So, I got a trip coming up the week after the 4th of July and thinking about using just a SOL Escape Bivvy on top of a sleeping mat inside tent. I'll be layering if I feel the need for it at night and maybe even laying an emergency blanket or reflectix sheet under the pad. Has anyone tried something like this in the summer in the BWCA ? OR any other alternatives/ideas with just a bivvy ?

Haven't felt the need to go that route since there are tents that come close to bivy weight anyway. That being said, if I WERE to go that route, I think that I would instead use my bag on pad, on ground sheet, under tarp and use a Adventure 16 Bug Bivy . Most bags have a DWR coating to resist moisture from splash, and if the tarp is slung low enough that should be all you would need.

I would not count on just a bivy sack and an emergency blanket for sleeping. Not enough insulation. You need a sleeping bag or quilt even if it's a light weight one.

I would also take a tarp to sleep under. The alternative is to sleep in the rain all button up (which may be very hot) and letting said rain in when you have to get out of the sack.

I've done bivy sack camping in the Fall and Winter. Even in those climates I prefer to have a tarp over me.

Thanks for replying. Guess I should have worded my subject line and statement better. I meant to say, I want to use a bivvy in place of a sleeping bag inside a tent.

quote shinythings: "Thanks for replying. Guess I should have worded my subject line and statement better. I meant to say, I want to use a bivvy in place of a sleeping bag inside a tent. "

So, do you plan to test this set-up first? I would recommend a back up plan if not.
Your results may vary.

quote Doughboy12: So, do you plan to test this set-up first? I would recommend a back up plan if not.
Your results may vary."

Yes I will be doing an overnighter at a local state park before my trip but was just wondering if anyone else have tried this in the bdubs?

I remember one early August night in the Bdub when it got so cold that I crawled into a bivvy INSIDE my sleeping bag. It worked.

I like to bring a polartec blanket, or insulated puffy jacket, instead of a sleeping bag in the summer. Just one or the other seems ok into the high 50's, and both combined are ok into the high 40's. Works when it's dry out. But I think if it rains, without a sleeping bag or quilt with insulation, you'll generally be too cold in BWCA. But worth a try.

I guess I would just use my sleeping bag. My summer bag weighs less than 2 lbs. I've camped in the BWCA in August numerous times and some evenings can get chilly. I suppose you could wear more layers of clothing if it's cold. Are you considering this in order to reduce weight?

Does not sound like a good idea to me. I think it would be uncomfortable and noisy. If weight and packed size is your main concern, two suggestions:

1) Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2 tent weights 4 lbs 12 oz and can often be found for around $100.

2) On short trips when the nights are predicted to be very warm and humid, I sometimes take just a light two-sided-cotton quilt that is quite narrow and short (throw size). Very light and rolls up into a small bundle. A fleece blanket might also do the job. This would probably only be sufficient down to 60 degrees.

Beyond that you need a sleeping bag. I don't bother with summer bags because they work in such a narrow temperature range, you don't need to be zipped in and surrounded on all four sides on a warm night, and a fleece blanket is just as good and cheaper. When the temperature is below 60 I recommend a 35-degree bag for summer and fall.

I own a bivvy that I've used winter camping (both in a tent for extra warmth and outside of the tent as my primary shelter). There is no way I would take it in place of a sleeping bag in any season.

My question to you would be why? I don't see any advantage other than perhaps weight savings, but fankly the extra clothing you would have to wear would more than offset the weight savings. A bivvy isn't going to give you any insulative effect without extra clothing and I think the overall experience of having more clothing on in a bivvy would be much more uncomfortable than a sleeping bag.

So I just clicked through on the link to the product and it's still something I wouldn't personally do. While it says it's breathable I think that you would probably sweat a lot with all the reflective insulation. It's really just a fancy emergency blanket that's probably best used for its intended purpose.

Thanks everyone for replying. Yes I am doing this to save on bulk and weight as well as something different to try. All my layering clothes are very light polypro/nylon stuff. I'm a warm/hot sleeper. I'll be going on an overnight at the end of this month to try this at a local state park. Thanks again everyone !

quote shinythings: "Thanks everyone for replying. Yes I am doing this to save on bulk and weight as well as something different to try. All my layering clothes are very light polypro/nylon stuff. I'm a warm/hot sleeper. I'll be going on an overnight at the end of this month to try this at a local state park. Thanks again everyone !"

Good luck and please please please report back...we are all waiting to hear how it goes. Good, bad or indifferent we want to hear your results!

A bivy is meant to protect from weather. If you are in a tent, no need for that, noisy and breath-ability issues and comfort/warmth? I think a 45 degree bag would provide what you need and if you hunt, they are out there in the one pound range and cheep.

