DIY Lightweight Bivy for Wind, Bugs, and Splash Protection--Seeking Advice
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:00 pm
I've been wanting to start sewing my own gear for a few years now, and I think that a UL bivy would be a fun and useful first project. I've been wanting something light, breathable, and NON-waterproof that I can use underneath a poncho-tarp to protect from wind, bugs, and any rain splashes that get in.
My current thoughts are a 3-part design similar to this: https://diygearsupply.com/diy-guides/bivy-sack/ but I plan to take my own measurements, etc. The materials I'm currently planning on using are
- 20D 1.1oz/yd silnylon for the floor (maybe 30D for added durability)
- 0.34oz/yd Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) for the foot-to-stomach "ceiling"
- no-see-um netting for the chest-to-face "ceiling"
Some things I'm worried about though that I'm hoping people will have experience / opinions on:
- Would you expect condensation from using DCF for the foot-to-stomach portion instead of something more breathable? I'm hoping that the giant netting-only portion will help combat this issue, but will it be enough?
- Are there any issues that I need to look out for when sewing DCF to silnylon? I'm not too worried about waterproofness of the seam for this application, but I do care about durability.
I'm excited to try making my first piece of large gear. Hopefully all goes well, I'll definitely be practicing with cheaper materials before I commit to the real thing. I'm also curious to hear about anyone else's MYOG experiences, especially regarding sleep systems!
My current thoughts are a 3-part design similar to this: https://diygearsupply.com/diy-guides/bivy-sack/ but I plan to take my own measurements, etc. The materials I'm currently planning on using are
- 20D 1.1oz/yd silnylon for the floor (maybe 30D for added durability)
- 0.34oz/yd Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) for the foot-to-stomach "ceiling"
- no-see-um netting for the chest-to-face "ceiling"
Some things I'm worried about though that I'm hoping people will have experience / opinions on:
- Would you expect condensation from using DCF for the foot-to-stomach portion instead of something more breathable? I'm hoping that the giant netting-only portion will help combat this issue, but will it be enough?
- Are there any issues that I need to look out for when sewing DCF to silnylon? I'm not too worried about waterproofness of the seam for this application, but I do care about durability.
I'm excited to try making my first piece of large gear. Hopefully all goes well, I'll definitely be practicing with cheaper materials before I commit to the real thing. I'm also curious to hear about anyone else's MYOG experiences, especially regarding sleep systems!