Winter Bivy Thread

[woodstrider]

Winter bivy bags

Here's my two cent- worth just that...worst to best

Tried a waterproof vapor barrier - on the outside- my sleeping bag inside for a winter overnight. Woke up with the outside of my sleeping bag wet due to condensation.

Tried a water-repellent sleeping bag cover on several trips in the summer and in the winter. It was OK.

Tried a Bibler bivy shelter. I'm short so all of my stuff fit inside with me- including the sleeping pad.
Used in the summer- like sleeping in a zip lock bag- way too hot.
Used in the fall when it rained gently all night. Worked well.
Used in the winter on Giant and it snow all night. Worked well- though everyone else in the group thought that I was nuts and sure not to survive the night.

But for multi-day trips I would prefer the convenience of a tent.

 

[Raven]

I was just curious to find out what bivy (or other winter shelter) Raven selected and how it worked out.

Hey Swamp,

Thanks for asking - I found a slightly used Black Diamond Winter Bivy that I'll be trying out at some convenient time in the next month or so. Hasn't even arrived yet. Based on what I'd be using it for, it seemed like it would be a good fit for me. It seems light and packable enough to carry as an emergency shelter as well. Most of my hikes are solo, so carrying my 4-season tent alone is less than appealing. I hope this gives me a better option and some flexibility especially for some longer distance winter trips. I'll post my thoughts after I've had a chance to test it out and will let you know.

 

[TomD]

Raven, I think I have what you have. Mine is the Bibler Winter Bivy made out of Epic. it is black. It is nothing more than a bag with cross zipper on it-no hooped pole, no nothing, just a bag. It weighs 8 oz. BD has a replacement for it called the Twilight. It is a lime green color and is made from something called Nanoshield, whatever that is.

BD bought Bibler a few years ago, in case anyone didn't know.

I haven't used mine in storm conditions, just in my tent and one time outside in clear weather. I just use it to keep my down bag dry. The cross zip is a pain to get in and out of, but for what it is, it works okay. I'd get a hooped bivy if I thought I'd be out in one a lot, that or a really lightweight tent with more room.

 

[Raven]

Raven, I think I have what you have. Mine is the Bibler Winter Bivy made out of Epic. it is black. It is nothing more than a bag with cross zipper on it-no hooped pole, no nothing, just a bag. It weighs 8 oz. BD has a replacement for it called the Twilight. It is a lime green color and is made from something called Nanoshield, whatever that is.

BD bought Bibler a few years ago, in case anyone didn't know.

I haven't used mine in storm conditions, just in my tent and one time outside in clear weather. I just use it to keep my down bag dry. The cross zip is a pain to get in and out of, but for what it is, it works okay. I'd get a hooped bivy if I thought I'd be out in one a lot, that or a really lightweight tent with more room.

Thanks Tom - sounds like it's the same one. Definitely no frills. I have a relatively good winter sleeping bag (North Face Dark Star) and will most likely use the bivy sack simply for some extra layering and of course some protection from the elements. The first use will probably be inside a 3-sided lean-to and anything I do out in the open (planned anyway) will be when no rain is predicted. It'll be fun to try out anyway! It's always tough to find that balance between weight, size, and options, isn't it? Happy Trails.

 

[TomD]

Raven, you may find the Winter Bivy a bit of a tight fit for a big winter bag. I think they should have made it a big wider. The other thing is that since it doesn't have any mesh on it, you probably won't want to zip it all the way shut, so you can breathe without getting condensation in it.

 

[Raven]

Raven, you may find the Winter Bivy a bit of a tight fit for a big winter bag. I think they should have made it a big wider. The other thing is that since it doesn't have any mesh on it, you probably won't want to zip it all the way shut, so you can breathe without getting condensation in it.

Thanks Tom - I imagine I won't zip it all the way unless necessary. I get a little "tight" even just when mummied up too much in the sleeping bag. I'm interested to see how well the winter bag fits - hopefully enough room but if not, I'll have a bivy sack for sale and will keep looking.

 

[TomD]

Raven, I had my 20F down bag and an MEC overbag stuffed into mine. What is a pain is climbing into the thing, then trying to zip up the side zips on the two bags. With just one bag, it is much easier. However, I think that in an emergency, that won't matter as much as just keeping dry.

My suggestion is practice with it at home, which I didn't do before using it for the first time in my tent. The big benefit of course is that it weighs virtually nothing and packs up to the size of a Nalgene bottle.

