bivy noob

"but Big Bend? way too many scorpions and tarantulas and nasty things for my comfort!" Honestly, if this is the concern, I would use the Trailstar inner. I woke up once with a mouse perched on my forehead in a bivy. The thought of having tarantulas and scorpions potentially crawling me is… uhm… well you know. Otherwise, MLD, Katabatic Gear, and TIGoat make some great breathable bivvies.

I haven't tried all the bivies but I can tell you what I like about mine and what I'd repeat if replaced. 1 the bathtub floor (most seem to have this) 2 full net hood. Some have a net window, so far i haven't needed coverage around my head. But I don't go out in harsh weather either; I could figure out a solution if I needed it though. Crawling into a chest zipper is a lot like crawling into a zipped-up sleeping bag. Not difficult, but I do appreciate the little extra comfort a side zipper would offer. This should be an interesting thread!

Any time I am looking at new gear I try to set some limits. First I set a price range(family guy on a budget). Then what am I looking for. In the case of a bivy, I would look at it like this: Water proof or water resistant? What kind of weather/temps? How much netting can I get away with? Does a bathtub style floor mater? Shelter that will be used with it or lack of? Answering these questions could bring up more for your situation personally. And should start narrowing things down. With the coverage of a trailstar I would opt for something with lots of netting. The lightest you can buy on your budget. The other thing to consider with a bivy is the entry. How comfortable are you wiggling in like a worm or is a side zip more appealing?

See? I don't even know what I'm supposed to consider, so what you guys have brought up is exactly what I was looking for. keep 'em coming…. First of all, I'm quite happy in my Duomid + solo inner (or duo, if the dog needs bug protection, too). I also think it's great in there without an inner when there are no bugs…. I was hoping to get the trail star out more often but I really don't want to put an inner in there (seems like a pain – and bulky/heavy), so what would I do if I needed to keep creepy crawlies off me? Or to give me a bit more wind protection without having to stake it all the way to the ground if it's not too bad). I backpack in tick country a lot. I backpack in the west texas desert a lot (definitely need something on top of me there…but I'd like to cowboy camp – cold at night, and tons of nasties creeping around!) I also thought a bivy might be nice for cowboy camping when it was a bit chillier (i.e. Big Bend at night…) as it might help keep me toastier in my quilt. Thanks for the heads up about the center zip…good to know. I guess the side zip is the way to go for me. I'd probably want an all mesh face thing – the half-moon design of the standard MLD super light seems a teeny bit claustrophobic for me. If I went MLD I'd def go with the all-mesh face. Do I want a bathtub???? I honestly don't know. Seems like if I feel like I need a bivy for weather (splash, heavy rain, ?) then the bathtub is probably not a bad idea. I can happily say I've never challenged the bathtubs on any of my tents/inner nets, but that doesn't mean that it wouldn't happen….. So any recommendations on this one?? Then…cuben vs sil???? ARGH!!! love the weight savings over silnylon (and I can afford it) but always worried about using cuben on the ground……

If you would like to try an MLD Superlight Bivy, Pro Silnylon bottom, half moon net, large size… let me know. PM me and I will let you borrow mine.

> Then…cuben vs sil???? ARGH!!! love the weight savings over silnylon (and I can afford it) but always worried about using cuben on the ground…… Cuben is easy to fix with a few inches of tape. I haven't found a tape for silnylon yet… but I could've missed it.

Well now, nothing compares to hands on use! Nice gesture Steofan. Like tents and tarps, no one bivy is best for every situation. If I was planning on buying my first bivy right now it would be hard to convince me not to buy a TIgoat Raven Omni. Never owned anything from them just find the specs and features to be very well rounded. Full zip, bathtub floor with hood options. After a few uses you will really be able to dial in how well it works for you and if you need to look for something with different features.

You should take up the offer to borrow one first. They are definitely not for everyone. Many just add a Sea to Summit bug net and a polycro floor. Probably weigh close to the same and you will be able to move around a bit….

Like everything else it is a process Trial and error. I have spent the last 6 years buying, trying and selling..buying, trying and selling..reading reading and reading..buying, trying and selling..to get where I am now. What works for me might not work for you or anyone else for that matter. You will get a hundred different responses to 1 simple question (what bivy should I use?). What I use in northeastern NY year round: Summertime.. Borah gear bug bivy. Silnylon bottom, Full 2 way zipper across chest and down both sides. MLD cuben Grace solo tarp. When my son comes with me I use borah gear double bug bivy (custom made like the solo) and MLD cuben Grace Duo tarp. I can use this set up into spring and fall depending on temperature and conditions. Early spring/Late Fall..Katabatic gear Bristlecone bivy and same MLD tarp. With my son I have recently gotten a custom 2 man borah gear bivy..and same MLD Duo tarp. (Both of these bivys are silnylon and have FULL net face and zipper across chest and down sides) Winter..Borah gear snowyside all event bivy..with same MLD tarp. Works for me…

Let us know how it works out for you! I'm considering giving a bivy a try for my trips to GUMO this fall/winter. My top contender was a MLD Superlight with a full net hood.

