flexible pole for Bivy

I have a bivy sack that is large. I would like to make a hoop of some kind to hold it off of my face. It would have to be flexible like a fishing pool or something. Any DIY ideas for this pole. Perhaps 36 to 42" long? I will do the sewing for tabs on the sack.

I would think an old tent pole would be your best bet because then it would break down into smaller lengths. A 1/4 inch fiber glass or aluminum tent pole would be about right.

I think you can get a 1/4" fiberglass pole made to your specs for $10-15 at https://tentpoletechnologies.com/

Shipping might double the cost

I bought one from them once for a cheap Ikea kids tent. My kids loved the tent but destroyed the plastic poles it came with in a week. I was very happy with the poles I got. They lasted longer than the tent.

An old fishing pole would give your tent an asymmetric curve as the handle is much stiffer than the tip. A fiberglass strip might be more flexible than a rod, but I can't think of a good cheap source plus packing it would be difficult.

If you want a nice hemisphere shape, the length of the pole is 1.57 (pi/2) times the width of the bivy.

You could salvage the springy metal from a mesh laundry hamper or car sun shade (example linked below).

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Mesh-Pop-Up-Laundry-Hamper-White/136878840?athbdg=L1102

Lowe's and Home Depot sell fiberglass poles for marking the edges of driveways and sidewalks here in snow country. But they are pretty stiff (and heavy), I don't think they would well for a bivvy.

Years ago I made one using "music wire"
from the hardware store. I think it was .078",
but I'm not sure. It worked, but I had to fiddle around
making ferrules with tubing and epoxy.

On a different bivy, I just sewed a pullout loop
at the top of the hood and tied it up to
a handy tree or whatever. I never used that one
in rain, so not sure how it would work.

Tap Plastics is another source for rods and carbon fiber tubing.

It might be worth grabbing a couple of thrift store fishing poles or kids poles you could cut to length and test the concept. Maybe two poles clipped at the apex? The eyes on the poles might be handy for clipping to the bivy.

It might be tricky to stake down the bottom ends, but I'm sure you'll find a simple way.

Excellent idea. I'll be looking for that at the GoodWill.

Excellent Idea. Thank you.