Topic
Uber Bivy or Nemo Gogo?
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Uber Bivy or Nemo Gogo?
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Sep 5, 2012 at 7:18 am #1293724
Anyone got any experience with either of these items?
Like the look of the Uber Bivy but concerned by there being no independent reviews available.
Like the weight of the Nemo Gogo with the airbeam, but a couple of users seemed to think it was too narrow and didn't breathe great.
Sep 5, 2012 at 7:33 am #1909242I have had the Nemo Gogo for a few years now and am generally very happy with it.
the Gogo has undergone a few upgrades since it first came out, and also, the line has been expanded so now there are at least 3 variations.Mine is the first generation basic Gogo (only one style back then).
my first generation Gogo does not breathe as well as I would like, but apparently they have upgraded the breathability in subsequent incarnations.
newer generations of the basic model are also slightly lighter weight than my original.
I did a few minor modifications to mine so that its weight is actually similar to current models.the airtube is very nice, and easy to inflate and deflate. it also makes it pack down to a very small size.
I generally set it up using only 3 stakes, 1 in front, and 2 at the feet. holds up nicely. there are 4 other stake points if it is particularly windy but I rarely used them.I find there is adequate room inside and plenty wide enough (for one), and the vestibule is a nice addition for the gear.
hope this helps.
Sep 5, 2012 at 7:46 am #1909243I don't have any experience with the Uber Bivy from Miles Gear, but I got a customized version of his double trouble bivy a few months ago (he added in a zippered mesh door and changed the dimensions slightly). My dog and I have only slept in it a few times, but no trouble so far. I have two min/max thermometers and I've always measured the bivy to be about 15-21 degrees warmer than the outside temperature (and this was with the mesh door mostly open). Despite this, it has never felt muggy inside to me. No condensation issues so far and I don't ever expect any as the upper material seems quite breathable. Another plus is the upper material doesn't feel cold to the touch like nylon does. I'm thinking of using it this winter to add some warmth to my sleep system. The only downside about my bivy is it's packed size – I think it packs a little larger than your typical nylon bivy and you have to fold it up to get it in its most compact form. That said, you can probably take a lighter bag with the bivy.
Dave from Miles Gear was easy to work with. He was responsive, open to whatever ideas you have, and made some good suggestions for me. His prices and turn around time are quite good too.
Sep 5, 2012 at 8:20 am #1909251The Gogo Elite packs much smaller and has more headroom. Art did you have any problems with condensation with the Gogo?
Sep 5, 2012 at 8:50 am #1909267Why would want to buy a Bivy that weighs 2lbs? You can have a full 1p tent for that weight and for the same or less price no less and a have a lot more room. What am I missing?
Sep 5, 2012 at 9:20 am #1909282Randy
I already have a good TT. I now want something that can double as an above treeline storm emergency shelter.
Sep 5, 2012 at 9:30 am #1909287Art
Have you endured much rough weather in your Gogo?
Sep 5, 2012 at 9:32 am #1909288"Why would want to buy a Bivy that weighs 2lbs? You can have a full 1p tent for that weight and for the same or less price no less and a have a lot more room. What am I missing?"
You're missing the 'Über' part – the thing is totally bomber. It's not really a bivy in the traditional sense, it's more like a micro solo tent.
Even though it was born in the Sierra, it might be a little over-built for 1 season use. Of course, what with the constant monsoon weather this summer, it seems each day has been an adventure on Whitney. If you don't have the confidence to take a tarp, the UB provides assurance that you will be practically able to take anything the mountain throws at you.
As for the other 3 seasons, or more difficult environments, the UB provides a nice alternative to a tent. That is, it's still a bivy in that you can simply throw it down and crawl in. The low profile is why it's better able to withstand windstorms, etc.
Sep 5, 2012 at 9:33 am #1909290Yeah, I've had some correspondence with David. Seems a great guy who really knows his stuff. I'm just a bit concerned that the pack size of the Uber is a little big for something I'll mostly be carrying for emergencies (mostly hike hut-to-hut in NZ). Also can't find an independent review.
Sep 5, 2012 at 9:45 am #1909298Craig
no rough weather, just summer stuff in the Sierra, while I've been there in winter, never with the Gogo.
Sep 5, 2012 at 9:53 am #1909302I had a chance to crawl into Dave's @ Guitar last month. Even though I'm more of a SUL person, I get where he's coming from. One, if you don't like bugs, it provides great protection. Two, if you're in inclement weather (like the Sierra have been all summer long), it provides important mental relief.
Let's face it: if you're gonna go SUL/UL, you have to be constantly thinking. Go a little heavier + more protection, and you can almost get into a 'whatever' zone. Of course, you're not going to tempt lightning, but worrying about location, temperature, wind, rain, splash, etc, etc, all sort of disappears to a certain degree.
I thought I had a picture of some UBs in action. Here's a picture of MYOG tarp-tent, with a group of UBs behind the rock. Dave is the guy in the red beanie. Yes, he's about the size of Brian Urlacher.
