| Solo shelter systems like the bivvy has evolved | | | | - Armholes on the side that allow for cooking |
| considerably with the growing sophistication of | | | | while staying warm and protected inside the bivvy |
| ultralight camping. There are a variety of choices | | | | - Full length zippers for easy ventilation |
| and designs available to anyone determined to | | | | - Factory sealed seams |
| keep their loads as light as possible. | | | | - Included stuff sack |
| The main function of a bivvy is to keep the | | | | - Straps for securing sleeping bag in place |
| user's sleeping bag dry and to increase the | | | | - Integrated camping sleeping pads |
| warming capacity by at least 10 degrees. Bivvies | | | | Bivvy Tent |
| are for people who travel solo in the backcountry, | | | | There's also something called the bivvy tent or |
| are on hiking trips that take longer than a day to | | | | bivvy shelter which is a modification of the original |
| complete, camp during long-distance biking trips, | | | | bivvy sack to have tentlike characteristics for an |
| want to shed as much weight as possible and | | | | extra pound or so. This adds two features not |
| don't mind sleeping in limited spaces. They're | | | | available with tradional bivvies - a full enclosure to |
| perfect for summer ultralight backpacking. | | | | block out bad weather and insects and an |
| Bivvy Sack | | | | expanded area of shielded headspace. |
| The bivvy sack was originally made for climbers | | | | Bivvy tents are very popular with ultralight |
| who wanted an emergency shelter to protect | | | | backpackers. They usually have mesh panels and |
| themselves from the weather on multiple-day | | | | some poles that lift the fabric off the face and |
| climbs on big walls. Bivvy is short for bivouac sack | | | | body. You can get yourself fully enclosed and shut |
| and sometimes "bivvy" is spelled with only one "v" | | | | out bugs and rain with this type of bivvy. |
| i.e. "bivy". They look like a sleeping bag modified as | | | | Bivvy Inspired One-man Tent |
| a shelter. | | | | Then there's the bivvy-inspired one man tent like |
| In fact, early bivvies were only a single layer of | | | | Kelty Clark Tent, NEMO Gogo and The North |
| waterproof fabric designed as a slipcover for | | | | Face Solo 12 Tent. This type of tent can weigh |
| sleeping bags to keep them protected from the | | | | as little as 2 pounds 8 ounces. Standard bivvies |
| rain. The biggest problem with bivvies in the old | | | | weigh about 2 pound or less but the bivvy |
| days was condensation due to poor ventilation of | | | | inspired tent has more room for sitting and |
| body heat. | | | | general comfort. This type of one-tent is the main |
| The modern bivvy normally involves Gore-Tex or | | | | choice for recreational explorers. |
| other breatheable material as the inner shell and | | | | The bivvy is unfortunately for for everyone. |
| commonly a durable nylon coated with urethane | | | | Although it is a good option for ultralight |
| for waterproofing for the outer layer. | | | | backpacking, not everyone is comfortable with |
| However, the bivvy is still in need of a opening | | | | the limited space. If space is an issue for you and |
| for breathing but when the rain falls some water | | | | you don't mind the joys of sharing then go for a |
| can potential leak into the sack through the | | | | dome tent. It's a lot heavier but you can share it |
| unprotected opening. You can minimize this risk by | | | | between few people. Other members of the |
| pulling the headhole's drawstring snugly. | | | | groups would have to carry some of the gear of |
| Some things you might want to consider when | | | | the guy who's carrying the tent. |
| choosing bivvy sacks: | | | | |