MLD Grace Solo and Bug Bivy

I own and have used both the spinntek and spectralite Grace Solo tarps coupled with a bivy and I have been very pleased.

I have been set up on exposed ridges in some fairly strong winds and have yet to experience any issues with either setup or fabric durability. I have linelocs on both tarps which allow for easy retensioning if required.

I always like to pitch tarps below treeline. I have a cat-cut tarp of comparable size to the Grace Solo and I'd say that it's workable above treeline, even in high winds. However, in high wind, when it starts raining, the rain comes down sideways. Meaning that you'll be pitching that tarp in a very low, stormworthy configuration. With the Grace Solo, you can easily do this, but wiggle room decreases to coffin-like accomodations in this type of pitch. The reason I like to have trees above me is because when the rain hits the tree branches and leaves, it stops falling sideways, and instead falls mostly straight down, thus allowing for a higher, more ventilated pitch of my tarp. So what I'm getting at is that perhaps a larger tarp, or even a shaped tarp, would serve as a more comfortable shelter above treeline.

I think if you were intent on using a Grace Solo above treeline, this would be a situation where an eVENT bivy would be a necessary precaution against wind-driven rain for the times when you don't want to pitch the edges of the tarp all the way to the ground