How To Use A Bivy Sack

A bivy sack is a lightweight, extremely small, tent-like shelter that is often used by ultralight backpacking enthusiasts as an alternative to heavier traditional camping tents. The bivy sack appeals to the minimalist minded outdoorsman, offering the bare minimum in protection from the elements, and providing a significant reduction in overall camping gear weight.

Recent developments in bivy sack technology has taken these shelters from glorified waterproof sleeping bags covers to a complete breathable fabric system, complete with GoreTex materials and vestibules or screens from traditional tent systems. Bivy sacks also come in handy in areas where there is simply not enough room to pitch a tent, such as mountaineering expeditions where adventurers are often camped out on ledges with little flat surface to work with.

Since traditional bivy sacks are so simplistic in design, there is not a large learning curve to using them. Simply roll out, get in and sleep. The biggest adjustments comes with getting used to sleeping in a more "outdoor" setting, rather than in a tent, and this may be an acquired taste which takes some time to get used to. However, if you're goal is weight reduction on your next backpacking trip, a bivy sack may very well be the right option for you.

A few modern bivy sack designs offer some structural elements in the form of small tent poles around the area covering the face. These too are rather easy to use and are designed for quick and easy setup. An example of this can be seen in the video to the right.

When using a bivy sack, you'll want to consider the following recommendations:

• Choose the spot to place your bivy sack carefully, on high flat ground cleared of sticks, rocks and other debris.
• Slip your sleeping bag inside the bivy sack with the head hole appropriately aligned with the opening of the bivy sack. Some bivy sacks will include straps to secure the sleeping back to the sack - use these as necessary.
• Some bivy sacks will include extensions, screens or raised coverings, which should be fully extended to take advantage of the shelter's protective elements.
• It is crucially important to limit the moisture you bring into the bivy sack by ensuring you are not sweaty and your clothes are not damp when you enter the sleeping bag. If your clothes are wet, leave them hung outside in an area where they can dry, or in a plastic bag.
• It is critically important to be aware of ventilation while sleeping in a bivy sack. Ensure that air can circulate around your face so that carbon dioxide does not build up inside your bivy sack. Your breath will also build up moisture if you breathe inside the bivy sack, which should also be avoided.
• Finally, as some bivy sacks can be used with either side down, you'll want to make sure you always place the same side on the ground. This will ensure that as your bivy sack wears only one surface side will be damaged, and preventing top-side hole from letting in moisture and rain.

Even if you're not an ultralight backpacking enthusiast, you may be interested in having a bivy sack on hand as an emergency shelter backup. If you're on a day-hike and don't make it back to the trail head as soon as you thought you would, need a quick escape from the rain, or lose your way, a bivy shelter is a lightweight easy way to keep out of the elements.

If you're on a single-night outing and don't want to mess with the trouble of packing and setting up a full tent, a bivy sack is an easy alternative. While you sacrifice comfort and some of the luxuries of larger shelters, you may find that the ease and lightweight nature of bivy sacks works in your favor.

So, whether you're pursuing an ultralight backpacking experience, trying to shed a few backpack pounds, or need to have an just-in-case backup shelter plan in place, a lightweight bivy sack is a necessary addition to your camping gear supply set.