Alternatives to SMD Bivy?

try John West's at Borahgear.com

Stick has a review on the Borah side zip, standard size bivy here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuM-jp8Kje0

I picked one up off gear swap recently, heard nothing but good things.

What exactly are you looking for?

Great bivy, John does custom work quite reasonably, send him an email.

I assume you are talking about the SMD Meteor?

I use one, but not on hot summer trips. It can get too hot.
I like a full mesh bivy in summer. The SMD Serenity and the many others are cooler.

My preferred summer bug net is the BearPaw Minimalist 1. It is the coolest of them all because of the increased mesh area, but it is a couple ounces heavier than others.

I also recommended that you use bug bivy/net be big enough to be suspended in a way that the mesh doesn't rest against your skin. This is not just for summer comfort, bugs can bite you through the mesh while you sleep.

I am looking for the same thing and have found the following options available:

Borah Gear Bug Bivy
MLD Bug Bivy
Ti Goat Bug net bvy
SMD Meteor

and if you are looking for net tents

Bear Paw
MLD Serenity
Zpacks Net Tent
Gossemer Gear bug net? (More of just a net you hang over your head rather than a bivy/tent)

I have been looking to snag an MLD bug bivy or Borah gear bug bivy off of the gear swap but they go pretty fast so I might just order a new one next spring. Or if I am too cheap I might just try using a head net for bug protection while i sleep.

I recently picked up a bug bivy from John at Borah Gear to use as a warm weather bivy sack when I need to keep the bugs away or want to contain my gear but don't want the added stuffiness of a typical DWR bivy.

I used it on a three-night trip this last weekend and was very happy with it. Nice and airy, plenty of room to move around in (I ordered regular length/wide width for myself at 5'10" 215 lbs). Attaching some shockcord and mitten hooks to the grosgrain loops at the head and foot of the bivy kept the mesh lifted up off my face and quilt.

A nice piece of gear that I'll get lots of use out of. Great prices, good quality workmanship and fast turn-around too.

Nice, this Borah stuff looks perfect. Thanks for the responses.