Bivi, do you? « Singletrack Forum

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Bivi, do you?

91 posts & 56 voices | Started 10 months ago by rOcKeTdOg | Latest reply from Garry_Lager

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user-removed - Member

After a few years of bad-boys' 'summer holidays' (boot camps for borderline juvenile delinquents / future borstal fodder), I was able to treat my friends and myself to loads of three day bivvy experiences, usually involving some stolen plastic sheeting, some chopped down heather / bracken for a matress and a few bungees for support (physical, not emotional).

Yes, a tent gets you out there and close to nature, the elements, but nothing beats the buzz of building your own home (or den) and then listening to the rain failing to get in.

A Gelert Solo costs £35 though, weighs less than a length of heavy-duty plastic sheeting these days, and will probably last longer too. Still though, if you haven't done the bivvy thing already, I can highly recommend it!

Posted 10 months ago #
unsponsored - Member

I have a few tents a couple of bivis, but for maximum comfort a hammock if definitely the best. Although you are limited to where you can pitch up.

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk

Posted 10 months ago #
thespecialone - Member

Really liking these bivi threads. Good to see a new set of sites emerging as a result. I have been on the bear packing and bike and bivi. The latter seems to be really taking off.

Posted 10 months ago #
cupra - Member

Scottish bivvier here, I use bivvy and a tarp but for longer trips would take the tent.

Posted 10 months ago #
unsponsored - Member

Cupra - what tent do you use?

Posted 10 months ago #
Aidan - Member

Conditions dictate a lot, but I would love to see TJ's tent that's doesn't weight much more than my 300g bivi bag. I suspect he means a bivi and tarp weigh nearly the same as a tent.

My tent is just under a kilo and I shudder to think how much it would cost to get ride of 700g from my bike instead of from my sleeping kit.

It's all a matter of style and taste. If you go light and simple (e.g. no gears, bivi, stove) then you can save money while still having a bike that rides like a bike. For me, that's great: I can go out and ride, then sleep where I drop.

Posted 10 months ago #
unsponsored - Member

Field and Trek seem to be having a small tarp clear out

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/terra-nova-competition-tarp-1-783187

I have just taken one of these tarps and made it into two micro tarps, details here -

http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=205

Posted 9 months ago #
stevemakin - Moderator

Alpkit XTra dry bags are in stock today

Posted 9 months ago #
Nobeerinthefridge - Member

Tent for me. I have bivvyed and its a been a cold wet and miserable experience. You don't save significant weight over taking a tent.

Perhaps its because I go into remote corners of Scotland where there is no pub 20 mins away if it rains.

I have an unused bivvy bag to sell if anyone wants it.

So if you've bivvied so much Jeremy, why is the bag unused?. And if you had a bivi bag previously, why buy another if it was so sh1t?.

I'm not looking for an arguement, like most people are with you, just curious.

Posted 9 months ago #
flatfish - Member

http://www.sportsdirect.com/terra-nova-competition-tarp-1-783187
same tarp, same price as the one unsponsored found.

Posted 9 months ago #
TandemJeremy - Member

In answer to nobeerinthefridge
I bivvyed a lot years ago. I got rid of the kit after a particularly unpleasant 3 weeks of constant wet.

I bought two bags to take to italy this year for a walking trip for the two of us but we didn't end up using them at all. I thought we might want to sleep out but I didn't want to carry full camping kit. I shall keep one for myself for the occasional trip and to carry for emergencies. The other I want to sell - cheap as a very cheap thing.

Bivvyings fine if you are near civilisation and / or the weather is good. get away from civilisation and get bad weather its miserable at best.

Posted 9 months ago #
stevemakin - Moderator

I reckon 2 dry nights is as much as I'd want, 1 wet one and I'm heading home

Posted 9 months ago #
flatfish - Member

Duuur! Haven't you read the book of the bivy?
No wonder it was unpleasant.

Posted 9 months ago #
TandemJeremy - Member

I do a lot of multiday trekking by bike and foot where going home if it rains is not an option.

Posted 9 months ago #
stevemakin - Moderator

for the time being those days are gone for me, however in about two years time they'll start again

Posted 9 months ago #
scotsman - Member

So any of you avid bivviers bivi with your hounds, if so do you use these Linky
been thinking about one for my hound for a while, he's a big mutt so was thinking he could carry his own food and water and maybe some extra goodies for me, couple of cans of cider and a extra hip flask

Posted 9 months ago #
TandemJeremy - Member

My mate used to have his dog carrying panniers when he went camping

Posted 9 months ago #
unsponsored - Member

Saw a dog with a set of panniers a couple of days ago in Northumberland. It was also sporting a nice set of dog trainers!

Posted 9 months ago #
cinnamon_girl - Member

Bivi? I don't do discomfort!

Posted 9 months ago #
singlecrack - Member

I used to bivi quite a lot about 15 years ago mostly in the Brecons (still have the same bivi bag ) then bought a cocoon hammock about 12 years ago and used that instead for a few good years much more comfy.
Just started getting back into it after a long lay off......can't wait to do ..still get exited every time....

Posted 9 months ago #
Garry_Lager - Member

More of a bevvier than a bivvier, but would like to give it a try. Even riding 5 miles into the hills and back the next morning would be something different. I take it you just find somewhere out of the way in the hills and stick the tarp up?

Posted 9 months ago #