Hey all,
Does anyone bring a bivy on the AT? I dont mind being in tight spaces at all, probably wouldnt even use it that much considering I plan to SOBO and would have much easier access to shelters, and is obviously lighter than a tent. Has anyone used a bivy on the AT and how did they like it?
Restless
I have used a bivy for week long hikes with the addition of a light sylnylon tarp. The tarp gives you a place to pack up in the rain and the bivy protects from the bugs and adds 5 to 10 degrees to your bag. If you stay in a shelter it provides protection from bugs and mice running across your face. A big advantage is it doesn’t require much of a flat space to set up. I like using my bivy. Once it was a nice night so I set up the bivy without the tarp and during the night it poured. Its a wierd feeling having rain pound directly on your sleep system. You can feel every drop but I did not get wet at all. Some people report condensation problems which I have not experienced. The draw backs are getting in and out of it at night to do your business is a pain and because of the limited space you can’t sit up and read, eat, etc. That’s why I also bring the tarp.
Big B
I once owned a North Face bivy (a Dart)
that I thought was quite spiffy (at the start)
But found out too late
on one drenching date
that it was drier in the privy (drier than a fart)
I just made that up:lol
Kineo Kid
I once owned a North Face bivy (a Dart)
that I thought was quite spiffy (at the start)
But found out too late
on one drenching date
that it was drier in the privy (drier than a fart)
I just made that up
:lol
Kineo Kid
tip: if it uses tie-downs, bring 3 or 4 of those tiny screw hooks so you can set it up in the shelters.
hellkat
I’ve used nothing but a Bibler hooped bivy since 2001. On my AT hike I brought it and a homemade tarp for all the benefits mentioned by Big B. I’m small (5’5") enough so that I can read inside. And all my gear actually fits inside, too, it case of rain. I used it every night. 'Loved it.
Early Bird
IMO a bivy is an absolutely TERRIBLE stand-alone shelter. I would absolutely use it in conjunction with a tarp, or just use a tarp alone. I guarantee you’ll experience bad condensation problems at some point especially in cold weather, and if you have to wait out a storm or something it’s very boring. Very little room to move around and stretch out, and if you’re hiking with others, you can’t socialize all zipped up in your bivy. It’s also extremely difficult to avoid getting your gear soaked when setting up camp in a storm. Seriously, try this some point. Turn on a sprinkler, have a friend hold a hose or something and try to do all your normal camp stuff- unpack the bivy, cook up dinner, change out of your hiking clothes, etc. all without getting everything drenched. Tricky.
Another huge disadvantage is if you’re counting on your bivy for bug protection- if it’s very warm outside, a bivy is absolutely stiflingly hot. Ugh.
I used to use bivys (a lot), in all kinds of weather and conditions, and I hate them. A simple tarp is an infinitely better shelter in my experience.
Get a tarp, throw in a mesh sleep sack for bugs as needed. Light, simple, elegant.
I’ve used a Golite Lair 1 (12 oz.) for about 3,500 miles now, including the entire AT. Nice product.
That’s my $0.02.
nuts
When it comes to choosing your basic gear, I recommend a very long look at risk benefit analysis.
On the AT, shelter selection can be tricky. Most nights you’ll be able to find a spot in a shelter. Unfortunately, the nights when you’ll really want a place in the shelter: i.e. rainy nights, you’ll find the shelters fill up rather quickly in some parts.
So, my recommendation would be to choose a shelter that will be good for rainy nights. My personal choice was a ultralight one man tent. I’m considering a tarp for next time but I’m skeptical of the open design in windy, rainy weather, I’ve also heard that you have to set them up just right.
For me, I’d rather carry more weight and have a reliable shelter that I actually like. My tent and sleeping bag are two areas where I allow extra weight for comfort purposes.
jalan