Bivy Bag Camping? 10 Reasons Why

The bivy bag is a minimalist backpacking shelter, sometimes seen as only for the 1 percent strongest individuals. That's not necessarily true and in this video I give 10 reasons why I prefer a bivy bag over a tent.

[aaronfuentes]

NAILED IT! No setup, no stakes, no campsite needed. Modular system while still working independently. unzip a face hole for fresh air & scenery. LOVE.

[samanthatheriot]

VERY HELPFUL !!! Thanks. I've just got my first bivy bag after starting with a small 2 person tent, down to a lightweight cycling ten, now to try a bivy bag. I'm so excited and after watching your video I feel more confident I can do this 😊 thanks again

[staffflag]

Great idea for Bikepacking ... thanks for the suggestion.

[darryllzwiers]

I like to pair mine with a synthetic bag to deal with condensation but have used dwr down. I tested my rab storm bivi last night on the back lawn as I haven't wild camped in a few years. Was out in -1c and slept so well I forgot I was outside.

[shermer]

I love your comment about being tall! I’m 1.92 metres and almost no tents fit me, and if they do it’s only just. Bivvies work great for me as well, as do tarps but I have to use a ridiculously large one!

[JamiedoesWildBikepacking]

Great informative vid. I find I sleep much better in a bivi, think it’s the fresh air over using a tent. I use a Snug pack special forces and find I can use it in the smallest of spots as you say for stealthy camps. All the best

[hooptroopers]

Hey great video! I am wondering, there is a tarp called Rab Siltarp 2 which is big enough for two people and they managed to cut the weight to weigh 400g. Other than the added weight of the tent pegs and the time to set it up, I am trying to figure out if there is a good reason for me to pick a 400g Snugpak bivvy instead?

Edit: I also got some more questions if OK with you. Do you put the airpad inside the bivvy or underneath it? Do you reckon it could work well to use two systems: bivvy in combination with a tarp to trap heat in the mountains or is that overkill? Also, do you put a groundsheet like tyvek or closed cell foam under it to protect the air mattress and bivvy?

[erlendhansen]

Great stuff. I have a small bivybag, more as a ekstra layer outside the sleeeping bag. It is great for good weather conditions as a backup if the rain is surprisingly coming. Bring av poncho or tarp your head will be dry. It is never wrong to bring a poncho according to temperature anyhow. But if the weather is fine this sleeping system gives a great feeling of freedom. The bivybag protects the sleeping bag from gretting holes and dirt. Protect my face by having a bugnet over my head.

[jeffreycarman]

I made a bivy bag out of tyvek. I think I made it a bit too small though so it does not allow my sleeping bag to reach maximum loft, so it is pretty cold to sleep in. I also opted to not have it be fully-enclosed, but instead I have a small tarp I put over the head. I have only slept it the bivy on a couple of nights in no rain and it was much easier to make (and later break) camp. The downside of the bivy bag is that I felt much more exposed sleeping in it, compared to a tent. On one of the trips I was sleeping in my bivy when, in the middle of the night two deer came charging by me. They passed by within what seemed like about ten feet of me. Needless to say I didn’t get any more sleep until the sun came up.

[AAA]

How's your experience with condensation?

[iantieman]

What do you do with your backpack when it's raining at night? I typically keep it under the rainfly outside the door of my tent

[cubgsan]

Good day to you!
I am HONDA Cross Cub senior rider from Japan.
Enjoying touring, camping and video editing.
It is great video !
So nice !
Have a nice day my friend !!

[jimf]

Have you ever used a goretex bag? How is the condensation? I’m waiting a delivery of a milsurp one, and don’t plan on using it more than one night at a time unless I can dry it out.

[lilroddy]

Do you ever have issues getting in and out during heavy rain while keeping your sleeping pad and bag/quilt dry?

[chrishogue]

Great video, I might try bivy camping now that I’ve seen this.
Thanks !

[Dan-rmum]

Do you feel at all restricted by the bivy you use at 6'5"? I'm an inch taller than you and had to return my Military Sleep System because it wasn't long enough.

[StephaneArcher]

How do you avoid the condensation with a Bivy Bag?

[Mat-eqmk]

For me, there are only two types of camping. With a rock solid tent that weighs a couple of lbs and takes a while to set up, or a bivy.

[zulufoxx]

Nice job! Well done!

I'm too old to sleep on the ground...A hammock for me!

[dwaynerobertson]

Excellent video. I use a 10X10 tarp instead of a tent, and I love the configuration options that a tarp provides, but this option is also awesome. Sometimes take take bivy and the tarp, sometimes just the bivy and a wool blanket. You made very sensible points in this video, and I think I am going to do my next weekend trek with just the bivy and blanket for shelter. I always carry a rain poncho as well, and those two together would offer great protection from the elements while minimizing the weight. My tarp weighs a bit over 5 lbs. Looking forward to this! Cheers man!!