I am thinking of getting a bivi bag for my hikes and cycle tours, as this would be far lighter than carrying a tent when travelling. Are they any good though? I have heard from a couple of friends that in heavy rain some rain gets through and wets the outside of the sleeping bag. Would a spray of water-rellent like fabsil or nikwax remedy this problem though? Also what about winter, are they any good in winter due to the high condensation caused in extremly cold weather.
Try and find an Army Surplus store and ask for the army issue bivi bag believe me these are excellent warm and do keep the water out, let sweat out and keep water out, have a good look around for them excellent and ample length, used them whilst in Kenya with flash floods and didnt get wet
Camping & Leisure World out at Frensham in Surrey have a Vango hooped bivi for about £30, and a double bivi as well for a little more. Both looked pretty lightweight and compact , and the single one was patently watertight as it hadn't been put up properly and had a whopping great pool of water on the top - but the inside was bone dry.
There is a wide range of them, different prices, different qualities, shapes and 'entrances'. Some breath well to keep you dry, others hardly or not. Some have a head cover in case of rain, others don't.
You will have to set your demands and limits. Prices vary a lot. Overhere in Holland there was a test in an outdoor magazine. Isn't there something similar in the UK during the recent two years?
Thanks for the advice. I have had a look around some army surplus stores in London but not found any bivi bags there yet. But then there are still a few army surplus stores I have yet to try.
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Topic: Bivi bags are they any good?
