Best tarp for SMD Meteor Bivy?

I'm using the two together and at the moment, am really happy with the combo…..though I have only used them around 8 times or so. Only one time did I experience rain and it was a short and light shower. Thus far, I have no reason to think it won't work great for me in full on rain storms…though I'm not sure how it'll work in the wind. I have set the Hexamid up in breezy conditions a number of times and it was fine…though I always pitched the low side to the breeze and up against brush or rocks for a wind break.

I haven't yet made an attachment point on the underside of the Hexamid to hold the bivy net off my face. That will be easy but I probably won't be able to realize the net's full height due to the lack of Hexamid height at that point.

As far as spindrift and rain entering the bivy through the net, based on my experience with my other bivy with netting, I haven't been too worried. The netting seems to do a good job of breaking the moisture's momentum and keeping it bay. I use this combo for self-support kayaking as well, so, besides rocks &/or bushes, I can use my drybags and kayak to block the weather too.

The beak seems like a great idea. I just attach my sil-nylon poncho to the underside as one would the Zpacks optional door. I attach it to the top and on the two ends then hold the bottom down with rocks. There's enough poncho material left at ground level that I can easily adjust the amount of space by simply moving the poncho and rocks. Works very nicely. I'm sure there'll be some flapping in the wind but I'm confident it'll work great in prolonged rain.

At 6'-2", I'm not sure if the Hexamid will be long enough for your liking. I'm 6' and wouldn't want it any shorter. That's probably more a personal preference thing though.

The total weight of Hexamid & bivy combined, including 12 stakes (4 for bivy but not needed), is around 11 ounces. My poncho weighs 7 oz…but I don't count it as "shelter weight" as it is something I'm carrying anyway.

Thanks Rusty, great response, I really appreciate it. But yeah, that's what I feared with the Hexamid and my height. So I'm also considering the Hexamid Twin, which should give me plenty of coverage, and in that case I might not even need the beak. I'd probably add the beak anyway though. The Hexamid Twin+beak is 5.8oz
Pretty appealing.

Anybody use a flat or cat-cut tarps with a Meteor-style bivy?

Zpacks also offer 7ftx9ft and 8ftx10ft tarps, for 4.3oz and 5.2oz respectively, which I think I would like a little better; design-wise, price-wise and weight-wise.
But…is the coverage sufficient in downpours with a Meteor?

There are people who have thru-hiked the PCT with just a 9×5 flat tarp and ground cloth. I personally would want a little more and the Meteor provides a decent amount of protection.

Even a 9×5 rect tarp can be pegged down tight to protect the upper half of the Meteor bivy and opened a little more on the other end to allow a little more room for ventilation.

Of course many of us wouldn't be comfortable with a tarp that small, but a 10×8 should be very roomy.

My last post was made while I was on a conference call:-)

Anyway I have used the Meteor under an MLD Monk tarp 9×5 rectangular. I have actually been able to make a pretty storm proof pitch, but it was awkward to get in and out of.

I usually use the Meteor under a GG Spinnshelter and that combination is bombproof, light and roomy.

The combination is very flexible and what I would consider an all season, all weather shelter combination.

In fact I have used the Meteor under 8×10 and 10×10 rectangular tarps. There are a lot of different pitching options.
With the Meteor you don't have to worry about protecting the bottom half so much and that allows a lot of pitching options. If some water sprays onto the mesh in horizontal rain, it's not such a big deal, the mesh helps a bit with that as well.

Here are some photos of an MLD Spinnaker Monk with an Oware Drawcord bivy. Setup in my cramped apartment.
I would basically use the Meteor in the same way in warmer weather.

The head of the bivy can be placed where there is the most room and/or ventilation.
If the weather gets nasty, turn the bivy/bag 180 degrees for better protection.

By moving the top of the bivy/bag to where the tarp is staked close to the ground you will protect the head of the bivy from the elements when needed.
Blowing rain is not so much of an issue with lower half of the Meteor Bivy so the tarp probably wouldn't need to pitched lower except in hard rain or snow.

Hey Dan

I've done most of my hiking in the SE too. I took the GG SpinnTwinn on several trips last year and really liked it. I used it in conjunction with a Ti Goat bivy but I really wanted a meteor type bivy for the warmer, muggier months. I never had it in really hard driving rain but it is very large for one person and provides tons of coverage. It is large enough that you shouldn't have many issues with rain if paired with a Meteor Bivy or even without a bivy in most rains.

Another option if you really want flexible pitch options, you could have Joe at Zpacks make you a large square or rectangle cuben tarp similar sized to the Spinntwin…cheaper than the Hexamid and a bit more flexible than a cat cut tarp like the SpinnTwinn. Although I found the SpinnTwinn pretty flexible in terms of pitching options.

Good luck with the choice!

Wow, awesome responses, just what I was looking for. I really appreciate it.

Do you think a Meteor would be appropriate for the Sierra? Or would I be better off with a traditional, full coverage bivy, considering temps could easily be around freezing?

Happy Thanksgiving

Regarding: "using the Meteor in the Sierra",
It is a personal thing.
Some can just use a tarp and no bivy in the Sierra. Some would want a full coverage bivy.

I find that I prefer it over a full coverage bivy in almost all cases.
It breaths better so less condensation, it is less claustrophobic. It is definitely nicer on warmer buggy nights.

It does reduce breeze on cold winter nights, adding some warmth under a tarp. It also deflects the majority of spindirft and spray, but not as well as a full coverage bivy.

It also depends on how much coverage and how you use your tarp. If you should have a problem with spray and spindrift, lower the pitch on your tarp.

I usually use a full coverage type tarp in winter so the only issue I have had is frost on the bug net and that is not really a problem at all.

But I believe that if I were using a full coverage tarp like my Oware Drawstring bivy, I'd probably have more condensation inside because of the lack of ventilation.

To me, the Meteor is a good compromise between a bivy or no bivy.