by regedmunds » Thu Jul 04, 2019 7:43 pm
I have a Snugpack Stratosphere and tend to use it on short outings, up to 7 days. I also take my 3.5 Alpkit tarp, very useful, especially when its raining. Some nights I use it, some nights I don't.
I originally bought an Alpkit Bivi, really good but I never got on with it, for me too much messing about trying to get in and out of it and I never liked the idea of my head being available to every creepy crawly in the grass.
I also take my ground sheet with me, it goes under the length of my bivi and pokes out about 2' from the bivi entrance side. I use it for standing on with bare feet, getting dressed/undressed and for organising myself. I use my Thermarest Prolite mattress, it's thinnish but effective. I have a Neo Air but I don't find it suitable for my bivi, only for my tent.
I keep my boots inside my bivi, behind my head/pillow, works well, wouldn't like them to go missing in the night.
My rucksack stays on the outside of my bivi and to protect it I use a loop of fishing line attached to a cheap audible alarm (from Amazon) attached to the bivi, just in case anyone tried to steal it in the night.
When I use my tarp, I just stuff the rucksack under it again secured with the alarm attached.
I find a bivi most useful when I want to stealth wild camp. For example, if I leave a pub in the evening I find its easier to find a place to sleep nearby, often with my tent, I feel the need to wander further out if I don't want to be noticed and then disturbed by anyone. I'm always up at dawn, pack and am away before anyone else is around.
I took my bivi to Gran Canaria earlier this year, perfect! I've never used my bivi in the colder months, just doesn't appeal to me!