Tarps and no bivi bags

Talk about anything.

Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew

User avatar
JohnClimber
Posts: 3907
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:41 pm

Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by JohnClimber »

Just wondering if there really is a need to take a bivi bag when you are under a good covering of tarp and on tyvek?

Who takes a bivi bag too?
And who doesn't?

What are your pro's and cons of yes or now please?
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by ScotRoutes »

I tend to take my TiGoat Kestrel if I'm using a full-sized tarp.* It adds a bit of wind resistance, adding to the warmth of my bag (which means I can get away with a lighter bag). It also has a midge net built in (handy for keeping ticks off too) and cuts the draughts I sometimes get when using my quilt and I'm restless.

So, that's three positives for the sake of a little weight.

OTOH I rarely take a groundsheet.


* My current preference is a micro-tarp and a waterproof bivvy bag
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

I do exactly as Colin says. I can think of a couple of occasions where the lightweight bivvy saved me from a proper soaking. Both times involved mist coming in off the sea.
May the bridges you burn light your way
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9009
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by RIP »

Use tarp and no bivvy bag here. 'water resistant' sleeping bags have always been fine. Tarps are 10x8 or 9x7 though not those pocket handkerchief jobs.

Paradoxically I agree with everything Colin and Stu said though :???:
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
User avatar
benp1
Posts: 4051
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:36 pm
Location: South Downs

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by benp1 »

I've used a tarp without a bivi bag plenty of times, but pretty much always use a bivy with a tarp now. Generally a borah bivy

I also find it gives me lots of versatility - I often use a bivy without a tarp if the weather is looking good or I'm using artificial cover (eg a porch)

Helps with wind blown spray, wind and bugs. Plus I find groundsheet a faff
User avatar
Charliecres
Posts: 1453
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:28 pm

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by Charliecres »

I always use a bivy bag - either a splash-proof one with a midge net or a Hunka XL, depending on the conditions. I don’t use a tarp if the forecast is settled and dry. I will sometimes use a space blanket, or tyvek, as a groundsheet if it’s really wet or muddy.
jameso
Posts: 5036
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 1:48 pm

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by jameso »

I have a with-tarp bivi bag that's just a weather resistant cover. TerraNova Moonlight, 180g. I use it w/o a tarp when it's clear and not too cold. Will use the tarp w/o a bivi bag when it's warmer with no chance of condensation but in conditions like that I'm more likely to just bivi, no tarp.
User avatar
whitestone
Posts: 7847
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2014 10:20 am
Location: Skipton(ish)
Contact:

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by whitestone »

Pretty much as Colin states and for the same reasons. The extra versatility as noted by Ben is also a factor.

Tarp and bivy (Borah Gear) still only come to 300g or so, not really worth worrying about.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
User avatar
summittoppler
Posts: 1271
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:27 am
Location: North Wales

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by summittoppler »

I'll be quite honest and say it hasn't entered my head not to use a bivvy bag when using a tarp. I thought they went together like bullets and guns! I suppose if the weather looks fine with no rain/mist then its an obvious thing to leave at home.
Wil give it a go :-bd
BAM: 2014, 2018 & ......
2024 Bikepacking nights: 3

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/summittoppler/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/jefbricks/videos
User avatar
fatbikephil
Posts: 6511
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:51 pm
Location: Fife
Contact:

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by fatbikephil »

Slugs, midges and ticks (and mozzies) = bivvy bag with mesh.
Did a couple of overnighters in '18 during the winter on a groundsheet and tarp only. OK if your not in amongst wet grass (it was frozen on both occasions) and its too cold for bugs n' slugs
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

I'll be quite honest and say it hasn't entered my head not to use a bivvy bag when using a tarp. I thought they went together like bullets and guns! I suppose if the weather looks fine with no rain/mist then its an obvious thing to leave at home.
Wil give it a go
Or leave the tarp at home?
May the bridges you burn light your way
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by ScotRoutes »

Yeah, bivvy bag and no tarp. Much greater choice of locations.
Alexpalacefan
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:07 pm
Location: Nottingham, UK, Europe.

