Coming from the German Swiss term Beiwacht (bei by, and wacht watch or patrol) the proper term for this item is is biv·ou·ac (/ˈbivo͞oˌak/) but most know it as the Bivy. When inclement weather catches you off guard, or your quick stay in the woods doesn't require a tent, the Bivy fills in the gap as a quick-to-deploy rudimentary shelter.
By the grace of the fabric gods, this Bivvy features a construction out of good 'ol PTFE Gore-Tex. This is extremely advantageous for a bivy, where weight and breathability are top priority. Unlike some t bivy bags, the Dutch opted for a single hoop-pole to give you and your gear extra room to hunker down, making it a bit of a tent-bivy hybrid.
Curiously, you'll find large bands on the outside bottom of the bivy cover — apparently the Dutch believe that a sleeping pad should not only have a way to be secured to the bivy but have it be on the outside. Your guess is as good as ours.
On dry days, it features a mosquito net so you can enjoy your stay in the bivy while being able to vent a lot more heat.
But rest assured, the Dutch build their gear well and this is no exception. It's not often you get an entire sleeping solution made with Gore-Tex, even when it's as minimalist as this.
Specs
- Genuine Dutch Military Issue
- Weight: 3.2 lbs total (stakes not included - get titanium ones for the min-maxing weight savings experience).
- Length: 87" or ~ 220cm. Perfect for a Dutch person, or a normal person with extra gear.
- DPM Gore-Tex construction keeps water out and vents excess heat from the inside, but stealthily because it's in DPM.
- 'Mummy' style shape with extra room for gear
- Single hoop pole included with every Bivy
- Zip-open mosquito net near main fly for dry days
Condition
Bivy's are in excellent to like-new condition, with only minor signs of use present.
