Reader Reviews

Rating: 3 / 5

The Book of the Bivvy jumps about, but mainly covers two subjects: bivvy bags and hillwalking in the UK. Though I've found several books on hillwalking, this is currently the only book I know of focused on bivvy (bivy, bivouack, etc.) shelters.

On the topics covered, Turnbull gives some useful information in an amusing way. He makes clear the trade-off between masochism and freedom inherent in minimalist camping.

The organization is strange. The dialect and cultural references are sometimes difficult to follow. It could easily be titled "The Poetry of the Bivvy." Turnbull's personality mostly covers these oddities making it readable.

If I were planning a UK hillwalking trip, this would make it onto my shelf. As I don't currently have this plan, a brief reading of a copy obtained through Inter-library Loan is enough.

Rating: 3 / 5

Jeremy above is right in many ways - it is indeed more of a quirky idiosyncratic book that mixes poetry, psychology and anecdotal facts about bivy and the scottish highlands. In that light it could score a 4 or 4.5 - but for most people
(like me) that expect a technical how to about bivying this is below par. I agree that if you were to do UK based hikes (and i have and will do again) this becomes more relevant.
Havig said all that I believe that it is a must reading for people contemplating bivy use, especially as a standalone shelter (unlike most BPLers taht use it under tarp) since it indeed gives an insight into the psychology of bivying that seems to be more connected to mother nature and thus less of a "stable" "controlled" experience like tents are.

Rating: 5 / 5

NM

Edited by FamilyGuy on 10/31/2012 14:12:53 MDT.