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by Alexpalacefan »

Norm, where you on the Mull of Kintyre? ;-)

APF
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by ScotRoutes »

Alexpalacefan wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 2:18 pm Norm, where you on the Mull of Kintyre? ;-)

APF
😆

I noticed that one too.
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Fifth Beatle me :wink:
May the bridges you burn light your way
User avatar
summittoppler
Posts: 1271
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:27 am
Location: North Wales

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by summittoppler »

Bearbonesnorm wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 11:05 am
I'll be quite honest and say it hasn't entered my head not to use a bivvy bag when using a tarp. I thought they went together like bullets and guns! I suppose if the weather looks fine with no rain/mist then its an obvious thing to leave at home.
Wil give it a go
Or leave the tarp at home?
Yeah done them ones a few times. Thing is, I don't tend to get much sleep as I end up staring at the stars most of the night :lol:
BAM: 2014, 2018 & ......
2024 Bikepacking nights: 3

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/summittoppler/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/jefbricks/videos
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9009
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by RIP »

Oh gawd I'm obviously a rank amateur :sad: . I suppose I'm going to have to start paying more attention to these "what boil-in-the-bag should I get?" threads from now on. I'm doomed.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
User avatar
sean_iow
Posts: 4269
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:08 pm
Location: Isle of Wight

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by sean_iow »

RIP wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 6:30 pm Oh gawd I'm obviously a rank amateur :sad: .
I think you're what statisticians call an outlier*, and not just when it comes to bivi bags :lol:

*Trying not to break the glass of my house whilst typing this :grin:
Adventure without risk is Disneyland - Bikemonger
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9009
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by RIP »

sean_iow wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 6:42 pm
RIP wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 6:30 pm Oh gawd I'm obviously a rank amateur :sad: .
I think you're what statisticians call an outlier*, and not just when it comes to bivi bags :lol:

*Trying not to break the glass of my house whilst typing this :grin:
Ah well Sean, that's an interesting rabbit hole to disappear down. By chance Mrs P is a statistician and we have just had a robust conversation about your observation.

She said "outliers can arise due to fraudulent behaviour, human error, instrument error or simply through natural deviations". I asked if I was a result of one, several, or all of those. She gave me a Mrs Perrin #3 Look.

So, er, about these boil-in-the-bags. I gather it's possible to obtain one that will fit a wide winter sleeping bag and a mat, is impervious to sharp ground-based objects, is waterproof, is windproof, is breathable, is camo coloured, and weighs under 200g? Just what I'm after, so I'm all ears!
Last edited by RIP on Sat May 15, 2021 9:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

You've kind of described a Borah there Reg but just not quite :wink:
May the bridges you burn light your way
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9009
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by RIP »

Bearbonesnorm wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 9:04 pm You've kind of described a Borah there Reg but just not quite :wink:
What's the not-quite bit? Or rather instead of one not-quite feature, is it that all features are very slightly not-quite? :smile: . (*)

(*) the waterproofness bit I guess :wink:

When I window shopped yonks ago I was entertained by the Kestrel and indeed the Borah cuben at 125g-ish.

In the end I decided not-quite was not quite worth it :smile: .

PS. As an aside, I'd like to see some hard facts rather than anecdote about how much, or not, bags/quilts are affected by breezes/wind. Of course this depends on the fabric - my 'ultrashells' claim 'total' windblock for example, as well as water-resistance. Maybe I need to book a session in a wind-tunnel with my bag and a thermometer inside it, plus a variety of bivvy bags.
Last edited by RIP on Sat May 15, 2021 11:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9009
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by RIP »

So JC, have the agony aunts affected or changed your thoughts so far?
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by ScotRoutes »

Bivvy bag and no tarp tonight

Image
User avatar
JohnClimber
Posts: 3907
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:41 pm

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by JohnClimber »

RIP wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 10:15 pm So JC, have the agony aunts affected or changed your thoughts so far?
Not really, I'll take both as I did before.
I was just wondering if some did it without the bivi bag and if so did they die or not?
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Tarps and no bivi bags

Post by ScotRoutes »

The ones that died didn't respond.
Post Reply