kaib18•15d ago

Update: I thought those 'emergency bivvy' bags were just a gimmick until a trip in the Gifford Pinchot

I bought a cheap one on a whim for like $8, thinking it was just more junk to fill my pack. It's basically a big orange plastic bag, right? Well, a sudden storm rolled in during a solo overnight near Mount Adams last fall, and my tent's rain fly tore on a branch. I was getting soaked and cold fast. Out of pure desperation, I crawled into that bivvy bag. I was fully expecting to just be a wet person in a plastic bag, but the thing actually worked. It trapped my body heat so well that I stayed warm enough to get through the night, even with damp clothes on. It was noisy and felt weird, but it did the job when my main gear failed. Has anyone else had a piece of cheap backup gear save them in a real pinch?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_tara15d ago

Honestly, that sounds like a lucky break more than a good plan. Those things are basically glorified trash bags and can be super dangerous. They trap all your sweat inside, so you end up wet anyway, just from condensation. Plus, if you rip it or roll over in your sleep, you're done. Relying on an eight dollar piece of plastic instead of fixing your main gear or checking the weather is asking for trouble. I'd never bet my safety on something that flimsy.

spencer_thomas414d ago

Glorified trash bag" is a bit harsh, it's still a real piece of gear that works.