Does anyone use just a bivy for a shelter? Are there light bivies that will handle rain and bad weather, something to be used without a tarp?

This question comes up about once a week.

I think the consensus feels that an ultralight breathable, water resistant(not waterproof) bivy paired with a small ultralight tarp. Is lighter, more comfortably, drier and more flexible than even the most breathable waterproof bivy.

How would you feel in that bivy when you have to pee, or when it's time to get going in the morning and it's raining? How about on the second straight night like that? My worst night camping was in a bivy, and that wasn't the night a mountain lion kept coming back within 15 feet of me all night long.

I think in rain it would be miserable and a pain in the butt to keep things dry when packing. I was just wondering what was out there because a friend of mine is thinking about just using a bivy to save weight and money. And if a huge kitty cat was coming to see me every fifteen minutes at night I would throw out my roll of tp for it to play with while I got out of there...lol

I've used to use the Integral Designs Salathe as a stand alone for several years before switching over to a lighter bivy/tarp setup.


As a stand alone.

-It's doable, much easier with a synthetic sleeping bag than a down bag, since a wet backpack, wet clothes and everything else is going to be in the bivy with you.

-It's surprisingly warm inside the Salathe, the Todd-tex on the Salathe does a great job with wind blocking, breathability and water-proofness.

-It sucks being stuck in long storms

-Mobility is great, able to sleep just about anywhere, stealth camping is super easy.

-The Salathe is great in the fact I can "wear" it sitting up, I can cook and eat in it. This is actually great on climbing trips.

-Needing to go pee is a pain. @Eugene's question, consecutive nights of unpleasant weather is ok, fine with a synthetic sleeping bag, but with down one, nerve-wracking and not pleasant.

-Inviting wanted guests is not pleasant and having uninvited guests is even more unpleasant.

-Seam Seal will be your best friend.

-For the same amount of weight for a stand alone bivy, a tarp/breathable bivy is usually about the same weight if not lighter (my tarp/bivy set up is a 1 lb lighter than my Salathe)



If I am climbing or Big Walling, the Salathe comes, it's robust, tough, and ideal for tight quarters, for everything else, the lighter tarp/breathable bivy setup.

Edited by LithiumMetalman on 06/09/2011 16:14:39 MDT.