustrophobia ? Tight places, all zipped in makes for slow exit. Don't panic, calmly find the zipper and carefully straighten the fabric and slowly unzip, arh...

I've got an older REI one that'll test your patience. It does increase the temp rating of a sleeping bag, despite any criticism they are worth having.

njkayaker

Yup, you could do all that for even more weight than a tent!

We don't know the weight of the bivy in question.

skyzo

A tarp with a bivy is what I use on all my bike tours, and I also use it for backpacking. It is a very versatile setup, if I know the weather will be good, I dont bother setting up the tarp, and if its not, I throw the tarp over it.

As for the weights, that listing doesnt even have a weight set up, but you can bet it will be somewhere from 3-5lbs. My tarp and bivy cost me $40 in fabric to sew myself, and my tarp weighs 6oz, and bivy 7oz. Throw some poles and stakes in there and I have a complete shelter for a pound that packs to about the size of a beer bottle.

prathmann

I'd consider a bivy with some mosquito netting for backpacking, but for cycle touring there's frequently an advantage in the increased privacy afforded by a small tent. When cycle touring I'm frequently in public campgrounds and a tent lets me change clothes, hide belongings, and be out of sight of nearby campsites when desired.

Dan The Man

If you are considering a bivy, I would also look into hammocks. They are much more comfortable and weather resistant and don't give you condensation at night. The lightweight hammocks weigh the same as a bivy. I ran my Hennessey as a bivy in some desert-like areas. There is a photo of my setup somewhere on their website.

The only downside I see in hammock vs bivy is the extra cooling of air flowing below you. You can learn how to solve this to some extent by hanging your hammock in a way to block the wind and close to the ground so that it skims the grass or ground.

The only situation where I see a bivy being superior to a hammock, or a tent for that matter, is in really rugged treeless terrain where there isn't much space (aka mountainsides)

Northwestrider

I prefer a tent, if it's raining for example I am able to stay inside and read comfortably, privacy, bugs are another reason I stay away from a bivy. A bivy is cheaper, but that is the one advantage I can see.

sam21fire

Yes I've used those GI bivies quite a few times. Those are the old style. Pretty good for waterproof bot not that great for breathability. They're also fairly heavy, made of heavy "military grade" materials. Packed size isnt very compact. Sorry I don't have exact weight or packed size.

The newer style is part of a modular system that allows the user to layer the sleeping "system" depending on the conditions. I've slept in these in -20F (inside a parachute shelter) and had to shed the bivy portion. Packs smallish and not heavy. This would be a better way to go if you can find one.

Bacciagalupe

Another vote for a lightweight tent over a bivy. I just prefer having a little more space, and room to keep my stuff. One person in a 2-person tent is already kinda cramped.