Sep 5, 2012 at 2:03 pm #1909363I bought one of these about year ago and have loved it so far. It is a bit heavy for SUL but right on par with some of the tents and hammock systems out there with a lot of advantages when it comes to ease of set up and ability to handle weather. Get in touch with Dave and let him know what your after, he is a great guy to talk to.
Sep 5, 2012 at 11:02 pm #1909546Craig,
I'm glad you asked the question, and I'm glad to see owners responding. It got me thinking, so I added some links to trip reports I've found on the Uber Bivy. They are at the bottom of the Uber Bivy page:
http://www.milesgear.com/UberBivy.html
I will add more as I find them.
Also, here is a picture at Guitar Lake from a different point of view. (Oh, and Brian is an inch taller)
Sep 6, 2012 at 11:31 am #1909683Here is a good laugh from our last trip. Sometimes the Uber Bivy is SO nice you can't even finish setting up before falling asleep ;)
Sep 6, 2012 at 5:48 pm #1909832Went with the Uber Bivy. And while I was at it I got one of Dave's lightweight Emergency Bivy's also for fair weather travel (at that price and weight, why wouldn't I?).
Now the shipping wait begins…
Jan 26, 2013 at 5:26 pm #1947519All my hiking since being home in NZ these past few weeks has been hut to hut so haven't had the chance to try my uber bivy yet.
However the emergency bivy is now a regular feature in the bottom of my pack. I haven't had to put it to a rain test yet, but I've slept out in it in heavy dew and it came through wonderfully. Really happy with the room inside, the breathability (no condensation at all come morning), with the way it ups the comfort rating of my UL down quilt. Slept out in it a few night ago for fun on my final night of the Dusky Track in Fiordland, and despite it being a cold night down in the deep south I had to remove my down socks after just a little while. Just a superb piece of emergency kit that doubles as a sleeping system temp upper on cold nights, giving me the piece of mind to not have to pack a bigger sleeping bag.
Jul 24, 2013 at 5:25 am #2008980Tyvek is very noisy, that might be a problem for a quiet sleep :).
Jul 24, 2013 at 7:30 am #2009001Only in the beginning, It softens up.
Jul 24, 2013 at 9:10 am #2009029I think it is too noisy for a tarp (even softened).
But as a floor or groundsheet it works great. Since the pad is inside the bivy, the Tyvek is not moving around or making noise.Jul 24, 2013 at 10:33 am #2009054I've been using the GoGo for about a year – (2) warm seasons now – I'm finding it to be a really nice warm season bivy tent. Setting up and sleeping mostly in Colorado alpine – open breezy, mostly dry w/ brief summer rain storms & sometimes light precip in the mornings. Holds out the rain OK, maybe light snow – not a bivy tent for heavier snow.
Fits 1 person with pack inside with room to scoot around a little – can change clothes inside if needed. Starts getting crowded when my 6mo GSD joins in – may need to put the pack outside when she's full grown.
I have modified mine by cutting a vent in the foot area with a Velcro hold open/close – customized the foot area to build-in the short pole prop, added a two grommets in the sides at the floor and two in the head to stake it wider and added stability for wind. I've also used it with the air tube removed as a sleeping bag cover bivy – works great.
Oct 12, 2014 at 7:12 am #2140965Going to try my Uber Bivy in the White Mountains of New Hampshire – Pemi Loop next week. I'll report back on how it fairs!
Nov 14, 2014 at 8:20 am #2149190Hey Chris. So how did the trip go? I'm considering a Pico. I hiked Bondcliff last week with my cuben tarp and Ptarmigan bivy. Woke up with a damp footbox but maybe my 15 degree bag was overkill or perhaps the amount of wet gear I had inside with me. Not a bad night but I'm looking for something simpler with less condensation. Thanks!
Nov 24, 2014 at 2:16 pm #2151701Trip went well. Cold as hell though. Uber bivy performed just fine in sub-freezing temps. I did have some condensation the first night but that is because I failed to leave a crack when I slept in it the first night. No condensation the second night when I left it partially open. When I got home from the trip I through it in the washing machine – delicate cycle – came out much more pliable and looked brand new.
Nov 24, 2014 at 5:48 pm #2151745AnonymousInactive"I already have a good TT. I now want something that can double as an above treeline storm emergency shelter."
Sorry to step in, just curious how often you guys have to shelter above treeline? I'm fairly new to alpine, so I've been following the run back to treeline methodology…
I've slept in my copper spur down to 10 degrees F. Wind up to 30 gust (so not much). I don't have a 4 season tent in my arsenal.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Our Community Posts are Moderated
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
Get the Newsletter
Gear Research & Discovery Tools
- Browse our curated Gear Shop
- See the latest Gear Deals and Sales
- Our Recommendations
- Search for Gear on Sale with the Gear Finder
- Used Gear Swap
- Member Gear Reviews and BPL Gear Review Articles
- Browse by Gear Type or Brand.