New Borah eVent bivy – 12.5 oz!

"Where on the Borah Gear website do they state they are using SilPoly? I don't see it" I don't either and I did not say that in my post. "They simply say: "High Quality sil/PU coated waterproof bottom"" Agreed… that's what I quoted from their web site. The rest of my comment is a question. "and Billy, there's no way seam-sealing a bivy would take 1 oz of seam-sealant. Nor would adding silicone-stripes on the bottom (something totally unnecessary, IMO) add an additional 1 oz." Well that comment from me was NOT a question… it was a statement of fact. If you want to come buy and weigh the bivy that I added 2 oz to with seam sealing and floor non-skid pattern of seam sealer let me know. Billy

I emailed Ron to ask what he means by Silicone-PU blend. I would think the PU means Polyurethane, but that's just an assumption. Will see what Ron has to say. billy

Specs Materials, top: 3 layer eVent fabric Materials, bottom: Silpoly coated waterproof nylon Storm flap over closure #3 YKK waterproof zipper Stake loops on top and bottom 4 seasons Fits to size 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Length: 96 in (248.3 cm) Girth, shoulders: 74 in (187.9 cm) Girth, feet: 64 in (162.5 cm) Weight: 12.5 oz (354.3 g) Here are the specs as listed on the Massdrop sale. Silpoly bottom.

I rarely using any type of shelter….But, it seems to me that for the additional weight equivalent of a couple of gulps of water, it makes more sense to carry a shelter that I can actually take a trail zero in if weather dictates. JMO….

"…take a trail zero in…" I need someone to translate this into English, please. billy

….the opposite of a town zero. ;-)

Isn't this one about the same weight as the Locus Gear bivy?

seems like a 'BPL post zero' to me… :) Billy

Isn't this one about the same weight as the Locus Gear bivy? I think so. But the Locus Gear is better – it also makes your wallet lighter.

in addition, if you use snow caves, trenches, etc- a eVENT bivy is the cat's a$$! :) Looks so so nice. I really really want to do that when I can do overnights again.

As was mentioned earlier in this thread by "Just in Time", he is correct in that it is the silpoly fabric from RSBTR, with a sil/PU coating on one side and a thick PU the other side. Any PU based sealer works great if seam sealing, something like Seam Grip. Most people don't even end up sealing theirs though (including myself). I've just never felt the need to, as it'd pretty much have to be submerged for water to get in those seams.

a full eVent bivy collects less, if any internal condensation when compared to a top only eVent bivy in many situations. others here have experienced and reported similar observations. sorry, but i can't explain the physics.

John, Which side is PU and which side is silicone? billy

Definitely worth it. I dragged out my bivy for the first time in several years,camping on the Channel Islands. The stars were gorgeous! Simple, quick, and light. In bad weather, just add a tarp and you are fine.

That's great to see the use of SilPoly in the floor. It really seems like the ideal floor material – much better than normal silnylon.

Montbell UL sleeping bag cover. ~7oz. ~$150 depending on size. Nothing lighter, simpler or MORE BREATHABLE than 2 layer Breeze Dry-Tec. Perfect for winter bivy.

Great discussion going on! I've made the plunge into the bivy world and just placed an order at Borah for a gray Snowyside bivy and a modified bug bivy. I'm really excited about this SilPoly floor, a perfect match for the eVent top. These will be my first bivies, downsizing from the MLD Serenity Shelter. Shout out to John at Borah for all the helpful info on this new bivy and for working with me on some bug bivy modifications. Between these two bivies and a cuben tarp, I think I'm pretty much covered for year-round backpacking in my area. After seeing a few of y'all's photos and pouring over countless old bivy threads, I'm really looking forward to the bivy life- sleeping in snow caves and waking up to spectacular views.

Sorry. I would have guessed you guys would know what this means. Common vernacular for a "zero" mileage day among distance hikers. I'll speak in weekend hiker syntax from hereon. ;-) So back to my original question….given that most distance hikers will cowboy camp 95% of the time and a larger more comfortable shelter can be carried for the weight difference of a couple gulps of water, why would a hiker on a thru-hike carry a bivy? On my hikes I have only seen a handful of hikers use them and most remarked that there were times on the trail when they wish they had opted for a more substantial shelter…Especially when pinned down for extended times in bad weather.

Hence why I carry a MLD cuben solo grace tarp..for bad weather extended period of time..it's nice to pitch my tarp over the bivy. It's all about options and comfort for me, not necessarily the weight. Bivy/tarp..for me it's perfect for all seasons all hikes.

On my hikes I have only seen a handful of hikers use them and most remarked that there were times on the trail when they wish they had opted for a more substantial shelter…Especially when pinned down for extended times in bad weather. There were times..but what about all the other times? I'm sure if you used a bivy (and liked it)..and then did a long hike with another substantial shelter..there would be more times that you wished you had a bivy.. All relative..

"On my hikes I have only seen a handful of hikers use them and most remarked that there were times on the trail when they wish they had opted for a more substantial shelter…Especially when pinned down for extended times in bad weather." Sleeping through a rainstorm in one is noisy but bearable. I shudder at the thought of having to ride out a snow storm in a coffin. No thanks. I'm looking at this purely for shorter trips where I can live with the forecast but would like a shelter in case the weather turns unexpectedly and don't want to mess around with pitching a tarp. Lunch Counter on Mt. Adams for example.

" I shudder at the thought of having to ride out a snow storm in a coffin. No thanks. " That's why a mid is better.

Joe A. As I mentioned, all the other times most thru's simply cowboy camp. After putting back 20-odd miles you're only going to want shelter when you need shelter. And for the record, I do like bivy's. Approx 30 years I used to haul them up plenty of rock faces and slept on Port-A-Ledges in them. They're great for that.

For the times when precipitation is more serious, and you can't find a bit of shelter from a rock ledge or tree, a small tarp over the head area would suffice to make this bivy much more comfortable. Think 1.5 linear yards of cuben. No seems, just hysol edges. .34oz cuben just fine for that, four guy out points on the corners. That's 2.25yards of material in case you were wondering…about an ounce (sans guylines). You wouldn't even need four pegs normally, you could probably secure at least one corner to a natural anchor. I'm kind of surprised no one sells such a tarp already. The closest thing to it is the MLD dog tarp, but much lighter cuben would work here. Less panel area, strength is less an issue, also its not used every night so durability much less an issue, as is HH.

@Randy.. #gotcha