Integral Designs EXP Unishelter (not eVENT)
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See the stats and etc. at the Canadian Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC):
This sack came in the mail today and my partner set it up in a few seconds. It is beautiful, rugid, and well made. She ordered it after being disappointed in the amount of mesh in the eVENT unishelter and the fact that the mesh was on the outside of the bag, not under the weather barrier fabric.
Because we have not used this bivy this is a "quasi-review," filed to make sure that people know about this bivy, as an alternative to the Integral Designs eVENT unishelter (which has a very limited bug netting around the head area, meaning a diminished view out in good or better weather). The EXP bivy is also not, apparently, as breathable as the eVENT bivy.
This sack has the mesh of the IDs' Chryssalis bivy, which is a 1 lb. 8 oz. bivy with a wire head loop — but the Chryssalis is effectively the lighter weight counterpart of the EXP unishelter.
The IDs EXP uni is big and can hold a lot of extra gear, it does not have the vent that is built into the eVENT model for when it is zipped up tight against the elements. It also weighs about 2 1/2 pounds.
Thus, we will return it because I will be using the Bozeman Mountain Works' NANO when I go out, unless conditions are really bad, in which case I will be using the Gossamer Gear/TarpTent – HS's Squall Classic tent at 1 1/2 lbs.
And, my partner would rather carry either a lighter BMW Vapr bivy or a Mountain Hardwear 'Tri-Light 2' self-standing tent at about 4 lbs. total with mesh tent interior, fly and footprint, big enough for 2 persons.
But, that all said, the IDs' EXP uni is such a beautiful piece of gear that we hate to not keep it and use it — but the money can be, or has already been, spent on other gear. So it goes back, even though it gets a 5 from just putting it up in the house and checking it out.
The EXP uni is sold by MEC in Canada, the Canadian equivalent of REI and at Integral Designs website.
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