Make Your Own Bivy Sack

[mochilero]

Years ago, I paid $20 for what was essentially a plastic bivy sack. To my surprize, I was relatively dry after an all-night rain. The problem of condensation may be over-rated, I decided.

So I made a bivy sack from two garbage bags duct-taped together. It weighed 4 ounces, and was 3'x7'. It fit in my pocket, and left me only a little damp in the morning (don't breath inside it). I hit the trail and was dry in a few minutes. This type of bivy is best for a dry climate, but I haven't had any real problems yet.

Any other cheap, light gear ideas out there?

Steve

http://www.TheBackpackingSite.com

 

[ctenidae]

You can make a pretty effective alcohol stove out of the bottom halves of two beer (or soda, depending on your political/religious/social slant). The one I've used boiled a quart of water in about 5 minutes.

Instead of an expensive (and often heavy) groundcloth, I use a 99 cent plastic dropcloth from Home Depot. I get the supr cheap one doubled and cut to footprint. Not the most durable thing in the world, but at that price, you can throw it out when you're back to civilization and get a new one. Not incredably puncture-resistant, either, but if you're pitching on something big and shar enough, it's going to suck no matter what you lay down.