Bivvy or “bivy” is just a nickname for bivouac sack. It is a kind of shelter that looks like a loose sleeping bag. They’re quick to rig up, smaller than any other type of tent, very light and waterproof. They’re favored by solo backpackers, mountaineers and soldiers.

Design

A simple bivvy is made of one layer of waterproof material. Early versions of the bivvy bag employ silnylon as the outer shell. It is a very light fabric that provide about another 10 degree fahrenheit extra protection from weather.

One big problem with the earlier versions of the bivy is the humidity that condenses on the inside renders sleeping bags to be wet. This still happens in some tents today. The use of the waterproof/breathable fabric, Gore-Tex, helps to remove some of the humidity while keeping out water from the outside.

Another way that this problem is addressed is by using an inner vapor barrier liner bag or VBL. VBLs prevent body moisture from entering the condensing in the sleeping bag.

In the past, bivvy bags come with a small hole above the user’s face for breathing. Thanks to Gore-Tex Exchange Lite, an air permeable version of the fabric, the bivvy can be safely zipped up to cover the whole body including the head thus shutting out the elements completely. This new fabric allows both carbon dioxide exhaled by the user and moisture to escape.

Bivvy shelters

In biological terms, the bivy is a macroinvertebrate, meaning it has no spine or rigid structure. Bivouac shelters on the other hand employs hoops over the head and feet so that the fabric is kept off the user resulting in more breathing room around the head. This also prevents the condensation from soaking into the sleeping bag.

Bivvy shelters are a bit heavier than bivvy sacks but the increased comfort justifies the additional weight. However, bivvy sacks are still favored among mountain climbers and backpackers or adventurers on dangerous expeditions as a compact emergeny shelter.

Popularity

Improvement in bivvy shelters have given rise to the number of experienced hikers who favor them. Some like the Outdoor Research Deluxe Bivy have anticlaustrophobic features like a white interior with a shock-corded Delrin hoop for breathing room and 5-foot zippers that allow you to ventilate while keeping you dry.

Bivvies are also popular among carp fishermen who fish the whole night. This solo shelter is becoming more advanced and user friendly as manufacturers scramble to make better bivvies in response to the increasing demands.

Giving your eyes a time off from looking at the monitor, stretching those muscles that have become inactive because of your deskbound job, evading the bustle of the city and breathing in clean air, you take your things and go outdoors with your friends and family. During the weekend, you will be away from the comfort of your abode, your soft bed and your cozy room. You will be out, vulnerable to the changes in the weather condition, vulnerable to the pesky bugs.

As such, you require something that could protect you against these elements and this is the basic purpose of a tent. Tents such as Vango tents are created to address the requirement of campers for a refuge. A tent, as a shelter, should be able to guard you against the abrupt changes in the weather condition. It should be able to withstand heavy rain and should keep you comfortable all through those chilly nights. As a result one of the factors that you should try to find in a tent is it should be made of water-resistant fabric. The goal of you taking a breather from the hustle and bustle of the city and be with nature will be defeated if you get drenched and go back to the city sick. Another factor to put into consideration when selecting a tent is insulation. There are as a matter of fact tents that are made from more than a layer of synthetic fabric and that has an air pocket in the middle, which helps keep the cold out.

There are several kinds of tents and a few of the most popular of which are the Coleman tents. Besides, there are many shops where you can buy them from, especially in the internet. The models come in different styles, sizes, and hues and there is certainly so much to choose from. But obviously, there are also other points that you need to take into account such as if a tent is manageable to set up and light to carry.

The good thing about the makers of tents is that they come up with models that attend to the increasing and evolving requirements of campers. Khyam tents, for instance, look so contemporary and go beyond the classic appearance of a tent. There actually are several factors that must be regarded in obtaining a tent. Yet in the end, it is your safety, security and comfort that really matters.

With a reliable tent for refuge whilst you are out of the city over the weekend, you are protected against the elements of nature that can at times be nasty. Your outdoor experience is destined to be cool and you cannot allow yourself to get sick whilst your peers are out there taking pleasure in the beauty of nature.

One thing you need to be careful of is packing your camping gear because you wouldn’t like to leave what is essential and weigh up you pack with unnecessary gear.

What you need on a camping trip would largely depend on the terrain and weather and whether there are some special requirements. Experience will make packing a little bit easier the next time.

Every camping trip will bring insights to whether your backpacking equipment were sufficient or whether you need something more. In the end it’ll be easier to pack to the bare minimum and enjoy some ultralight backpacking.

To keep your supplies from getting wet, a good idea would be to use 3 plastics inside your internal frame back pack. You can also use 3 large stuff sacks. The first bag at the bottom should be for clothes, fuel, camping stove and other heavy gear or stuff that don’t get used very often. The plastic bag in the middle should be for food and the one on top for electronics like your phone, GPS and PDAs.

Putting your wallet in your pocket may not be such a great idea as I one day found out. It took the whole day to dry the cash. Exterior pockets are great for organizing your gear.

Use ziploc bags to further organize your gear. You can separate your breakfast from your soap, socks, electronics, and more with this useful plastic bag. A must-have if you want to ensure that your gear stays dry.

Don’t forget the first aid kit. Anything can happen in the outdoors. A mess kit, bugspray, waterproof matches and whistle are important items to have. Put the items that you might need quick access to in the outer side pockets. You must know where you put important items and try not change where you put them. Losing things is not fun especially when it happens on a camping trip.

It is very important that you have enough food and snacks. Your body will need more food on a backpacking trip than normal because you will burn a ton of calories. You would only truly know how much food you need through trial and error and to be on the safe side it’s better to have too much food than not to have enough. This goes for water too. Carrying too much water won’t hurt as much as not having any. Don’t forget to bring some kind of water treatment system like a water filter or iodine tablets so that you can refill when the opportunity arises.

The best thing you can have on a hiking trip is a trail mix. The dried fruits provide fiber and nutrition while the nuts provide you a vital source of energy, natural fats. Energy bars and gels can also give you a boost. Chocolate will melt when it’s hot so avoid it in the hot summer.

If you can, try to avoid canned foods because they’re too heavy. You need to carry your rubbish until you can dispose of it properly.

Dehydrated foods are great for backpacking because they’re very light yet a very good source of nutrition and they taste great. For cooking, you need a camp stove. If you want to use less fuel but won’t sacrifice on performance then use a liquid fuel camping stove. They also work great in extremely cold weather unlike propane stoves that can freeze at a certain temperature and you may have to warm up the stove with your body heat first before you can light it up.

Your clothing should contain no cotton because cotton absorbs your sweat and being in wet clothes in cold weather is really bad. Synthetic or nylon fiber or wool clothing including socks, underwear,shirt and fleeces are quick drying.

If you don’t want to miss out anything, prepare a checklist. First brainstorm what you might need then look at other references on the internet or from hiking clubs. Then you decide which ones you really need and which ones you can be without.