Bivvy Technique. :D

[FishMark]

I have a British Army Bivvy bag with drawstring and a mummy sleeping bag.

My 'usual' mode of use is to sleep with no tarp so I get 360 view, which is nice.

My problem is I'm not a contortionist so once I'm fully zipped in the sleeping bag with the sleeping bag hood drawstring closed I can't easily get to the bivvy bag drawstring to pull that tight.

As Autumn arrives and there's more dew I might want the drawstrings of the Bivvy Bag and Sleeping bag tight to keep warm and the dew off.

Is there a technique to achieve this without being a Houdini-like escape artist?

I don't really want to go down the tarp/hoop route.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dave-the-rave]

Pull the bivvy bag draws strings first then get yer arms inside the sleeping bag and sort the sleeping bag draw strings. You're doing it back to front.

 

[MikeLA]

Yep thats the answer

 

[tiger stacker]

Place a umbrella over your head

 

[FishMark]

Pull the bivvy bag draws strings first then get yer arms inside the sleeping bag and sort the sleeping bag draw strings. You're doing it back to front.

Yep thats the answer

Thanks Dave and Mike, I feel a bit bashful that I didn't think of that.

Place a umbrella over your head

That's a frighteningly good idea. I carried an umberella all day on Sunday on a long walk when it rained all day and it deffo saved me a soaking. I'd guess a golf brolly can be a pole for a tarp and on a light wind night can go over your face. I don't know if your post was a pi55take but a brolly strikes me a great bivvying tool.

 

[Macaroon]

Very under-rated bit of kit, the humble brolly!

 

[bambodoggy]

Use my brolly loads.....especially for bushcraft, makes fire lighting in heavy rain much easier. The Gurkha's are very partial to a brolly and I sort of took a leaf out of their book

Have to admit, never thought of incorporating one into a bivvi bag to give a "hooped" bivvi effect though...it sounds daft, but it might just work

 

[DocG]

Can also help to replace the issue bootlace and woggle arrangement with smoother running paracord and a decent cord grip. That makes cinching the top of the bag up easier and more effective. I went one further and used some 2mm dyneema cord. Result is almost friction free cinching and much less "cord caterpillar" as the size of the hole reduces.
All the best.

 

[FishMark]

Can also help to replace the issue bootlace and woggle arrangement with smoother running paracord and a decent cord grip. That makes cinching the top of the bag up easier and more effective. I went one further and used some 2mm dyneema cord. Result is almost friction free cinching and much less "cord caterpillar" as the size of the hole reduces.
All the best.

Thanks a lot. On reflection, friction pulling the opening closed is actually quite a big part of my problem.

 

[shaggystu]

If you use the bivvy bag upside down you can use the hood to cover your head without tightening any drawstrings at all. It works for me

 

[Angry Pirate]

If you use the bivvy bag upside down you can use the hood to cover your head without tightening any drawstrings at all. It works for me

That's kinda what I do. I tend to curl up into a foetal ball with the hood cinched up but with the hole facing down. Sorts breathability and is nicely waterproof.
Have to say I love the idea of the brolly though and I'm going to swap the cord for some decent 550 now - been using the issue bivi for years and that had never occured to me. Thanks!