Bivy Sack

A bivouac sack (also known as a bivy sack, bivi bag or just bivy) is an extremely lightweight, waterproof alternative to traditional tent systems. It is used by climbers, mountaineers, hikers, ultralight backpackers, soldiers and minimalist campers."

Bivy sacks keep you warm while making a light weight waterproof covering for your sleeping bag.

Oh and this is in the stay warm contest so vote for me!

Step 1: Materials

What you need:
~Sewing machine
~3 yards of Gortex
~3 yards of Black taffeta
~Thread
~Zipper/velcro

Step 2: Step 1

Cut both fabrics to 2.5 yards by 40 inches.

pair up the fabrics with the white side of the gortex faceing out. Sew 1/2" away from the edges.

Step 3: Step 2

Turn the whole thing right-side-out and sew in some zippers. I used a 30" and a 8" zipper.

You could also use velcro but I hate it when things get stuck in it.

Comments

[tim1]

So how is this waterproof?

[branson graf]

gortex is waterproof

[Mother Natures Son]

Excellent design. I didn't know you could buy Goretex straight. Is it durable?

[KittyF]

goretex by itself is NOT durrable which is why it is faced in most apps.   it needs a facing if used in a coat and if I wanted to use it in a situation like a Bivy I'd line it and cover it and use it for an interliner.   FWIW, kitty

[footoutflatout]

If your in the UK check these guys out. I don't think Gore will sell Gore-Tex to any Tom Dick or Harry but they seem to have a range of suitable looking fabrics.

http://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/catalogue.asp?cID=1
http://www.profabrics.co.uk/snap_product_search.php

[balhamas]

I don't get why you have put the black taffeta in on the bottom. Surely as a bivy bag it needs to be breathable and water tight all around you. I'm assuming taffeta isn't water proof or breathable.

[annienm]

I don't get what the lower eight inch zipper is for?

[QuiksilverRox]

Sometimes it gets moist/hot/stickey inside a sleeping bag. My sleeping bag has a foot zipper and i made one for this also.

[tysonb]

I just did a search on eBay and found it for about $7 per yard @ 55" wide.

The link below should work - Gore tex fabric - was the search term.

http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=gore+tex+fabric&_sacat=0&_fromfsb=&_trksid=m270.l1313&_odkw=gore+tex+fabric&_osacat=0

[abadfart]

very nice ive seen Bivy sacks for $99.00 USD how much did you spend

[tecneeq]

I guess the problem is where do you get the goretex (or goretex like) sheet. I didn't sind any source in germany so far :(.

[karg]

try this:
http://www.extremtextil.de/index.html

[tecneeq]

Sind? I mean find of course ;).

[BJMN]

For those of us in North America, there is a store in Calgary, Alberta that does mail-order, and they have all sorts of materials for building your own custom out-door items. A friend of mine built a complete custom tent with vestibule and fly with their materials. Nylon, fleece, goretex and so on. www.campers-village.com

[mattias law]

if i can get my hands on the materials, cus im in the uk, then im gonna show my friends how its meant to be done on the duke of ed. then half way through the night go into their tent when i get too cold lol for mine i would sow a layer of very durable material onto the bottom and tape the seams so that you dont rip the bottom on rocks. i would also make it mummy bag shaped and cut my sleeping mat to that size then the bivvy bag could just stay on my sleeping mat the whole time this is actually so much better than some of the ones you can buy cus you can adapt them without being afraid of cutting up your very expensive bag

[PlainsPrepper]

Any suggestions on where to get the supplies i.e. Gortex and Black taffeta

[thematthatter]

man those things are really expensive if you try to buy one. I seen one priced over 600 bucks

[lasersage]

You can buy them here

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=253&pageID=1

for £30, $44 (I don't know how recent there exchange rate conversion is)

[QuiksilverRox]

this works just as well but cost around 50