Military Folks - Quick Question

[QKShooter]

How is the Gore-Tex Bivy Cover working out for youse guys? How waterproof is waterproof?

I am not using the modular sleep system but, I think that I want to add one to my civilian sleeping bag as additional rain/wet protection.
I don't really want to add a sweat while sleeping problem though...so is it breathable as well as waterproof like Gore-Tex is supposed to be?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Daddydon]

Um, I had one while I was in and it is waterproof for the first few showers...then it's water resistant and it doesn't really breathe. A lot of us just used it cuz it would get toasty but at least you would stay relatively dry

[SIGguy229]

Mine works great...and am going to get another for my other sleeping bags

[QKShooter]

That is more like the news that I want to hear.
I can get a new MIL surplus one at a pretty low price. I think it's possible to mess the Gore-Tex waterproof feature up if it's not been laundered correctly so I am only going to spring for a new one.

[varob]

OKS, what's a good price?

[QKShooter]

$30.00 & Free Shipping.

I was shopping around on the Internet and most of the prices that I saw were in the neighborhood of $50. + Shipping for new surplus.

[BugDude]

I thought the title was "Military FoRks". Those would be assault forks and will force you to over eat.

[TX expat]

I thought the title was "Military FoRks". Those would be assault forks and will force you to over eat.

You mean those high capacity forks? Those are BANNED.

[buckeye .45]

I never thought of them as very breathable. But, they were very waterproof.

[031131]

Mine worked, though I suppose you really just have to see what your luck is when you draw from supply lol. With that said as an 0311/31 I typically spent more time under the stars then not. I found it to be hot and un-breathable. That said I would only break out the whole system when it was literally freezing out.

It's a win/lose situation. the heat dried any wet clothing that I stuffed in the bottom so that was good. My way around it was opening up just enough to breath. If you don't you wake up every 10 minutes or so when you run out of air in the bag. given that you need to keep a part open so you can breath I guess it isn't going to be water proof. The thing is though nothing is ever water proof. You just eventually figure out how to best use what you got.

Also depending on what you plan on doing this with I would causation that the sound of rain landing on your Gore-Tex is especially laud and I would advise one against it if they were thinking of getting one for survival purposes. That's just my opinion though as I would rather be able to hear as much as I can without the extra noise maker.

All in all a tarp set up above you would be both cheaper and better in the water proof department.

[ctr]

I used a commercial GoreTex bivy sack for years. Water never got thru it, but then again, moisture rarely made its way out either. Did sleep warm though. These days I opt for a poncho tarp. Haven't carried a bivy in years.

[aus71383]

Meh - was my opinion. It would probably make a good summer bag by itself - keep the dew off at least. We never had tents, and I always slept and woke up soaked with that bivy cover. Or it was so hot you couldn't sleep, and the only thing cool enough to keep the bugs off was a poncho liner - which wasn't cool at all! Bad times....

Austin

[Daddydon]

Mine worked, though I suppose you really just have to see what your luck is when you draw from supply lol. With that said as an 0311/31 I typically spent more time under the stars then not. I found it to be hot and un-breathable. That said I would only break out the whole system when it was literally freezing out.

It's a win/lose situation. the heat dried any wet clothing that I stuffed in the bottom so that was good. My way around it was opening up just enough to breath. If you don't you wake up every 10 minutes or so when you run out of air in the bag. given that you need to keep a part open so you can breath I guess it isn't going to be water proof. The thing is though nothing is ever water proof. You just eventually figure out how to best use what you got.

Also depending on what you plan on doing this with I would causation that the sound of rain landing on your Gore-Tex is especially laud and I would advise one against it if they were thinking of getting one for survival purposes. That's just my opinion though as I would rather be able to hear as much as I can without the extra noise maker.

All in all a tarp set up above you would be both cheaper and better in the water proof department.

I suppose that's why my experience was different. Semper gumby

[OPFOR]

I used mine extensively in Afghanistan, but usually when sleeping in snow, so the "keep water out" was a pretty big deal. At $30, I think it's a must-buy. At the very least, you can use it as a good ground cover.

[ANGLICO]

Get two at that price. Sometimes on jump ops when we were limited to max weight, we would jump without the sleeping bag, but with the Bivy-Cover and poncho liners for each man. Then we would huddle up at night and use body heat to stay warm, and the Bivy-Covers to stay dry (note, they do not have enough protection from heat loss to the direct ground/dirt). This works in conditions well below freezing, depending on how friendly you and your 'Mate' are.

We always took the Bivy-Covers, and extra plastic tarps depending on the region we were operating in.

Being cold and dry is not good. Being cold and wet is far worse!