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  1. #1
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    SOL Emergency Bivvy as my Bag

    Going out this weekend. Low temp in the night is supposed to be in the low 60's. Have the Skeeter Beater Pro with a tarp and a self inflating sleeping pad. I also will have my tarp just in case things get wet. Basically wondering if you think that I could use an Emergency Bivy Bag like this one - http://www.rei.com/product/813511/sol-emergency-bivvy and stay warm?

    Could I just lay ontop of it and sleep with my clothes on? Or put my clothes under it and just use it as a blanket? Keep in mind I could bring the tarp in close to me to keep warm as well.

    Thanks.

  2. #2
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    It may keep you warm but
    Will stay noisyall night.

  3. #3
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    You certainly could but the comfort level might not be there. I find them noisy and personally I sweat heavy when I am wrapped up in one. I would use a light sleeping bag as a top quilt rather than the bivvy sack.

    60's can be pretty darn chilly. Your body temp is 98.6 and will normally drop a bit when you sleep. I sleep fairly warm and find that anything at or below 70F requires some good insulation. If you add a wind to 60F it gets down right cold to me.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by dkurfiss View Post
    You certainly could but the comfort level might not be there. I find them noisy and personally I sweat heavy when I am wrapped up in one. I would use a light sleeping bag as a top quilt rather than the bivvy sack.

    60's can be pretty darn chilly. Your body temp is 98.6 and will normally drop a bit when you sleep. I sleep fairly warm and find that anything at or below 70F requires some good insulation. If you add a wind to 60F it gets down right cold to me.
    The sweat thing is my main concern because I do have a tendency to sweat even on normal nights. Thinking of using it as an added bottom insulator with my sleeping pad then just bringing a sheet and sleeping in my clothes. Trying to avoid bringing my full sleeping bag as all I have is a 20 degree. It is a down bag, but still...

  5. #5
    Senior Member clean's Avatar
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    SOL Emergency Bivvy as my Bag

    I had a couple breezy 60° nights a month ago wearing a warm fleece hoodie, thin wool hat, shorts, wool socks, reflectix butt pad and a medium weight small fleece blanket. I left my 20° TQ and full reflectix pad at home.

  6. #6
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    SOL Emergency Bivvy as my Bag

    So what I took from that was keep my feet, head and neck warm. I think you can get away with less insulation if all of that stuff is handled well.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by clean View Post
    So what I took from that was keep my feet, head and neck warm. I think you can get away with less insulation if all of that stuff is handled well.
    Thanks for the info. I guess then the question is....Is it worth it to just bring my sleeping bag vs. bringing warm clothes....

  8. #8
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    If you vent it enough it might be okay.
    That said a few years ago I bought a adventure medical thermal emergency bivy bag and I tried to sleep in it one night at about 60dF and I woke up soaking wet.

    I modified it to fully open up and its better but still is too clammy. Weighs 7oz.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by tammons View Post
    If you vent it enough it might be okay.
    That said a few years ago I bought a adventure medical thermal emergency bivy bag and I tried to sleep in it one night at about 60dF and I woke up soaking wet.

    I modified it to fully open up and its better but still is too clammy. Weighs 7oz.
    Not a bad idea, worst case scenario, cut it up to make it into a blanket vs. a bivvy.

    Sounds like its doable, just depends on how your configuring it and if you mind wearing some clothing etc.

    Thanks for the info.

  10. #10
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    SOL Emergency Bivvy as my Bag

    Quote Originally Posted by madhatter View Post
    Thanks for the info. I guess then the question is....Is it worth it to just bring my sleeping bag vs. bringing warm clothes....
    I think my experience indicates that warm clothes worked well for me in similar circumstances.

    YMMV, etc...

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