Tarps and no bivi bags

[JohnClimber]

Just wondering if there really is a need to take a bivi bag when you are under a good covering of tarp and on tyvek?

Who takes a bivi bag too?
And who doesn't?

What are your pro's and cons of yes or now please?

[ScotRoutes]

I tend to take my TiGoat Kestrel if I'm using a full-sized tarp.* It adds a bit of wind resistance, adding to the warmth of my bag (which means I can get away with a lighter bag). It also has a midge net built in (handy for keeping ticks off too) and cuts the draughts I sometimes get when using my quilt and I'm restless.

So, that's three positives for the sake of a little weight.

OTOH I rarely take a groundsheet.


* My current preference is a micro-tarp and a waterproof bivvy bag

[Bearbonesnorm]

I do exactly as Colin says. I can think of a couple of occasions where the lightweight bivvy saved me from a proper soaking. Both times involved mist coming in off the sea.

[RIP]

Use tarp and no bivvy bag here. 'water resistant' sleeping bags have always been fine. Tarps are 10x8 or 9x7 though not those pocket handkerchief jobs.

Paradoxically I agree with everything Colin and Stu said though

[benp1]

I've used a tarp without a bivi bag plenty of times, but pretty much always use a bivy with a tarp now. Generally a borah bivy

I also find it gives me lots of versatility - I often use a bivy without a tarp if the weather is looking good or I'm using artificial cover (eg a porch)

Helps with wind blown spray, wind and bugs. Plus I find groundsheet a faff

[Charliecres]

I always use a bivy bag - either a splash-proof one with a midge net or a Hunka XL, depending on the conditions. I don’t use a tarp if the forecast is settled and dry. I will sometimes use a space blanket, or tyvek, as a groundsheet if it’s really wet or muddy.

[jameso]

I have a with-tarp bivi bag that's just a weather resistant cover. TerraNova Moonlight, 180g. I use it w/o a tarp when it's clear and not too cold. Will use the tarp w/o a bivi bag when it's warmer with no chance of condensation but in conditions like that I'm more likely to just bivi, no tarp.

[whitestone]

Pretty much as Colin states and for the same reasons. The extra versatility as noted by Ben is also a factor.

Tarp and bivy (Borah Gear) still only come to 300g or so, not really worth worrying about.

[summittoppler]

I'll be quite honest and say it hasn't entered my head not to use a bivvy bag when using a tarp. I thought they went together like bullets and guns! I suppose if the weather looks fine with no rain/mist then its an obvious thing to leave at home.
Wil give it a go

[fatbikephil]

Slugs, midges and ticks (and mozzies) = bivvy bag with mesh.
Did a couple of overnighters in '18 during the winter on a groundsheet and tarp only. OK if your not in amongst wet grass (it was frozen on both occasions) and its too cold for bugs n' slugs

[Bearbonesnorm]

I'll be quite honest and say it hasn't entered my head not to use a bivvy bag when using a tarp. I thought they went together like bullets and guns! I suppose if the weather looks fine with no rain/mist then its an obvious thing to leave at home.
Wil give it a go

Or leave the tarp at home?

[ScotRoutes]

Yeah, bivvy bag and no tarp. Much greater choice of locations.

[Alexpalacefan]

Norm, where you on the Mull of Kintyre? ;-)

APF

[ScotRoutes]

Norm, where you on the Mull of Kintyre? ;-)

APF

I noticed that one too.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Fifth Beatle me

[summittoppler]

I'll be quite honest and say it hasn't entered my head not to use a bivvy bag when using a tarp. I thought they went together like bullets and guns! I suppose if the weather looks fine with no rain/mist then its an obvious thing to leave at home.
Wil give it a go

Or leave the tarp at home?

Yeah done them ones a few times. Thing is, I don't tend to get much sleep as I end up staring at the stars most of the night

[RIP]

Oh gawd I'm obviously a rank amateur . I suppose I'm going to have to start paying more attention to these "what boil-in-the-bag should I get?" threads from now on. I'm doomed.

[sean_iow]

Oh gawd I'm obviously a rank amateur .

I think you're what statisticians call an outlier*, and not just when it comes to bivi bags

*Trying not to break the glass of my house whilst typing this

[RIP]

Oh gawd I'm obviously a rank amateur .

I think you're what statisticians call an outlier*, and not just when it comes to bivi bags

*Trying not to break the glass of my house whilst typing this

Ah well Sean, that's an interesting rabbit hole to disappear down. By chance Mrs P is a statistician and we have just had a robust conversation about your observation.

She said "outliers can arise due to fraudulent behaviour, human error, instrument error or simply through natural deviations". I asked if I was a result of one, several, or all of those. She gave me a Mrs Perrin #3 Look.

So, er, about these boil-in-the-bags. I gather it's possible to obtain one that will fit a wide winter sleeping bag and a mat, is impervious to sharp ground-based objects, is waterproof, is windproof, is breathable, is camo coloured, and weighs under 200g? Just what I'm after, so I'm all ears!

[Bearbonesnorm]

You've kind of described a Borah there Reg but just not quite

[RIP]

You've kind of described a Borah there Reg but just not quite

What's the not-quite bit? Or rather instead of one not-quite feature, is it that all features are very slightly not-quite? . (*)

(*) the waterproofness bit I guess

When I window shopped yonks ago I was entertained by the Kestrel and indeed the Borah cuben at 125g-ish.

In the end I decided not-quite was not quite worth it .

PS. As an aside, I'd like to see some hard facts rather than anecdote about how much, or not, bags/quilts are affected by breezes/wind. Of course this depends on the fabric - my 'ultrashells' claim 'total' windblock for example, as well as water-resistance. Maybe I need to book a session in a wind-tunnel with my bag and a thermometer inside it, plus a variety of bivvy bags.

[RIP]

So JC, have the agony aunts affected or changed your thoughts so far?

[ScotRoutes]

Bivvy bag and no tarp tonight

[JohnClimber]

So JC, have the agony aunts affected or changed your thoughts so far?

Not really, I'll take both as I did before.
I was just wondering if some did it without the bivi bag and if so did they die or not?

[ScotRoutes]

The ones that died didn't respond.