The Gear Closet-Integral Designs Crysallis Bivy

My camp at Cedar Swamp

This is the bivy sack that I use in the winter season because it is made of highly breathable Event on the top and thick nylon on the bottom half. I usually rock this bivy on its own, without a tarp due to the fact that it has a breathing tube if it starts snowing harder, I zip it up for the night. It also features a single “half moon” waterproof zipper If I am under the snow line and suspect heavy rain, I set up a one man sil nylon tarp that I use in conjunction with the bivy and a sheet of Tyvek for ground moisture. Most of the time I will find a nice spot under a cedar or in a clump of trees with dense branches to post up for the night, these branches usually provide enough cover if the skies look mostly favorable. The bivy is 1.5 pounds, so it is fairly lightweight and is easily compressed in the top portion of my pack or stuffed in front panel to push the heavier and bulkier items closer to my back for better weight distribution. There are a number of reasons that I choose to use this bivy/tarp system opposed to a traditional tent. I find that my connection to the wilderness around me increases when I use this system, probably because without the wall of the tent I can see, feel and hear the nature around me much easier. Another reason is the ease of the system, I find a nice spot with some cover, stamp out a suitable sized flat spot with my snowshoes and set up. I can be out enjoying the wilderness sooner in the bleak light of winter with a nice stroll rather than fussing with set up. I don’t think that they make this bomber bivy anymore, so check EBay for used models.