Making a emergency bivy out of Polycro?

[Adam Salinger]

Hi All,

I usually camp without a tent/tarp but and bring my Gatewood Cape as an emergency shelter.  I am now plannin on moving to a Hexamid Pocket Tarp.  Been playing with ideas for a homemade bathtub floor (liked this one).  But the more I think about it, the more I think I’d rather create a multi-use ground cloth (for when I don’t need the tarp, and bivy for when I do.  I’m playing with making a simple fold over “bivy” out of a large piece of GG Polycro.  Before I start really playing, I thought I’d throw it out the the group for some ideas/feedback.  My thought is to fold over the plastic (as it’s 72″ wide) and seal the bottom and 3/4 up on the side with glue (not sure what kind would be best) and leave the top 1/4 to pull back for easier in/out access.  I’d like to be able to close that 1/4 up as well but haven’t thought that through.  I’d cut the length to about my shoulders leaving my head exposed.  I might get some splash from the top without a barrier under the tarp which might be where I utilize connecting the top corners like in the “cork” idea above.

Got some rain today, so I’m pondering how I might make some tries once it dries out a bit.  Looking forward to all ideas and wisdom :)

[Jerry Adams]

since it’s not breathable, you’ll get a lot of condensation on the inside of it.  And that will get your quilt wet

[dirtbag]

Yeah.. most bivies have tendency to create condensation.. an all plastic (polcryo) bivy may be a little nasty inside.. like a greenhouse affect??

[dirtbag]

For that, why not just use one of those emergency sol blankets. I believe the solo weighs 2.9 ounces? It could double as your ground sheet or wrap up burrito style or just as a blanket.. emergency.  It is pretty durable. Costs only like $5. If true emergency the bright orange could use for signal help. .. may work better then polycryo in all instances?

[Mina Loomis]

Once upon a time I was camped under a flat tarp in the mountains in summer, and it got cold and breezy during the night.  To try to stay a little warmer by keeping the breeze from blowing across my sleeping bag, I spread my open rain jacket loosely across my torso.  This helped a lot but my feet and lower legs were still getting chilled.  So I stuck the foot end into my GG pack liner and pulled it about up to my knees.  That kept the breeze off the lower part of my sleeping bag housing my lower legs and feet.  In the morning, oh my!  The part of my sleeping bag inside the pack liner bag was all wet.  Upper body part was fine and dry.  I won’t do that again!

[Adam Salinger]

Ok….I get it.  Condensation is our enemy for sure.

I was trying to stay away from adding a bivy to my kit.  I’ve never owned one and just didn’t want to add the weight.  Looks like it might be back to the bathtub floor for me.

[dirtbag]

So you dont camp with a tent or tarp but you bring Gatewood cape ( I LOVE mine ) for emergency use. No groundcloth.. you dont want a bivy.. so you mostly just commando cowboy camp?

[Adam Salinger]

Ha!  I know.  A bit of a circle.  I’ve been backpacking for over 40 years and have used most combinations. Ultimately, my favorite way to sleep is cowboy camping under the stars.  As backups, I’ve carried Integral Designs Sil  Poncho and then a Sil Shelter.  In later years I moved to the Gatewood Cape, with an A16 bug Bivy if going to a really buggy place.  I loved that the cape was my pack cover, rain gear and shelter if needed.  But, I’m ready to move back to my rain gear, and for that reason, to a Hexamid Pocket Tarp.

I think my key is to mess around long enough till I find the Polycro bathtub floor setup I like the most.  One that’s removable, to sleep on as a ground cloth most nights, and that can attach to the Hexamid when I need the protection of the bathtub walls.

[dirtbag]

Gotcha!  Now I see..

[Author]

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