SMD's Meteor provides a ton of mesh, room to change clothes, and all-around versatility.

Posting this up because I don't see it mentioned alot, if ever. I can't report back on it yet because I just ordered one and havn't yet given it a try, but… Why not a full Argon or M90 bivy, top and bottom if your main objective is avoiding creepy crawlies and warmth? The full Argon bivy I ordered from Borah the other day will be even lighter than the Borah cuben bivy! It will also be much cheaper than cuben. Its more expensive than a silnylon bottomed bivy but hopefully no slip and slide which I found pretty annoying. Maybe a bit more breathable as well? Obviously the bottom will not be waterproof, but like you I plan to use mine cowboy camping in the desert and local dry mountains. Rain is not a concern at all (San Diego). I got it for added warmth with my quilt and to keep scorpions, bugs, mice, snakes, etc. off and out of my quilt and face. You could use it on a piece of polycryo under the trailstar if rain might be expected and it would then probably equal the weight of a silnylon bivy. Just an idea. I'm giving it a try and will report back how it works. John from Borah says he uses one with an M90 bottom and says its tougher than you would think.

I was in Big Bend during February and I didn't notice many scorpions, spiders or snakes. I don't think they are very active during the winter, even though it can get pretty warm during the day. As far as bivies go… I have a large (+25) Superlight with a full net hood. I can't recommend it over any other – I just decided to go with MLD after using an Exodus and liking it a lot. The new fabric is described as being superior(stronger, more breathable) to the MLD Endurance on mine, but one with M90 is probably just as good and significantly cheaper. Bath tub and side zip are really nice to have. Joe's set up sounds good and the Bristlecone looks like a great alternative to the Superlight. It IS important to consider where the tie out that pulls the netting away from your face is located. I've seen quite a few borah bivies on gear swap with torn or strained netting. The Superlight and others pull from the zipper band, which is much stronger. I can tighten up the elastic quite a bit to pull much of the surface off of me if I am concerned about condensation. It creates quite a bit of room in the large Superlight, probably as much as the MLD bug bivy, and puts very little stress on the fabric or netting. I think most of us are jealous of your time on the CT! My hikes tend to be a week long or shorter. I'd love to get out for a longer trek.

I think the creepy crawly thing is mostly in folks head. I will admit that I mostly go out in cool/fall winter weather when they are not around as much and 99% of the time cowboy camp, some with bivy some not. In hundreds of nights, I have never had anything in the desert try to get into the bag with me. I have had a mouse run over me in AT shelters but never anywhere else. In Big Bend I just use a tyvek ground sheet and nothing else. Occasionally I will use a bivy in Southern Utah if the possibility for cold windy conditions are there. Currently a MLD Superlight but any of the ones mentioned above would be fine. Borah Gear seems to have the best prices and willingness to do some custom stuff. Size matters…depends on if you want to have your pad inside or out, I always have my pad outside and really just use the bivy as a bag cover. Definitely get a side zip. Bug bivy in warm weather, breathable in shoulder seasons, yes eVent if winter or really damp conditions.

Thanks so much you guys…i knew I missed you all! I do think it's a good idea to try one before I actually spend the cash – since I'm not at all sure if it's something I would like or even need. I never thought I'd even consider one because I just didn't see the point, but after some interesting camping situations on the CT I could really see how one might be a good idea to have in the quiver. Keep it unzipped (ground sheet) if no bug pressure or if it was warmer, zip it up to help with draft control/warmth, bugs, to keep CharlieMud off my quilt, etc. Anyway, just thinking of ways to challenge myself a bit to get lighter and simpler. I like my kit a lot, but this summer I just felt like I had too many components everywhere, and without a groundsheet I ended up just sleeping on top of my duomid when we cowboy camped (and I didn't like that – not a real fan of using that expensive shelter as a groundsheet……)

" and without a groundsheet I ended up just sleeping on top of my duomid when we cowboy camped (and I didn't like that – not a real fan of using that expensive shelter as a groundsheet……)" Cut to the chase and pick up a polycryo ground sheet to place under your duomid. At ~1.8 oz., it's way less expensive and lighter than any bivy, and will add a layer of protection to your duomid when you pitch it, as well. I do it all the time with my equally expensive Skyscape Trekker X when I cowboy camp. It's the most cost and weight effective option I have yet run across.

I know it runs against the UL grain, but a polycryo sheet is cheap and light and will save your expensive shelter and sleep gear from dirt and damage. +1 on using one.

Joe A – do you find much benefit to having both a Grace Duo and a Grace Solo? I have a cuben Grace Duo which I am besotted with, but I don't know if getting a Solo just to save two ounces makes sense for me. I usually use mine with a Simblissity Inner Peace bug net, or just a head net. Have you found that the addition of a Solo is worth it just to be able to pitch in smaller sites?

I use the solo when I am solo and the duo when my son comes out with me. The duo is pretty big. I think the solo is perfect size for me and I doubt I would ever bring the duo if it was just me. I could toy with the idea though because it is a palace for 1 person..