Quote:
Are there REALLY this many people on this forum using bivys & tarps?

Why not a lighter, well ventilated 1 person single wall tarp/tent shelter W/ sewn-in floor?
To me bivys are for winter use in snow shelters. The only bivy material I'd consider is eVent. Everything else, even the best Gore-Tex, has too much condensation, especially for down bags.



Eric,

I think many of the ultralighters using a "bivy" are using what you might call a sleeping bag cover -- not a true mountaineering waterproof bivy sack. These UL bivies have a waterproof bottom made (usually) of sil-nylon, and a breatheable nylon top, often with a large mesh panel for ventilation. They are *not* waterproof and must be used under a tarp in bad weather. Goretex need not apply <g>.

So why bother? The bivy adds warmth and excellent wind and water resistance to the bag, allowing a smaller tarp and/or worse weather. The mesh bug netting keeps the bugs out.

Sure, I could get a Tarptent Contrail for the same weight (24 oz) as my bivy and tarp combo. But I like the combo for the versatility and the space. I can use the bivy by itself cowboy camping, or in an AT shelter in the summer, when the bugs would otherwise drive me nuts. Add the tarp in rainy or cold weather, and I get large amounts of covered space for myself, my gear, cooking, eating, sleeping, etc.

Here are two photos:

http://tinyurl.com/33nw6a

http://tinyurl.com/32duop

and a link:

http://tinyurl.com/2gqmew


Hope this helps clarify things.

--Ken
_________________________
--Ken B