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First: the why? - I'm looking at doing some longer rides this year which will involve overnighting.
I'm not looking for luxury, just somewhere to rest rather than set up camp, and I have all the necessary gear.
However, I was wandering round an industrial supplier today and spotted some breathable waterproof boiler suits with thick insulation (plus there were survival suits).
That got me thinking is that sufficient to keep the elements off if you doss down wearing one in a reasonably sheltered spot?
There's bound to be someone on STW who has already tried sleeping out in one of them instead of a bivvy sack and sleeping bag. 🙂
Might be a bit bulkier than the "traditional" alternative but hard to say without actually seeing one. Also for a given weight they'll be less efficient than a sleeping bag as there's greater surface area and your arms and legs are away from the core.
Obviously folk, including myself*, have survived in just what they are wearing (plus a bit) but there is that requirement for a bit of room that you won't get plus given your location keeping the winged teeth at bay might be an issue 😳
* In my case it was at 6000m in the Karakorum after my rucksack was dropped and I ended up sleeping (hah!) for six nights with just what I was wearing.
When I was young and warm blooded the old army blanket and groundsheet used to work for me for an uncomfortable night, but in those days I was happy to be up and gone at first light and didn't need much sleep.
There's some obvious disadvantages to the suit. Luxury travel it ain't. 🙂
One advantage I saw was if you had to get up and go, you can do just that. Handy if you're dossing somewhere reasonably public.
I was given a Selk suit a few years ago as a present. It's pretty handy for wandering around in, but it's not really weather proof, or good for proper cold. A more insulated and weatherproof version of that appeals.
Sounds like you want one of these bad boys!😁
I had one of those selk suits, it was great. We were doing sani2c and you sleep in tents for a couple of nights. I don't know why but I really hate sleeping bags, just don't get on with them. The first year we did it I had two crap nights sleep so I bought the selk suit for the following year. I liked it really comfy and as mentioned I could get up in the night and just walk to the johns for a wazz. It was warm, ventilation zips Wee open but it wasn't extreme weather. I was toying with keeping it for lounging around the house but in the end donated it to the races clothing collection for local people, there's probably a farmer in the drakensburg area still using it!
If the weather is warm and dry then just a light summer sleeping bag or blanket on a Thermarest type mat is all you really need. I've spent many a night touring with a tent and sometimes didn't set it up and just slept on the mat and inside the bag. If you can do without a tent you can do without a bivvy as well as long as the weather is dry and reasonably warm. I'd say the sleeping mat is the most important, then a sleeping bag or blanket, then a survival bag to cover you if there's a chance of some rain. The only trouble is you can find yourself waking up with a dog licking your face - which is what happened to me when I slept on a beach in Italy.
linusr
...If you can do without a tent you can do without a bivvy as well as long as the weather is dry and reasonably warm....
Scotland, Highlands. No such thing as reasonable weather, just luck. 🙂
One advantage I saw was if you had to get up and go, you can do just that. Handy if you’re dossing somewhere reasonably public.
There's a guy called the pianoman, he tunes pianos by bike in London while living 'rough' of sorts. Uses an urban bivi suit for similar reasons. Down trousers and jacket etc I think. Interesting blog if you can find it.
How much weight and bulk would you actually save over an ultra-lightweight bivi set up?
My take, fwiw, is that when the weather's okay, you can get away with pretty much anything, but the idea of lying in an overnight downpour in one of those trying to stop water from running down my neck is a little unappealing.
Looked up them suits now called Hygger.
I do like the idea I hate mummy bags, (I’ve got a quilt to try this year.)
I think it’s pretty much down to the conditions your planning to venture about in, I’m not sold on bivvy thou I think I’ve a tent which is as heavy as a bivvy tbh , I get speed of striking camp but you can slob around in a tent and rest up during day/shite weather.
Breathability is also a bit of a funny thing when your in your personal sauna suit.
I’m too old for cold damp and you want a pleasant experience when your out playing or you tend not to want to do it again.
A bag or quilt inside a bivvy bag can be rolled up in a few seconds and stashed on the front of a bike in a harness or just with some straps. I'm not seeing one of these suits as having any advantage.
I’m not seeing one of these suits as having any advantage.
When did that ever stop anyone? It's always a balance between weight saving / functionality and humble-bragging. If you want to maximise your 'look at me factor' you need something that's both light and as functionally dubious as possible. I reckon these fit the bill exactly.
How much weight and bulk would you actually save over an ultra-lightweight bivi set up?
Probably none, a sleeping bag and bivi w/o ground mat can be 500-550g and work at 5-7 deg if you're careful where you put it (ideally the pub after closing time)
something that’s both light and as functionally dubious as possible.
A silver foil blanket at 80g and a bus shelter. Done for years before bikepacking kit-brags became a thing 🙂
A silver foil blanket at 80g and a bus shelter. Done for years before bikepacking kit-brags became a thing 🙂
I'll see your silver foil blanket and raise you this. Just wear inside out for maximum thermal reflectivity. Multi-functional as per the OP's post also.
It’s always a balance between weight saving / functionality and humble-bragging. If you want to maximise your ‘look at me factor’ you need something that’s both light and as functionally dubious as possible.
Yes. Like a balloon bed.
Yes. Like a balloon bed.
So passé. You want one of these:
