What’s with the Bivy? Two Ultralight Bivy Setups (Video)

During a recent bikepacking trip in Arizona, Neil checked with his riding companions Joe Cruz and Willie Hatfield who tackled the route with ultra-minimal sleep setups. In our latest video, he sits down with them to hear the thought process behind their bivy-centric gear choices. Watch it here…

I’m fresh off of a trip on the Fool’s Loop in Arizona where the two folks I traveled with were using very minimal sleep systems. As you’ll see, such ultralight bivy setups don’t take up much space or require awkward poles, and they allow you to fully enjoy sleeping under the stars. Of course, there are some downsides—especially when it comes to dealing with bad weather—but for this trip, we had a pretty good idea of what to expect in terms of precipitation. So, I asked Joe and Willie on two separate mornings of our trip what was included in their lightweight bivy setups, and here’s what they had to say. Watch the video below and find their trancsribed text below.

Joe Cruz’s Ultralight Bivy Setup

Good morning, everyone. Joe Cruz, contributing editor at bikepacking.com, here on the second morning of a trip around the Fool’s Loop in Arizona, departing from Phoenix. Our nights have been cold, but our days have been bathed in sunshine—exactly what you’d expect at the end of January and beginning of February in this part of the U.S.

For this trip, I brought my simplest sleep system—basic but reliable. One of my main concerns in this region is the abundance of thorns and prickly plants, so I opted for an old-timey Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest pad. It’s not particularly thick and has a low R-value, but I wasn’t expecting frigid conditions. I paired it with a bivy sack—an old-school Outdoor Research model that was popular among ultralight backpackers about a decade ago. It’s as simple as they come, just a sack with a drawstring loop at the top, made of Gore-Tex. In theory, it’s waterproof, though I don’t expect to test that feature on this trip.

Two Ultralight Bivy Setups video
  • Two Ultralight Bivy Setups video
  • Two Ultralight Bivy Setups video

I also brought a Hyperlite flat tarp, but it mostly stays packed away unless conditions get truly dire. Inside the bivy, I’m using an Enlightened Equipment 40-degree down quilt, which has been my go-to for trips all over the world. For a pillow, I roll up whatever insulating garment I’m wearing. It’s a completely reliable setup—simple, modular, and easy to pack into the small corners of my soft bag system.

That said, there are downsides. The RidgeRest pad isn’t the most comfortable option, especially for a side sleeper like me. After a few hours, discomfort wakes me up, forcing me to shift positions. If unexpected rain rolls in, I’d have to scramble to pitch the tarp unless I saw it coming. Otherwise, I’m pretty happy with the setup. I should also mention that everything is laid out on an old piece of Tyvek I got from a contractor friend. That’s it—happy trails!

Willie Hatfield’s Ultralight Bivy Setup

Morning! I’m Willie Hatfield, an independent designer in the cycling industry. I’m here on the Fool’s Loop in Arizona with bikepacking.com friends, using a sleep system cobbled together from used gear store finds and a few pieces I’ve picked up over the years.

My goal was to carry most of my warmth on my body, so I’d stay comfortable in the mornings and around the fire—or without a fire at night—while my sleep system provides just enough extra warmth and comfort. I’m using an Integral Designs South Col Alpine bivy from 2007, a used Enlightened Equipment Enigma Apex quilt, and a silk-cotton mummy liner for a little added warmth. My sleeping pad is a Nemo Tensor Insulated, which helps my achy back. For a pillow, I use a stuff sack filled with other stuff sacks, and I keep my electronics inside with me to help preserve battery life.

Two Ultralight Bivy Setups video
  • Two Ultralight Bivy Setups video
  • Two Ultralight Bivy Setups video

Clothing-wise, I’ve layered up with a synthetic puffy, a softshell, and a sun hoodie. On my legs, I’m wearing SportHill 3SP running pants, fleece socks, and my riding gloves, along with overmitts that double as foot warmers depending on which needs it more. I also wear a buff, a fuzzy beanie, and a ball cap, which helps keep the bivy from falling into my face. I can zip the bivy completely closed in the desert since condensation isn’t much of a concern, which really helps with warmth.

That said, I’ve still been a little cold some nights—this is only a 50-degree bag, and temperatures have dropped as low as 29. To compensate, I’ve been using hand warmers tucked against my femoral artery, which extends the temperature rating when I’m unsure whether my gear will perfectly match the conditions.

To keep everything clean and puncture-free, I’m using a poly ground cloth from Garage Grown Gear, which has been much easier to clean than the Tyvek sheets I’ve used in the past. As for packing, my gear goes wherever I find space on the bike—I don’t have a dialed location yet, but this trip is a chance to experiment.

Further Reading

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