Re: [Paddlewise] Tents vs Tarps and Bivy Sacks

From: Fred T, CA Kayaker <cakayak_at_mindspring.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 14:18:07 -0700
Having spent a few years in the Army, this sounds like the shelter 
half  each Grunt is issued (we were all Grunts - Infantry) as part of your 
field gear.  I remember that if there was a ten percent chance of being out 
in the field there was a 90% it would rain.  The Army had a way of making 
camping out with your buddies less than comfortable.

 From experience, the Tarp and Bivy sac combo is really under rated!   It 
is compact, light weight, versatile, but unfortunately not necessarily 
cheap.  For a few years I used a military surplus poncho, which was coated 
rip stop nylon as a make shift bivy sac and/or fly depending on 
conditions.  The cost of a high end bivy with netting and a supported head 
section for a little breathing room is close to or as much as many two 
person tents and more than many solo tents.   Personal choice, but both 
approaches can provide more than adequate protection and a comfortable 
nights sleep.  Caution:  You will notice that all bivy's come with a 
warning label about ensuring proper ventilation.   I'd hate to see someone 
suffocate.

Fred
California Kayaker

At 08:19 PM 10/20/2000 -0400, drsm wrote:
>stir the pot" in the tent thread by offering another
>alternative I like: tarp and bivy sac combination


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Received on Sat Oct 21 2000 - 17:11:56 PDT

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