MLD Superlight Bivy vs LiteSoul Bivy

Sid, I just returned from a 6 night run in my homemade bivy. It has a net hood w/ a "rain" flap that can be velcroed over the mesh. The nights I cowboy camped, I was grateful for the open mesh. I was able to lie and look at the stars and full moon. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but any future bivy needs to have a mesh window for me. Good luck. Those MLD bivy's look sharp.

Sid, what is your plan to protect the cuben bottom? Is it worth the weight savings and expense by going to cuben if you have to then bring a ground cloth to protect it from punctures?

Also, I agree with the above poster and would never order a bivy without a bug net of some some sort. Although, I suppose if you carry a seperate headnet you could always use that.

First I want to say that I have the Soul Sidezip bivy. The two features that you mentioned, the eVent footbox and particularly the net window, are things, having used them, that I would not give up.

"Sid, what is your plan to protect the cuben bottom? Is it worth the weight savings and expense by going to cuben if you have to then bring a ground cloth to protect it from punctures?" -John Brochu

John,
It so happens that I use a Rain Skirt made of Silnylon as part of my rain gear and the skirt also doubles as my groundcloth that protects the cuben bottom of my bivies.

I have a question for you guys regarding the half moon net window. Does this window allow me to zip up the bivy all the way without fear of suffocation?

-Sid

"I have a question for you guys regarding the half moon net window. Does this window allow me to zip up the bivy all the way without fear of suffocation?"

The net/window is independent from the bivy's closure. So there are three options: Open, open with netting, or closed.

"The net/window is independent from the bivy's closure. So there are three options: Open, open with netting, or closed."

Are you sure about this? I know that this is the case with the Soul bivy, but from the pictures of the Superlight, it looks like the half-moon netting is always 'open' with no covering, and the LiteSoul has no bug netting.

Douglas…
You're right…I based that on the Soul (Sidezip) bivy I have and not the the Superlight, which I haven't used.

With this net window always open, I can close the bivy up all the way without fear of suffocation, correct?

Also, I will have a head net with me as well. Would the head net serve the same purpose as the net window if I have it on with the bivy slightly unzipped?

-Sid

There's also the all head net area option for the Superlight;this may be a good option to consider depending on your shelter. This would help with condensation issues within your sleep system and also minimize any feelings of suffocation.
I couldn't sleep with a bug net on my face, so the Lite Soul would be out for me ;) YMMV
Have you considered the Soul Bivy? That's gonna be my choice when I can afford replace my Ti Goat bivy. This comes with a zippered bug net window stock and over head hang loop;this way you can have a little more versitilty in your bivy.

Are punctures really that big a problem with cuben? Beyond the obvious potential……..is this really a big problem?

I mean it's not like you're wearing cuben pants and rabbit hunting…. but seriously is this a problem?