High country shelter silly notion

[Varminterror]

A curious notion passed my mind planning an early season mulie trip this fall. I’m a bit of a minimalist hike/pack camper, so in fair weather, I usually sleep in a bivy sack and don’t haul a tent. Hunting, I typically take a 2 man double wall tent to shelter my gear in with me.

Kinda thinking about taking just the footprint and fly of one of my tents as a shelter, then pitching the bivy sack under that. Weight should be a bit less than either of my double-wall standard set ups, and would be easier to keep warm, and offer some added flexibility.

Biggest driver, I’m a side sleeper and roll off of my pads all of the time. In a bivy sack, I stay out and save weight. On a nice night, I could choose to only use one or the other, bag in the fly, or bivy only.

Not sure why it feels like a good idea, but I’ve typically carried “either/or” a tent or a bivy, this would be kinda “and/or”.

Thoughts?

 

[LRDGCO]

Bivvy and a tarp are perfect for early season. I have a hybrid thing from Oz that is a swag tent. It's great but too heavy for hiking. I have used a sleeping bag inside waterproof bivvy bag, over a tarp with the tarp held up away from face by two lines and been very pleased.

Essentially like this:

 

[Varminterror]

Bivvy and a tarp are perfect for early season. I have a hybrid thing from Oz that is a swag tent. It's great but too heavy for hiking. I have used a sleeping bag inside waterproof bivvy bag, over a tarp with the tarp held up away from face by two lines and been very pleased.

Essentially like this:

View attachment 833684

That’s basically my thought - but instead of a pitched tarp, I’d use the fly and footprint of my tent so it can go free standing, and only stake if we face some wind.

 

[jmr40]

Go to youtube and look around. There are lots of ways to make a shelter from only a tarp.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tarp+shelter+configurations

 

[Varminterror]

Go to youtube and look around. There are lots of ways to make a shelter from only a tarp.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tarp+shelter+configurations

I have a couple “tarps,” and have camped that way many times over they years. Not at all what I’m looking for in this case. I already own all of it, just thinking of trying a new combination.

 

[FL-NC]

For many years, 2 military ponchos, a mil poncho liner, and some 550 cord were my Hilton. In cold weather, add a sleeping bag.

 

[jmr40]

For many years, 2 military ponchos, a mil poncho liner, and some 550 cord were my Hilton. In cold weather, add a sleeping bag.

BTDT

Not me in the photo, I'm behind the camera. This was 1981

 

[Casefull]

A curious notion passed my mind planning an early season mulie trip this fall. I’m a bit of a minimalist hike/pack camper, so in fair weather, I usually sleep in a bivy sack and don’t haul a tent. Hunting, I typically take a 2 man double wall tent to shelter my gear in with me.

Kinda thinking about taking just the footprint and fly of one of my tents as a shelter, then pitching the bivy sack under that. Weight should be a bit less than either of my double-wall standard set ups, and would be easier to keep warm, and offer some added flexibility.

Biggest driver, I’m a side sleeper and roll off of my pads all of the time. In a bivy sack, I stay out and save weight. On a nice night, I could choose to only use one or the other, bag in the fly, or bivy only.

Not sure why it feels like a good idea, but I’ve typically carried “either/or” a tent or a bivy, this would be kinda “and/or”.

Thoughts?

I may not be understanding completely what you're saying? Would you need the bivy at all if you have the tent cover?
I hunt very minimalist myself and don't take much even in nasty weather and understand you not wanting to weigh yourself down.

 

[Varminterror]

Bugs, wind, cold, snow, hail, rain - any reason I might want to be separated from the elements and have my gear covered, but without hauling a full double wall tent, and without needing a prime “stake friendly” location.

Just the tent fly, not a tent. More like a bivy under a tarp, but free standing instead of fully stake pitched. Sticking a bivy under this:

 

[Chuck R.]

I have a similar system, but it was commercially designed that way. Years ago I bought a "Go-Lite" ShagriLa 3 Ultra Lite:



https://sectionhiker.com/golite-shangri-la-3-tent-review/

Most of the time for hunts, due the season and bugs not being prevalent, I use the rain fly and a small piece of Tyvek for a ground cloth. Total weight with pole and stakes is under a pound.