What I have not seen mentioned is a bag liner. Those are very comfortable, light, cheep and if you are a warm sleeper, should do the trick with a solid pad. Silk or poly options.

I picked up a Camp 45 degree bag 6 years ago that I love for the summer. It's about the packed size of my pad (quart) at about a pound and ideal for the summer. Now I am a cold sleeper and some nights the bag starts opened up and I may end the night with a cap and down sweater on. I need those things on cool mornings anyway.

I look forward to hearing your report.


John

Are you going solo? More options if more people... IE, one sleeping bag for two people (assuming nice side zipper)

I've gone with a flannel sheet instead of sleeping bag for summer camping - but it doesn't save a lot of space for sure, maybe a tiny bit of weight. I do now have summer weight bags.

Let us know what you try and how it worked for you.

by nature, a bivy is meant to be water proof.......that means moisture can't get in. The problem arises in the fact that the moisture also can't get out. Unless it's really cold, I feel like I'm in a sweatbox.

Done it.

Not very comfortable in any weather. Used, variously, fleece, merino, and down sweater inside it, trying to save bulk, like you.

Works better if you go just bivy, with small tarp that doesn't even need to cover the foot area, depending on the bivy.

This was many, many years ago, with a WM bivy. UL tents and tiny but adequate down quilts are now available that weigh nothing, and that pack down to nothing.

Just got back from my trip. Did the Snowbank>Boot>Ensign>Ashigan>Gibson>Cattyman>Adventure>Jitterbug>Ahsub>Disappointment>Snowbank loop. I can report that the SOL Escape Bivvy did its job at keeping me warm and dry for this trip in this weather/time of year. Night temps were in the mid 50's after dusk to low 40's in the early AM. I never got any condensations while in the bag. Kept me warm until early AMs. Somehow my thighs would get chilled every time I tossed or turned and it rubbed the bivvy but that only happened in the early AMs between 3-5am. All I had on for layering were just a simple wool hat, wool socks, Columbia PFG thermal tackle long sleeve w/ hood top, sports briefs, and Nike pro combat core compression tights for bottoms. Used my light north face fleece and wrapped it around the self inflated pillow for comfort and traction.

When my thighs got chilled, I took the fleece and used it to cover them inside the bag. I could also have put on another bottom layer like a pair of nylon pants and would have been fine. Had 2 nights with rain and temps dipped right below 40 but never experienced any difference. Thighs still chilled in early AMs. It is a noisy bag every time I moved in it. Woke my tent companion (the GF) a few times. She brought along a small fleece blanket which I used one night to fill the empty space at the foot box of the bivvy.

The space I was able to save was noticeable. Both the bivvy and pad rolled up is about the size of two 32oz Nalgene bottle. I was able to bring along the REI flexlite chair as a comfort item for the GF :)

I don't think I will be using this setup for future warm weather outings. Too constricting, noisy and slippery. On the last night on disappointment lake, the tent spot we were on was a bit uneven, paired that with an innie and I found myself sliding off the air pad and having to pull my butt away from the door a few times during the night. Not fun. Though I could always slap a few strips of rubber on and under the pad for traction. But that seems too much work. I may try a fleece sleeping bag liner for an upcoming trip at end of month. The bivvy is definitely doable in summer months in BWCA though.

PROS: Light and compact, breathability, did what it's intended to do.
CONS: Noisy, slippery, constricting, feels flimsy at times, quarter length side zipper was a hassle getting in and out.

I have had similar experiences with a bivy sack and a sleeping bag where my thighs would get cold from moving around. My guess is that you're losing heat thru conduction but it's a guess. I was using my bivy outside were you using it inside a tent or out in the open?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Hey Shiny. I've been thinking about a bivvy for local overnight hiking trips. I appreciate your review. Good stuff buddy.

quote SevenofNine: "I have had similar experiences with a bivy sack and a sleeping bag where my thighs would get cold from moving around. My guess is that you're losing heat thru conduction but it's a guess. I was using my bivy outside were you using it inside a tent or out in the open?


Thanks for sharing your experiences."

I was using it inside an old Eureka tent. I think you're right when you say heat loss through conduction since my thighs were in direct contact with the bivvy sack. I'm a side sleeper so my thighs weren't that cold when I was on my sides. But every so often I'd tossed on to my back and lay flat for a while. That's when my thighs got chilled. I vaguely remembered the feeling of heat being sucked right away from my thighs as soon as it came in contact with the bivvy.

AndySG, I think a bivvy for an overnighter should be fine. Just cover them thighs ! :)