The Outdoor Research Aurora Bivy ($169; outdoorresearch.com) is a perfectly decent Gore-Tex bivy bag, in which you ll be reasonably snug and exceedingly uncomfortable because you can t sit up ...

These fire starters, knives and other emergency essentials will keep you safe and secure on your camping trip.

This is an ultralightweight thermal sleeping bag and bivy sack that weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 90% reflective rating and is 100% waterproof. The seams are taped, and the drawstring of this stuff ...

This is an ultralightweight thermal sleeping bag and bivy sack that weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 90% reflective rating and is 100% waterproof. The seams are taped, and the drawstring of this stuff ...

This is an ultralightweight thermal sleeping bag and bivy sack that weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 90% reflective rating and is 100% waterproof. The seams are taped, and the drawstring of this stuff ...

This is an ultralightweight thermal sleeping bag and bivy sack that weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 90% reflective rating and is 100% waterproof. The seams are taped, and the drawstring of this stuff ...

This is an ultralightweight thermal sleeping bag and bivy sack that weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 90% reflective rating and is 100% waterproof. The seams are taped, and the drawstring of this stuff ...

The only other option, as you suggest, is to add a sleeping-bag cover. The best bet would be a simple Gore-Tex bivy bag, such as Outdoor Research’s Standard Bivy Sack.

This is an ultralightweight thermal sleeping bag and bivy sack that weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 90% reflective rating and is 100% waterproof. The seams are taped, and the drawstring of this stuff ...

This is an ultralightweight thermal sleeping bag and bivy sack that weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 90% reflective rating and is 100% waterproof. The seams are taped, and the drawstring of this stuff ...

This is an ultralightweight thermal sleeping bag and bivy sack that weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 90% reflective rating and is 100% waterproof. The seams are taped, and the drawstring of this stuff ...

This is an ultralightweight thermal sleeping bag and bivy sack that weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 90% reflective rating and is 100% waterproof. The seams are taped, and the drawstring of this stuff ...