Tarp and bivy camping in bad weather | Robens Mountain Bivy 

I know you don't drink coffee, and rarely take a stove, but when you're wet and feeling a bit miserable, the ritual of making a hot drink and some hot food I think can be a moral boost. Could be challenging without any lighting though 😁

A realistic introduction to using a tarp and bivi for a shelter. Well done.

If nothing else, it was worth the nihgt out for that amazing sunrise time lapse!!

Cracking setup there Kev. Could see you were miserable at first before you got the bivi and bag on the go 😆 but was worth the pain in the end. Cheers 👌🏻

You mention that you like the Robens bag's long side zip but note that it's not waterproof on top. I have used a tarp in the similar configuration to your morning setup but with a waterproof zipless bivi (ex-army) in a T shape, i.e. with just the head end under the tarp and the rest sticking out at right angles, getting wet. This provides a lot of space on either side of the bivy entrance, for storing gear, cooking and for getting changed and into/out of the bivy, all in the dry. Great video. Lots of possibilities.

South african weather that. Had a blast a day ago in the campsite. Cool company

Hi and lol, a tarp is not for everyone without doubt,I have got rid of most tents as I mainly only camp with a tarp and bivy, You should have pitched with a Star configuration 1 pole in the centre, bomb proof and more room than a tent, You will have to try again You have to love a tarp and bivy lol Cheers Adrian

I live on the East Coast of the US and use a bivy, but I'm usually able to make use of fallen logs to block wind. This kind of environment would be rough if you couldn't get right up to the rock wall. That misty rain is miserable no matter what too. Good on you for sticking it out!

I was there same time as you on the highest road and managed to make a lean to with my 7x8 Basha. Strong winds stoped play, so returned to base camp also the ground was too rocky to take pegs, never again.

Thank you for sticking it out and I'm pleased for you that you had such a well deserved sunrise. I will always think of the discomfort you experienced when I pitch my Terra Nova in various locations and varied weather!

Nice adventure. Take a look at papa hiker, or mountain hopper he loves his tarp/bivvy and based in Northumbria

Nice video and timelapse 👍

I use the decathlon tracking Tarp and it's fine I prefer it then a tent to be honest just my opinion plus it's very waterproof iv had it in quite heavy rain no worries great video as always mate 👍

All the discomfort makes the video much more enjoyable for us! Great video sir! I expect a battle with Orcs in the next one to better this one. Or at least 2 dragons.

There are several different ways to set a tarp but good on ya man for sticking it out.

Informative video Kev and a great introduction to a less popular area of the Beacons, well done! You would still have got wet setting up a tent in those conditions. A tarp does seem more adaptable than a tent especially if you use a tarp/tent setup but less protection from the bugs and wild life. Enjoyable video. Regards Keith

All about experimenting in order to gain experience Kev. You did it in June as opposed to December when you'd be in bother. Ive tried it a good few times up the Munro's but for me, tent every day of the week given how light they are nowadays. Still, variety is the spice of life and if you don't try, you'll never know.

Maybe a much bigger tarp with a reflective coating might have made it easier to bear. On the other hand, I wasn't there, and you roughed it ;-)

I thought this was going to be a hatchet job on bivvies at first but glad you came around in the end. I think a different setup with some more headroom was maybe in order? All my camping this year, from January onwards has been in the Alpkit Elan bivvy, with or without tarp depending on rain forecast. Haven't felt the need to get the tent out at all, but I probably might have if I'd been camping in that spot in that weather. You have to use the right tool for the job. My next few planned camps are going to be in my new swag, hoping that will be the best of both worlds. We'll see.

That was great I love it. I’ve got a Belgian army bivi and Tarp. It’s great 👍

I have nearly 50 years hiking including mountaineering including professionally. Q. What is the obsession with using a tarp, trekking poles and bicycles bag and ‘quilts’, A. They are a fad. Whilst bobby bags are a great emergency bobby item this combination is cold, inefficient and heavy. Seems to be a UK and Yankee thing.

Its not sheep muck mate , there called mountain malteezas . Maybe if you went with the right gear you might enjoy it more.

Weather aside. The ratio weight/space/price definitely goes in favour of the tarp/bivy setup. I like that you can raise the head part of the Robens bivy with paracord/loc lines, very smart.

Please remind me Kev...... You still have your Nordisk svalbard 😂. Your nutts m8. Great upload tho

Kev, I would rather put pepper in my eyes, or even spend a night in a phoxx 1 than tarp/bivi in the rain.

I would have bailed- I'm a fair weather camper.

F%#K that !!!