Tyvek, cuben and tape

hmm maybe I'll just have to use it and see how it goes?

I'm not sure about the Tyvek tape working with cuben or no, it seems to work well with a lot of stuff, but i have no experience with using it on cuben yet.

But, just a heads up, the Kite tyvek i haven't found so durable so far. I made a double bivy for my wife and i out of it a few weeks or so ago, taken it out and used it a couple of times and it's already starting to tear and fray at the taped seams area.

Granted, my wife is none to gentle with the stuff even after i told her not to stretch it out etc, and we both toss and turn a night, so that might be part of the reason. I do like the material otherwise though, sufficiently breathable, sufficiently water resistant, lighter and more packable than the homewrap and feels less plasticky and more fabric like.

yes, I agree the tyvek material is really fragile. That why I was going to add the cuban to the top of it thinking it could make it more durable to prevent leaks. I plan on using either poly or more tyvek as a ground sheet also to help it last longer. Do you think this will help? Do you guys use a ground sheet?

I think im just going to use the tyvek tape I dont need it to really bear any weight just keep the cuben on and seal the seams. HMM maybe I'll get the tyvek tap use that for the cuben and just use seam sealer that I have for the sewn sides

Hi Josh, i think the problem will come more at the edges were it's sewed and/or taped. Any kind of stress is going to be most noticeable there, unless you're talking abrasion and the bottom. Otherwise, the top fabric should be fine except for the seams–i think the cuban would be overkill and wouldn't prevent the main problem anyways. Personally, i wouldn't sew it at all, Tyvek tape works really well on this stuff and sewing will just weaken the material.

Yes, i would use polycryo on the bottom personally in general, and especially if any rain is possible as this stuff is not even as water resistant as homewrap, which seems to straddles the line between water resistant and waterproof. In some ways, i like homewrap more, especially the noticeably greater durability, but it's definitely heavier and bulkier.

Actually the Tyvek sewed nicely and I was refering to abrasion. There should not be any stress on the bivy as it is just draped loosely around me. And i picked up some items this morning that are going to make the shelter better. I bought a Integral designs sil tarp 1 to go with it so I think that most I need to worry about is a spray, no direct rain. I also picked up a Ul synmat from Exped that I will laying on so bivy should not touch the ground to often if at all.

I think im set?

I'm sure it sewed great, but i still think sewing will weaken the fabric unduly in those areas.

Yeah, i think if it's big enough, and you're not stretching it out at all, should last for awhile if you protect the bottom from abrasion. Best of luck with it!

Thanks man!

but now I have a little bug and am going to make another one out of sil and no seeum. One side will be made out of no see um and the other will bemade out of sil. with the head part on both sides made out of no seeum also.

The no seeum side will be for hotter weather and bug proctection and if it rains I can use the sil side. this will keep the bag from getting sprayed from under my tarp. Im pretty sure the sil 1.1 weighs less than the tyvek and I know the no seemum is (.8oz per sq/yd). So this should be an even lighter more versatile bivy.

I got all the suplies for 40 dollars.