I know I'm making it sound like a bad purchase, but for what it is, far from it. I got mine used off a member on another site I belong to, so it was a bargain.

I looked at a bigger, hoop style bivy at REI-whatever their house brand is. Given that the bigger bivies weigh about as much as some superlight tents, like a SixMoonDesigns Lunar 1, I just can't see myself cooped up in one in the rain. I used to have a SD Flashlight-the little two person tent. Even that felt tight with just me and my gear for a few days in the rain. With two of us on one occasion, it was cramped.

I understand the theory behind using a bivy-quick and easy to set up, won't blow down in a storm, etc., but unless it really was an emergency, I just can't see one as my only shelter.

 

[Raven]

Raven, I had my 20F down bag and an MEC overbag stuffed into mine. What is a pain is climbing into the thing, then trying to zip up the side zips on the two bags. With just one bag, it is much easier. However, I think that in an emergency, that won't matter as much as just keeping dry.

My suggestion is practice with it at home, which I didn't do before using it for the first time in my tent. The big benefit of course is that it weighs virtually nothing and packs up to the size of a Nalgene bottle.

I know I'm making it sound like a bad purchase, but for what it is, far from it. I got mine used off a member on another site I belong to, so it was a bargain.

I looked at a bigger, hoop style bivy at REI-whatever their house brand is. Given that the bigger bivies weigh about as much as some superlight tents, like a SixMoonDesigns Lunar 1, I just can't see myself cooped up in one in the rain. I used to have a SD Flashlight-the little two person tent. Even that felt tight with just me and my gear for a few days in the rain. With two of us on one occasion, it was cramped.

I understand the theory behind using a bivy-quick and easy to set up, won't blow down in a storm, etc., but unless it really was an emergency, I just can't see one as my only shelter.

Tom - I'll bet it is tough to get into, especially cold and tired. I'll have just the one bag so that should make it a bit easier but it is puffy. I'll absolutely try it out in the warm comfort of my living room first, then I may pick a cold night to spend on the deck. I'll be holding off on any snow caves.

I have an SD Clip Flashlight as well. I Loved it for what it was. I carried it on an AT thru-hike 10 years ago for maybe a few hundred miles through some of the winter part of the of the trip (Dec/Jan maybe?). I can't see a hooped, heavier bivy sack being a good fit for what I need either. I'd go lightweight tent at that point I think. I had a partner splitting weight with me, and being a light tent, this worked well. She and I didn't mind being a little cramped sometimes (but not all the time! )

Thanks for all the thoughts.

 

[TomD]

Scott, I had the old Flashlight before the Clip version. I took it bike touring in New Zealand in the mid 80's. A venerable design. Two of us were in it in a bad storm at a campground and the manager took pity on us and got us one of the little cabins he had.

Off topic, but btw, if you ever go down there, many of the campgrounds have little cabins-they are different shapes, but my favorites were a tiny A frame design. You could probably set one up in a one car garage, they are that small and they had either two beds or two bunk beds and a small table.

Back to the bivy- There are a couple of ways to get into it -if you stuff your bag into it, zip up the bag most of the way so the zipper is easy to get at. Fluff up the bag, then climb into it. Another way is to get into your bag then raise your feet and pull the bivy up over it, scrunch it up over your butt, then pull up the rest of it over the top of your bag, almost like putting a big sock on it. It won't take long to figure out which you prefer.

 

[Raven]

OKay, so at long last I tried out the Black Diamond Winter Bivy Sack. I spent Wednesday night at Guyot shelter after a trip over the bonds. Here's what I found:

1. It definitely added some warmth and I believe maybe some extra hours of warmth. But to be fair, it may not have dropped below zero at the shelter and I have a warm winter bag. I've slept with just the bag on some cold nights - this was better.

2. I got some condensation between bags but not alot. I did not zip the bivy sack completely up over my head. No need this time.

3. I did not try it directly on the snow this time so can't speak to this yet.

4. I put my bag inside the bivy sack first then climbed into the sleeping bag. I didn't have a problem doing it this way and found the sack was wide enough for my bag/preference.

5. I would not want to have to use it in wet conditions.

Overall, I like it. It will do just what I need it to which is add some warmth to my bag and give me the security of knowing I can drop and sleep wherever I am with the bivy sack and bag. It's not a tent and I wouldn't claim it will replace one but for the purposes I need, I think it will be great.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

 

[TomD]

Scott, sounds like it worked for you. Good to hear.