 

[rodwha]

I have the Big Agnus Copper Spur and never thought to leave the tent itself behind. It certainly doesn’t do much to keep you warm or block the wind. I wouldn’t consider doing that any other time but winter though as I don’t like bugs crawling on me or the idea of a rattlesnake enjoying the warmth with me.

A proper sleeping bag (I don’t have anything super lightweight below 30*) and a face mask should do well enough.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Bivvy and a tarp are perfect for early season. I have a hybrid thing from Oz that is a swag tent. It's great but too heavy for hiking. I have used a sleeping bag inside waterproof bivvy bag, over a tarp with the tarp held up away from face by two lines and been very pleased.

Essentially like this:

View attachment 833684

I like the same arrangement, but I fold it so that there is a "floor" in it as well (I can't tell from the photo if this is folded as such). I've found that damp coming up from the soil below is one of the problems that I face. I do "primitive" camping so a 9x9 oilcloth made from linen works well. IF I'm going into a camp where I can't use trees or other vegetation to hold up the line for the ridge, I have two small poles I can put up and run the line between at a pretty good tension. The other nice thing is that I can raise the edge if it's very hot and allow a lot more air into the shelter while at the same time it gives me shade.

LD

 

[Varminterror]

I have the Big Agnus Copper Spur and never thought to leave the tent itself behind. It certainly doesn’t do much to keep you warm or block the wind. I wouldn’t consider doing that any other time but winter though as I don’t like bugs crawling on me or the idea of a rattlesnake enjoying the warmth with me.

A proper sleeping bag (I don’t have anything super lightweight below 30*) and a face mask should do well enough.

Right - lots of reasons to want to be sealed off. I’d want the Spur’s fly and footprint just to shelter gear, then seal myself up in the bivy underneath. A nicer night, eh, don’t pitch at all and just use the bivy.

 

[RedlegRick]

Man, am I behind the times! Last time I camped out while hunting, all I had was a cheap nylon tarp, air mattress, and a sleeping bag. Upgraded to a hammock when and where I could set one up properly (hate critters seeking warmth), but that was it. Some great ideas above, I must admit.

 

[WrongHanded]

Unless bugs are a big deal, I'd rather use the fly and footprint on nice nights than the bivi. More room to move.

But how much weight are you saving taking the bivi, fly and footprint, vs the whole tent? Seems like the tent would be the better option, and just not use the fly on nice nights.

Perhaps you just like bivi sacks more than I do. I'm not a big fan, though I appreciate they have some benefits.

 

[LRDGCO]

Here's a later version of the swag tent I use when offroading. Too heavy and bulky for hiking or hunting on the move



https://www.mrswagman.com.au/product/premium-deluxe-swag/

 

[Varminterror]

But how much weight are you saving taking the bivi, fly and footprint, vs the whole tent? Seems like the tent would be the better option, and just not use the fly on nice nights.

It’s only half a pound, or 3/4 ish.

The difference is versatility. I’ve not heard much complaint from my pack when it sleeps outside at night as long as it is dry, so I can just sleep in the bivy without pitching a fly at all, or I could sleep under the fly without the bivy. Or set up the whole deal in wind and rain.

I go back and forth, when I minimalist camp/hike, I often just take the bivy and hang my pack in a tree to be off of the ground. I have had a few trips where a stake pitched tent can be difficult on rocky ground as well (not sure why running a stake into a rock rankles me so, but it does). I don’t mind packing a tent, and own a few of them in various weights and sizes, but admittedly, I almost never sleep without the fly - especially on the Copper Spur, since the solid walls are so low on the tent body.

I suppose I’ll take a test trip, maybe while scouting this summer and see how I like the combination.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I've used bivy sacks, and didn't like any of them. Never found one long enough, and condensation was always a problem.

Of the stuff you're talking about, I'd prefer a fly (or tarp tent) with a footprint, sleeping pad, and down quilt.

Even better would be an aramid fiber single wall tent. But that's another purchase.

 

[rodwha]

I was wondering not just about condensation but the breathing in of that hot humid air. That doesn’t sit well with me. I have a hard time using a dust mask for long.