EE Prodigy + MLD Superlight Bivy for Winter Mtn Use in Southeast

Bump. Any thoughts?

Only thing I can say is test it out in your yard a few nights when its really wet and cold out and see how you like it.

Perhaps in some of those places it hovers around freezing, but here in VA, i primarily backpack in the colder part of the year (late fall, winter, early spring) in or around SNP and it's not uncommon for lows to be in the teens in winter, and it's definitely fairly common to have 20 to 25 degree nights–have camped a few nights this fall in such temps so far. And like anywhere with there is mountains, even the smaller ones, you can't fully trust the weather forecasts.

I believe the coldest on record for SNP was -20, but i doubt i will ever see that or close to that. I would be happy if it got down to around 0 degrees :) (i like the cold and testing gear, clothes, and self in relation to same).

youll be fine

i own and use a cats meow and an ID microbivi …

now i dont go out for days on end in it … but synth usually shrugs off condensation … it might get a bit damp, but a hawt nalgene will help push the moisture out …

as long as your next to skin is dry its not a bid deal

if yr worried put your synth jacket lawyered on the outside of the bag to prevent condensaiton … once you wear it during the day it will dry out with body heat

if yr using down … wear it inside the bag

;)

If the tarp is directly over you, it'll be the last surface for moisture to collect on as it evaporates from your body heat through your quilt. Having the tarp over you will have a non-negligible positive effect on the condensation levels in your bivy.

You'll stay drier and warmer!

Max, that makes sense. I guess if you pitch the tarp close enough to your body, the microclimate created by your body heat shifts from being contained in your bivy to being somewhat contained by the tarp [pretends to know what he is talking about]. So, you get more condensation forming on the tarp rather than the inside of your bivy.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll either be trying this stuff out in my backyard or on short overnighters. I may go ahead and bump down to a quilt rated at 20 degrees for those nights that dip into the low 20s. I do wish we got more cold weather in this part of the country. Winter backpacking is definitely my favorite.

Any other thoughts or articles on BPL you can point me to are appreciated.

I would go with the 20 degree. I use down in the southeast just fine too.

"Also, are there any threads or articles I should check out about dew point and condensation in a bivy?"

The material of the bivy will make a difference. For example, search M50 for bivy and you'll find some condensation complaints and people who recommend M90. But then you need to realize that there are a few M90 variants, some are more water resistant while others are more breathable (per Thru Hiker "Note: M90v2 fabric is more water resistant but less breathable than M90v3 fabric.)

The condensation you'll experience if you sleep in your shorts and breathe into your bivy will be much higher than another hiker who sleeps in a vbl and breathes outside of her bivy.

"Only thing I can say is test it out in your yard a few nights when its really wet and cold out and see how you like it."

I've found trial and error works best for me. I'd try to determine the material of the bivy and try to find some credible end users who can comment on how it performs in a climate similar to yours.

Make sure you have a warm pad as the ground will suck the warmth out of you. I was testing some gear two nights ago and was 22 degrees at night. I slept on an Exped 7 down mat and used a Warbonnet winter quilt over a cocoon fleece bag and was toasty.

I have a NeoAir XTherm. So many R's, so toasty……

So many ways to extend the temp range of your gear.
1) Bring enough layers, including a puffy jacket/sweater and warm head layers.
2) Pitch camp in an area with a good wind break and/or pitch you tarp low with three sides to the ground.
3) Camp somewhat away from the low point in the terrain. Not next to a lake or stream.
4) Suspend the top of your bivy enough to allow some air flow inside to avoid condensation.

Your quilt thickness is just one part of the system. You can potentially have more insulation in the clothing that you wear than what your quilt will provide and you will be more comfortable in the morning tearing down camp.

I've been contemplating the same thing. I currently use a solong 6 as my shelter but I'm wanting to experiment with a tarp and bivy. I have a prodigy 30 clone, and a revx 20. I can say that in my tent, my 5.0 apex quilt is only comfortable to 35 and that's wearing a fleece and polypro base layer. I've recently upgraded to a xlite pad as well. I'm concerned with condensation as well. I hope to experiment in my back yard this winter.

"Specifically, I am trying to put together something that could be used when it is wet and the temperature is hovering around freezing"

With rain/sleet at just above freesing (for me…) it is MUCH harder to do anything including staying warm than it is at 20f .
So my advice would be to test your set up in the rain before you go.
That is, pick a rainy day than pretend (with all your gear) to arrive at camp, set it up and then get inside your bivvy still whilst it is raining.