right now i usually carry an integral designs silponcho in my daypack for hiking. its lightweight and i can use it as poncho, rain/sun shelter. i've been thinking of getting a lightweight bivy for camping without a tent on overnight trips but also to carry on day hikes as a "just in case" sleeping shelter. i mean, even though i could carry two large trash bags to use as an emergency shelter, i'm sure if i had to i'd much rather sleep in a waterproof bivy (with a mesh insect screen). question is, would that be too much? the size is about 6 X 10 inches and weight is almost a pound. (15 x 25 cm) (.4 kilos)
i mean, is carrying a bivy for dayhikes overkill? especailly since you hope to not have to use it?
here's the bivy:
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductD...vcat=REI_SEARCH

IMO, Yes, overkill, unless the conditions warrant it

I've always wanted a bivy too, i thought it would be a good emergency or ultralight shelter. I ended up getting an OR gore tex bivy, similar to that one, and have never used it, and probably never will. It's really too much weight to carry around "just in case" something happens. the only reason I would want to carry it is if there was a very high probability that I'll be needing a shelter. At that point I would much rather have a small tent. They're probably really good for what they were designed for, an emergency shelter when you need to travel extremely light in adverse conditions, like summiting a mountain. But for me, I think it's too big and heavy to really be an emergency shelter in regular conditions, and too small and specialized to really be used as a regular camping shelter. So I guess it's either too much, or not enough, depending on how you look at it.

I just finished making a silnylon poncho based on the ID one that you have. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I think it's just much more versitile than a bivy. How do you like yours?

What temprature is this bivy rated for?

I have to agree with you.

I bring a large tarp, 4' x 8' I think... It has grommets all around it's edges and would make a great shelter. It's blue on one side and reflective on the other. You probably can find this in the camping aisle of any decent retail store.

It's flatter although longer than the emergency bivy, but you'll use it more (to lay down on the ground, etc.)

hey Bee,

Do you mean the MPI Outdoors All Weather Blanket?

MEC

It looks like I'm getting all the little "gadgets" from that stores. Last time I visited them, I bought for 60$ of 5-10$ small items and I have plenty of others to buy...

Frankie

lazermonkey,
its not really rated for any cool temp. pretty much just an waterproof shell for a sleeping bag or for use without one in warm weather.

ducktapeguy,

you made your own silicone impregnated tarp? thats awesome. how? was it difficult? so far, i'm very happy with the silponcho. but i'm also used to thicker, heavier ponchos so it feels a little delicate to me but its supposed to be quite durable. that doesn't mean i'm going to go scraping it against sharp rocks or anything just to test it.


yeah, you guys are right. i mean, a little more weight (and more money) and you can have a ultralight solo tent. if i do buy a bivy i'll just use it for a sleeping bag cover on overnighters so i don't have to pack a tent. but i'm sure that within a few years or so they'll have element proof sleeping bags that pack smaller than a bivy and weigh less than a pound. i'll just wait till then. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sorry chaps, have to disagree with you there. A lightweight bivvy bag is very much worth having with you. By lightweight I mean something like the Rab Survival Zone which is made of pertex and weighs next to nothing. It's the bag of choice in the British climbing community. Keeps your sleeping bag dry and can be used in a pinch as an emergency shelter bag.

I usually carry a US GI woodland camo poncho along with an Adventure Medical ThermoLite Single Bivy (8 oz) in my daypack. Between the two, I would be able to create a snug three-season bivouac. Also, when backpacking I carry an Adventure Medical Kits Mylar Emergency Sleeping Bag (2.5 oz), just in case something happens to my down bag. While Southern California is not known for its many mountain ranges, they tend to be very rugged. Several times a year there are stories in the news of lost or injured hikes being stranded for a night or two before our excellent EMS services can locate and extract the errant hiker. Therefore, in answer to your question carrying a poncho and Bivy Bag of some sort are not over overkill in the least. My day hiking and backpacking kit are always together and serve as the basis for my earthquake disaster supplies.

That's the one, Frankie!

Seems there are a few manufacturers of those... all very similar though.

I always have one of these in my backpacks.

I don't think there's a right answer for this, it really depends on your particular situation, where you live, how often you go out, what are your chances actually needing one, etc. In some circumstances, it could be an absolute necessity, in others, it's just a extra weight.

In my case, I don't really have to worry about really extreme cold or a lot of rain, so not having a bivy would not be a life or death situation, it's more of a comfort/discomfort issue. I guess I'm lucky, I can sacrifice comfort for weight. But your situation could be different. You just have to decide whether it worth the weight to carry it around and probably never use. Just think, for the same weight of the bivy, you could be carrying an ultralight down sleeping bag (1 lb) + a couple of trash bags, which I think would be a much better combo. Of course, for a few ounces more, you could have a sleeping bag/bivy combo, or for another few ounces, a small tent, it never ends. At some point, all this stuff stops becoming emergency gear and you're just carrying luxury items to make you more comfortable.

LED,
My poncho isn't that awesome, it's my first time sewing, so it actually looks like a kitten swallowed a ball of thread and threw up on it. I was looking for something that would replace my bivy for an emergency shelter when hiking, and the silponcho looked perfect. Plus it was basically a big rectangle, so I figured it would be an easy thing to sew, there are a lot of plans on the internet. It came out alright, it's functional, so I'm happy with it. I haven't had a chance to try it outdoors yet, so I might still need to modify it. I'm going to see if it works as a vapor barrier liner in case I need to extend the range of my sleeping bag.

WildWeasel,

How do you like the thermolite bivy? I was looking at getting one of those, but I really wasn't sure whether that would be any better than a plastic bag or tarp.