What is the difference between a bivy and a sleeping bag

It appears in both the pros and the cons. See cons. I was able to put my Macpac 47L Rhyolite enough for 4 days inside the hood ie. This not only keeps your pack dry from frost and the elements, but keeps your food away from animals. The added benefit is that it keeps the fabric of the bivvy bag up off your face! Got a bug bear? I like to play dumb to insects eg.

I am generally happy to wipe a bit of repellent on my face and arms and then put in ear plugs to block out the rest. Privacy : Goodluck with that.

Which means that things like getting dressed, having a sponge bath and just taking time away from people can be tricky. Rain, rain, go away: The big downside to bivvies is having to setup and get everything inside AND change out of wet gear in the rain. Tent bound : So maybe the weather was fine as was the forecast when you set out, but imagine being tent bound, in horrendous weather… in only a bivvie. Not my idea of a great few days out. It would make cooking, reading, stretching and generally all that we tent-ers do to make being tent-bound living bearable… unbearable.

It was at Deep Pass, in the Blue Mountains, which is roughly a square metre bowl of an area, with a creek running through it, with dry canyons nearby. It will be interesting to see how it performs in more humid conditions. In the end, a mighty Biv is not for everyone. If you like your own space, privacy and the ability to move around with freedom, sealed within a mozzie proof shell — then stick to a tent.

Caro is a Macpac Ambassador. Nonetheless some designs are easier to erect than others. A shape to deflect wind and allow rain to run off is important. And the smaller the footprint — including the space for guy ropes — the more improvised campsites you can utilise. Some tents save weight by assuming that you have one or two trekking poles to use for support; factor that in if you don't normally carry poles.

The less features on a bivvy bag the better in the opinion of most experienced users I've consulted, myself included. Closure of the mouth can be Velcro, zip, drawstring or in some cases a capacious overlapping hood. In most situations the only welcome extra feature can be a closable insect proof mesh panel across the bag's mouth. However, a small pocket near the opening to put a torch or other items you need to find easily in the dark can also be useful.

Some bags are constructed with a sturdier, fully waterproof but non-breathable bottom and a breathable upper; this can make them more robust and help water resistance on wet or rough ground. A loop tag on the top edge of the bag's mouth can be used to tie it up to a tree branch and get more airflow. Bags come in all colours; if you're primarily going to be using one for low-impact and hide-away sleeping then green makes the most sense; if intended as a back-up or emergency shelter then a bright colour — red or orange — is better in a rescue situation.

Keep your bivvy bag simple and add versatility by carrying a light tarp or tarp-poncho as added shelter. Tents are likely to be used for eating, reading and other non-sleeping activities, especially in bad weather and so can benefit from hooks to hold a torch overhead and kit pockets to keep essential items to hand.

The ability to pitch a tent flysheet first is better if likely to be done in rain or high winds, and a design that allows you to take and pitch just the flysheet without carrying the inner can save weight and add versatility. Well-placed vents help alleviate condensation. As with bivvy bags, choose a colour based on whether you want to be seen or would rather blend in. The latter — less visual pollution — is also a consideration when it comes to others' enjoyment of the outdoors. You'll spend less on a bivvy bag and tarp system than on a tent, and there's a sweet spot above which you don't get many bivvy bag benefits for extra dosh.

Most experienced bivvy bag campers have worked their way up from the ubiquitous orange plastic bag via cheaper breathable bags to something top end. On the other hand, quality in lightweight tents is usually cost-related. Understandably so, as there's greater complexity in the design and manufacture and more expensive materials. Do your research and then within reason pay the price for the tent that suits your needs; a tent that gets used a lot, and stands up to that use, is a better investment than something that gets left in the back of the cupboard or worse, dumped in landfill.

The pluses of bivvy bags are cheapness, simplicity, versatility, the ability to roll one out and sleep anywhere, and lightness. They need a certain amount of know-how to use in bad weather or on long trips. Add in a tarp or a dual function poncho-tarp and you raise the functionality hugely, though you also up the weight penalty, as well as needing to learn new bushcraft skills. And in a bivvy, you're really sleeping 'outside' — that's the feeling that most bivvy bag campers count as one of their greatest attractions.

The minuses of bivvy bags are their restricted dimensions — they really are just a covering for your bag. They are claustrophobic when closed or sealed, and there's often condensation even with good breathable fabrics.

They are challenging — or just plain depressing - if used day after day in poor or marginal weather. They can be hot and damp on warm nights, when breathability is compromised. Getting in and out of the bivvy bag in bad weather can easily soak your clothes and your sleeping bag unless well managed.

Tents are a weatherproof and considerably more comfortable option if sited well, and offer enough roominess to at least sit up to read, eat and even change clothing in the dry.

An insect proof inner tent can bring fabulous relief from mosquitoes and black fly in many locations, and you can keep most of your kit inside in the dry. A tent can form a base camp for day trips in and out. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser.

For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. A bivy sack or bivy shelter is a bit of a riddle—both sleeping bag and tent, and at the same time not truly either of those things. At its most basic, a bivy is a personal shelter for backcountry hikers, climber or skiers who are more concerned with their objective than they are with spending relaxed time in a tent. Outdoor Research offers a full range of bivys for varied adventures.

Just remember that when you shop for one, there will always be a trade-off between features and weight. So when you are in the market for a bivy, first decide whether you need a full shelter or simply a rain fly for your sleeping bag.