Afternoon, I was hoping to get the advice of multiday veterans out there on dealing with dampness!

Specifically with regard bivi kit. I have a hooped bivi and a down sleeping bag that I’ve used a couple of times for 2 day bike packing trips (anything over 1 night I have traditionally used a tent).
The times i’ve used the hooped bivi it has been a a bit wet out so after quickly putting the bivi up and then throwing in a mat and a sleeping bag I kit off and jump in quick as I can. Inevitably theres some moisture that comes in with me and then, as the night goes on the dreaded condensation forms. I don’t know how much moisture is in there due to the condensation andhow much i’m dragging in.
Once I’m packing up my down bag is pretty much always damp or even wet and I’m always glad I’m not gonna be in it a second night.!

I was hoping to get some insight from multi-dayer people who have come up with a system to manage this.

Is the answer a small towel to dry myself off with and an open faced bivi (nightmare in midge areas perhaps)? Waterproof / resistant sleeping bag?

Any advice greatly appreciated.
Cheers

In all honesty I think your main problem is the bivvy bag.

Have you considered ditching the bivvy bag and using a tarp/groundsheet ... possibly with the addition of something like a Borah gear bivvy bag if it's really nasty or the midges are out ?

Try not breathing.

Once your zipped in there's not a great deal of places the moisture in your breath can escape.
Breathable material can only deal with small amounts of moisture so I suspect your problem lies there.

I think Stu might have the solution.

I was kind of thinking along a similar route. Blaming the bivy.

Part of the problem is that when I am around, the midge are ALWAYS out. I get eaten alive and am unfortunate enough that it causes a large amount of swelling.

To swap bivvy bags I would need to go for one with 100% coverage even if some of this is mesh I guess. Then I suppose a tarp would keep the rain off. I always figured that a tarp would limit where you could pitch too as you would need things to hold it up.

Borah gear you say? I shall investigate.

Cheers.

looking at these bivvy's, am I right in saying, if it rains - the tarp is 100% essential.

I take it the non mesh parts are fully waterproof too?

I take it the non mesh parts are fully waterproof too?

Depends what material you go for, the silnylon version will be but you'll need to seal the seams for it to be 100% waterproof. I understand that M50 and M90 are highly water resistant but not fully waterproof ... not that my M50 has ever let water in.

A tarp shouldn't really limit your overnight options too much. With a little practice it's surprising what you can do with one, even a small one. Tarps also give you somewhere to sit and cook out of the rain.

I'll be investing in a second Borah bag in the new year but it'll be their 'bug bivvy' ... under a tarp it's all you really need, even if it's raining.

Thanks for the info. Even after looking for 20mins I'm almost convinced the standard borah and smallest tarp could work for me. They probably pack down smaller than a hooped bivi too.

I guess the tarp could be put up using bike parts without too much trouble. Then if its dry and warm, just dont bother with it!

Is there any others I should be looking at, uk based maybe

Is there any others I should be looking at, uk based maybe

I can't think of a UK produced bivvy bag that has netting ... the US are on the ball in this regard. John at Borah's very good, he'll make things to whatever size you like and 'help' with customs.

I'd advise getting the peg out loops on the bag if you order one and the extended zip's handy too.

cheers for that. I'm certainly looking at it.

I'm slightly put off by the fabric being not fully waterproof but like you say, you havnt seen an issue.

Also putting me if is the combo of bivi bag + Tarp + groundsheet, its getting towards just taking a tent. Although I know thats not always the point

If you've got a bivvy bag then you won't need a groundsheet. The base of the Borah's are sil' so fully waterproof.

If you've got a tarp and bivi bag you won't need the groundsheet.
Likewise in colder weather a tarp and groundsheet without the bivi bag when the midges are dormant.

s8tannorm wrote:

Is there any others I should be looking at, uk based maybe

I can't think of a UK produced bivvy bag that has netting ... the US are on the ball in this regard. John at Borah's very good, he'll make things to whatever size you like and 'help' with customs.

I'd advise getting the peg out loops on the bag if you order one and the extended zip's handy too.

Terra Nova Jupiter?

Terra Nova Jupiter?

It's another rather weighty hooped bivvy, granted it does have midge netting (as does a RAB Ridge Raider) but both weigh well over 800g and in the wrong/right conditions are like sleeping in a very damp coffin

Rab Ascent bivi
I have both the Rab and the Borah, the Rab hasn't been used since the Borah arrived.

I was looking at the ascent, its a whole bucket load heavier than the borah.

The only thing putting me off now is the waterproof-ness of the fabric. BUT.. enough of you are using it that I should probably stop worrying about it