I just found out about bivy sacks, what the fuck? I always thought bivy sacks were those emergency things that you wrap around you to survive until you get rescued. I didn't know they make ones that are pretty much just a body bag where you can go in and sleep for the night. I literally just spent $800 on a UL tent because I like being as minimalist as possible. These things just seem too perfect, what are some cons?
>>2868955The only con is you have no room on the inside like you do with a tent.
>>2868955If you really want to be minimalist just dont use a tent and bring a tarp if you need rain protectionCons of bivys; cant do anything in them, not a place to chill out of the rain, not good with heavy rain anyway as it will pool on you, no space for a bunch of stuff, and are colder and louder in heavy wind than a tentBivys really only have a couple uses; low profile for stealth camping, and in more serious mountaineering or for emergencies
>>2868959>>2868955I think it's worth distinguishing between waterproof bivies and bug bivies since they're pretty difference in their use case. The former have all the downside mentioned by >>2868959 and I hear condensation is also big problem. Pretty niche items as far as I can see.I've been thinking of getting a bug bivy though. You get much the same openness to the environment as cowboy camping but without the exposure to critters (of course, in areas where bug pressure is high you'll probably want a tent anyway - bivies don't offer a place to chill out of reach of insects anymore than they offer space to chill out of the rain). Not really that much lighter than an UL tent when you account for a tarp but faster to set up (at least on days where you don't need the tarp) and I've camped in a couple of spots recently where setting up my trekking pole tent was a major hassle but I didn't want to be sleeping in the open air.
>>2868992What if I want a winter bivy though? I wouldn't mind carrying around a -40 bag and a bivy.
>>2868955>I literally just spent $800 on a UL tent because I like being as minimalist as possible. These things just seem too perfect, what are some cons?Having no space is a big enough con to never want one if you ever hiked in non-perfect conditions. Condensation on the inside in winter also is terrible
>>2868993Then prepare to wake up damp from condensation I guess. Remember to find time during the day to unpack your sleeping bag so it can dry out before you need to use it again.
