Thread: Bivvy bags vs bivvy tents

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Ive tried bivvy bag and small early bivy tent and ended up sleeping with top half of body out in open..was just too cramed for my.... simple fly set up and also heavy old NZ Army sleeping bag cover does what I need it too..its amazing just how much warmer I sleep with the cover over top of bag.

Awesome as. Yeah she wasn’t too bad last April. But got a mate who had one of those Nz army bivvys and loves it. Sounds like that and tarp way to go.

Originally Posted by GSP HUNTER

Looks good Stocky. What bivvy bag are you running? Have a nz army one which weighs 1kg from memory. Bomb proof but heavy.

Where did ya manage to find one of them? Wouldn’t mind having a look!

Originally Posted by Ned

I've only tried this twice now. Handles condensation fine off the tarp. Not tried in rain yet.
NZ$ 34.63 30%OFF | 3f ul gear Tyvek sleeping bag cover liner waterproof Bivy Bag
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mr5OpBM


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I have one these to but time I get sleeping pad on the inside ( as I fine I just side off mat if on outside) & sleeping bag that it to tight & I'm only a small guy in & it very easy to put holes in it the dog did by walking on it other than that it did work good under a fly iv gone with the Outdoor research helium bivvy bag to & depending on weather if I use a tiny fly if it going be good but if looking avg I'll use a bigger fly

I think an Aussie style 'swag' is the best system but they are too big and heavy for anything except beside the truck camping. so making a 'swag' with the sleeping bag inside the bivy bag and a fly overtop like Stocky has done is probably the best solution. I use a lightweight reflective survival blanket as the fly after putting anchor points on it

Originally Posted by Maxie boy

Where did ya manage to find one of them? Wouldn’t mind having a look!

Hi mate. Picked up from a mate years back.
Made by the mac pac people. Serioysly slept in a thunderstorm in a puddle and came out toasty dry.
Good gear. Life saving in real crap and nasty conditions.

Originally Posted by Maxie boy

Where did ya manage to find one of them? Wouldn’t mind having a look!

There's one on TM at present - $180 currently so not cheap. I saw this listing you may be interested in: Macpac Bivy bag https://www.trademe.co.nz/3918582259

Originally Posted by JoelA

There's one on TM at present - $180 currently so not cheap. I saw this listing you may be interested in: Macpac Bivy bag https://www.trademe.co.nz/3918582259

Cheers Joel, a mate has one of these and reckons they’re awesome.

They are good. But I would put a fly over it as well. So you can cook a feed out of the rain.
Flies weigh next to nothing and can save alot of misery for such a light piece of kit.

I have one of the NZDF bivy bags in khaki. Good bit of kit. I have only used it once tho, I tend to go for the solo tent instead. Might be a go with a light fly though.

Found a NZDF bivvy on trade me! Going for that and a fly! Thanks for all the info team. Much appreciated.

Originally Posted by Maxie boy

Found a NZDF bivvy on trade me! Going for that and a fly! Thanks for all the info team. Much appreciated.

Nothing wrong with a nzdf biv, but having a 1kg waterproof bivy under an allready waterproof tarp seems a bit redundant to me and at that weight might as well just get a tent.

You really only need something that has enough cover to keep the bugs off and keep the splash back off your bag.

There are a heap of bivys around designed to be used in unison with a tarp. Borah gear bivy is what I use but there are heaps of similar options around.

I have a macpac bush cocoon that I love, can chuck the sleeping bag and mat in it, then stuff it in the bags compression sack. If the weather's fine then that's all I need.
Throw in a poncho, which always lives in my pack, and there's your fly for if the rain comes in.

Best thing about it is it has a little bug mesh in it, that's the only thing I can't deal with fly tenting, the bloody sandflies!