Solo shelter systems are becoming more popular these days, with more people heading out on trips by themselves and with the popularity of ultra light camping. There are plenty of designs and choices you can make to keep your load as light as possible. Bivy sacks will be the main staple of any person who decides on an ultra light solo shelter system.
The primary purpose of a bivy sack is to ensure the user’s sleeping back stays completely dry and the move the warming capacity up by 10 degrees. Bivvies are really for people who like to travel alone in the back country, or participate on long hiking trips that last more than a day. Even some backpackers who want to save money on hotel rooms can find a use for a bivvy sack. If you don’t mind sleeping in a limited space and/or want to lighten your hiking load as much as possible, consider looking at getting bivy sack.
The bivvy sack was first made for climbers who needed some means of an emergency shelter for multi day climbs. Bivvy sacks are short for bivouac sack. Bivvy sacks are also spelled as Bivy sacks. I
In the early years, bivy sacks were only a single layer of waterproof fabric that were designed to fit over sleeping bags to keep them dry from the rain. However, there a problem with condensation because of poor ventilation of a person’s body heat.
The new versions of bivy sacks are a different matter. They are usually crafted from Gore-Tex and other specially breathable materials. You do need an opening to breathe from. When it rains some water can still get through the breath hole. This can be reduced by pulling the string that surrounds the breathing hole tighter.
If you are looking for a bivy sack, you will want to look at the following things:
- Armholes that allow you to cook food while still staying warm inside your bivy.
- Full length zippers to allow for more breathing room
- Special factory sealed seams
- Straps that secure bivy sack in place
- Pads to help soften the hard ground
The bivvy sack is not something that everyone can use. The bottom line is that you are pretty cramped inside a bivy and if you suffer from claustrophobia, you will have a lot of problems trying to sleep inside a bivy sack. But for those who enjoy the outdoors and love to hike multi day trips while carrying light, a bivvy sack is a must.