educate me on the way of the bivi

[HaYWiRe]

With the recent heatwave and some potential time off work, I'm planning a mid week overnighter, I'll be going solo so wont be splitting a tent, might be a good excuse to go minimal as possible

How well do bivi bags cope in hot weather? I've only used mine in cold and worried about sweating the inside out, its a basic hunka type I've added a bugnet to, so worried about breathability?

What's best, tarp, microtarp or no tarp? Or would sewing up a basic all mesh bivi under a tarp be better for the warm nights?
Bug protection is essential as swollen skin and allergies can ruin a trip

[Bearbonesnorm]

How well do bivi bags cope in hot weather? I've only used mine in cold and worried about sweating the inside out, its a basic hunka type I've added a bugnet to, so worried about breathability?

I know what you mean when you say Hunka type but what exactly is it? ... not all bags are created equally with regard to breathability. If you've got the same weather we've got, then I wouldn't bother with a bivvy bag at all.

What's best, tarp, microtarp or no tarp? Or would sewing up a basic all mesh bivi under a tarp be better for the warm nights?

Again, if conditions are good don't bother with a tarp ... although, a tarp can act as a 'condensation sink' and prevent condensation forming on top of you. Also, I really can't see the point of a micro tarp - people seem to forget that once the outside of your bivvy bag becomes wet, it's ability to breath deminishes making condensation much more likely. For another 100g or so, you can have a fully functioning tarp that'll actually keep you dry and allow you to pack a much lighter, better breathing bivvy bag. Net sounds like a good idea though

[HaYWiRe]

Its an alpkit hunka Xl, but I've sewn a net pyramid onto the opening and a zip entry, gotta be bug proof

If you think a bivi isn't needed then maybe a full bugnet sewn to a light groundsheet is my best bet, better dig out my noseeum.....

My only concern with ditching a tarp and bivi is having no rain barrier on the odd chance of rain, thus is adventure right? In this country anything can happen

[Bearbonesnorm]

My only concern with ditching a tarp and bivi is having no rain barrier on the odd chance of rain, thus is adventure right? In this country anything can happen

It's always a gamble but if you're unsure just take a tarp along, you don't have to put it up.

[deft punk]

If I could remember what it was called I would recommend reading a book I read a while back about a like-minded weirdo sleeping in sacks while eating pork pies & custard creams. Hopefully someone on here will know what I'm on about

I really can't see the point of a micro tarp - people seem to forget that once the outside of your bivvy bag becomes wet, it's ability to breath deminishes making condensation much more likely.

I can see them making life a bit more comfortable during a shower, but rolling behind/under a nearby rock or bush would do a similar job & if you're stuck without any cover you could prop your jacket up over your face anyway.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Hopefully someone on here will know what I'm on about

The book of the bivvy.

[Ray Young]

Hopefully someone on here will know what I'm on about

The book of the bivvy.

Tis a good read.

[HaYWiRe]

Trying to work out how most people do this, so worth asking...

How do you layer yourself in a bivi?
Mat outside, sleeping bag inside?
Everything inside?

Im trying to decide between using a bag or a quilt, but can't imagine a quilt to be pleasant laying on waterproof fabric if my mats outside

And do you have everything ready to unroll, or do you spend the evening faffing "making the bed" ?

I thought it might be possible to learn from other peoples mistakes

[whitestone]

I've always gone mat outside but then I've come from an Alpine climbing background where you are often bivvying on rock (either solid or gravel/stones) or ice with embedded grit so pretty abrasive and not something that you'd want to subject a membrane type bivvy bag to.

Doesn't make much sense having the sleeping bag outside

Of course with much kit being so light it is prone to damage so a few take a lightweight plastic ground sheet.

Unless you are cold and wet or in a race then speed in setting up/taking down isn't really a priority: five minutes vs ten isn't much in the scheme of things. Last Saturday was a case of putting up the tarp then being under that to do everything else, I didn't have a bivvy bag on that occasion. Ian who posts on here had a sleeping bag inside a bivvy bag for speed in putting up/taking down. Same night and conditions, similar locations (high up in the Dales) different strategies.

Like you I'm still learning, in fact you never stop.

[Bearbonesnorm]

And do you have everything ready to unroll, or do you spend the evening faffing "making the bed" ?

That can work well for a single night but chances are things will be damp by morning, so having enough room to pack everything seperately can prove very useful.

How do you layer yourself in a bivi?
Mat outside, sleeping bag inside?
Everything inside?

Depends ...
Mat inside - less chance of rolling off, less chance of a puncture.
Mat outside - More room for bag to loft, retains breathability of bivvy bag (depending on whether it has a breathable base or not).

In reality, much will be decided by the size of your bivvy bag / mat / sleeping bag and ground conditions ... no right, no wrong.

[HaYWiRe]

I'm not racing so speed isn't an issue, just trying to put a bag inside a bag, in the rain, can be....interesting, even under a tarp, but I suppose when condensation comes into play they'll need to air out separately

Does anyone else use quilts inside bivis? I imagine sleeping skin next to the bottom of a bivi wouldn't feel pleasant, maybe a light liner? When using a sleeping bag pair with my partner we put both our mats inside our "double" bag, otherwise I get tangled up and off the mat.

lofting isn't an issue when you're as small as me, my bivy is spacious

[Bearbonesnorm]

I and many others use a quilt in a bivvy bag ... I usually have my mat on the inside but don't find skin against bivvy bag any worse / better than skin against sleeping mat.