Bivy camping

[captainhastings]

Going for my first ever camp tomorrow night. Got jungle sleep bag. British army bivy and also a elan hooped bivy. Planning to go near coastal path high up bit of rough ground long grass. Got to be honest would love to use the army bivy but bugs are my concern so likely use the elan and see how it goes

 

[Megatramp]

Can't beat bivvying

Enjoy and post your pics here when you get back.

 

[Danceswithhelicopters]

Bugs are a thing when bivying in bug season. Unless I'm high or pre/ post bugs I don't tend to bivy as I I usually get savaged. I think that's where a hooped bivy comes in as you can use it unhooped on a fair night but raise it if they become an issue.

Have a great time looking up at the stars.



Loch Ba earlier this year. Every time I woke up there was another constellation framed by the trees.

 

[Broch]

Bivvying or tarping I tend to use an insect repellent before getting into my bag. It not only keeps the insects off you but the slugs too

I don't like the confines of netting but the spray works well for me.

 

[Danceswithhelicopters]

And by "high' I mean altitude....

 

[Chris]

Personally I prefer a bug net at this time of year, but if not and you want to just sleep in your bivvy bag, you could get one of these and wear it over a boonie hat or something:

Midge-proof Headnet - Smidge

Midge-proof Headnet

www.smidgeup.com

 

[Watch-keeper]

Mossi repellant is a must have for me, nothing worse than the high pitched whine of a mossi looking for a suitable landing spot.

 

[gllct0]

No poles or complex assembly—just roll out your bivy and sleep.

 

[Broch]

Personally I prefer a bug net at this time of year, but if not and you want to just sleep in your bivvy bag, you could get one of these and wear it over a boonie hat or something:

Midge-proof Headnet - Smidge

Midge-proof Headnet

www.smidgeup.com

I don't get claustrophobia, but something about netting close to my face I just find unbearable so, unless I'm in a tent, I prefer it to be open - hence the insect repellent. I can't even stand the bug net over my hammock. My preferred sleeping arrangement is a tarp with a wide open view of the countryside to wake up to in the morning or, occasionally, the sight of the camp fire as I drift off to sleep.

 

[Chris]

I don't get claustrophobia, but something about netting close to my face I just find unbearable so, unless I'm in a tent, I prefer it to be open - hence the insect repellent. I can't even stand the bug net over my hammock. My preferred sleeping arrangement is a tarp with a wide open view of the countryside to wake up to in the morning or, occasionally, the sight of the camp fire as I drift off to sleep.

Perhaps in a previous life you were a sardine?

 

[HorseGuy]

I don't get claustrophobia, but something about netting close to my face I just find unbearable

Have you tried wearing a baseball cap under the head net so that the peak of the cap keeps the net off you face. Works for me.

As an added bonus a tight woven midge net can also be used by hay fever suffers when walking through dense flowers kicking up pollen as you go. I doesn't stop the pollen entirely but I find it definitely helps to keep a lot of it way from you face and nose.

 

[MikeLA]

I use insect repellent and occasionally a head net, depending how bad the midges are.
Nothing beats camping with just an army bivi bag.

 

[Barney Rubble]

The trusty British army bivvy is usually my preference through summer and I generally try to get through the season without using a bug net. Unfortunately the mossies and horse flies always seem to take a liking to me.

So. for the last couple of years, I've used citronella candles in my UCO tea light lantern. It has worked fairly well for me so long as you keep the candle relatively close by. I've also kept the candle burning through the night, which then means that I'll wake up during the night needing to swap out the tea light (most tea lights burn for approx 4hrs).

It's by no means the perfect solution as I've still gotten the odd bite. But it was definitely manageable and much nicer than applying that awful insect repellant. Nordic Summer and Skin so soft never seemed to work for me. Smidge (and deet based products) weren't too bad, but I always hated the nasty, oily, grimy feel that it gave you, especially when you're a bit hot and sweaty.

 

[captainhastings]

Hi folks sorry for the late reply and thanks for all the advice. I loved every minute of it. I do need to sort a decent pillow though lol.
Glad I took the elan as the spot was absolutely crawling with slugs. I woke up 3 times feeling very short of breath and had to unzip the cover and get gasp of fresh air. Was good to go then.
Definitely want to give the army Bivy ago as I like old school. My jungle sleep bag has a zip up net.
Few pics but sadly the fog came in

 

[captainhastings]

Bivvying or tarping I tend to use an insect repellent before getting into my bag. It not only keeps the insects off you but the slugs too

I don't like the confines of netting but the spray works well for me.

What spray do you use broch ?

 

[Broch]

What spray do you use broch ?

Most of the time it's Smidge - it works on most things not just midges. Previously I used to use a bog myrtle extract natural repellent but that doesn't seem to be available anymore.

 

[grainweevil]

Ah, that post bivvy report was going so well... and then there were slugs. My personal bête noire. I'm very glad talk of slugs being followed by waking up short of breath didn't go down the dark path I initially feared!

 

[walker]

Bivi for me , love waking for p#&ss and staring up at the stars while I fill my nalgene

 

[Gabri]

Sounds like a solid setup for your first camp. The army bivy is great for weather but yeah, bugs can be a pain without proper mesh. The elan hooped bivy should give you better protection from insects, especially in long grass and rough terrain. Maybe bring some bug spray just in case, and if you feel brave, you could try the army bivy for a short while to see how it holds up.

 

[Laurentius]

Snugpak jungle bag with built in mozzie net, way to go.