Most convenient entry and light, bug bivy and shelter system?

For myself, if it's a refuge from the bloodthirsty hordes that I need, I want it bigger than a bivy.

Unless the link I followed in my search tonight was to an old, out dated model from MLD, it was pretty nice. You can sit up somewhat and actually move around in it if needed. I'm in the camp that does not like to have to slowly wiggle myself in and then get zipped up.
Duane

I'm with Duane as usual. I like my older-model SMD solo net tent (7.5 oz.) combined with a shaped tarp like the Duomid or the Zpacks Hexamid. You can have room to cook in your shelter and move around bug free for 16-24 oz.

Smd net tent 7.9 ounces and hex tarp for me. I like to be able to change clothes read etc and wouldn't be able to in a bivy. I've tried them but if you want to hang out at all away from bugs a bivy is too confining.

I live and do most of my backpacking in Sweden and Norway, which at peak bug season can have clouds of midges and mosquitoes and other scourges trying to eat you up. Yet over the past few years, most of the time my shelter system is tarp/bivy (e.g. Zpacks Hex solo / Borah Cuben bivy). This is because most of the time it's not peak bug season, and when it is, I am usually going solo (not "hanging out" as much or at all) and my choice of camp location and hiking habits work great at dealing with bugs more effectively.

Not camping in bug-heavy locations, hiking after dinner until dusk/bed time, and a good windbreaker and noseeum head net have made all the difference in the world for me during peak bug season. I am fine with just having bivy space being totally bug free because I pretty much only need this while sleeping. I can cook and set up my shelter with windbreaker and head net on to keep the bugs off me, and while hiking I rarely use my head net because the bugs that bite the most (midges and skeeters) can't keep up with me while I'm moving. I can change inside the bivy, but often I'll just change in the open, because before the bugs can get to me I'm dressed and ready–it only takes me a minute or two, sometimes less.

Now if I know I am going through an area with heavy bug areas in bug season with less places to seek natural refuge, or if I am not doing as much hiking and more relaxing, then I will take my SMD Sky X. But this is not as common for me.

Just some things to consider. I find that both bugs and rain are more of a problem in theory than in practice. A few bites and being a bit wet ain't that big a deal to me, but maybe this is because I live in a very buggy and very wet place and I am used to it and/or got good at dealing with it. And then it comes down to how much relaxing/hanging out you do when you go out.

The MLD bug bivy is not like other bivies. It extends up 3', so once inside, there is some move around room. Other wise, I would not consider it. Just looking for a little feedback. If more room was needed and bugs were not out, the top looks like that is where the zipper is, could be opened up and there you are. :) This may be waht I'm looking for in a sorta modular shelter system. Bugproof, protection from ground water and with a tarp overhead when needed, optional coverage when needed for protection from rain/hail/mother nature.
Duane

I use a Yama Bug Shelter 1.25 with an additional zipper in the ridge line so that it can be pitched taught and used as a tent with the front entry or draped loosely under my MLD Littlestar like a bivy with top access. Works pretty well and is modular enough to provide adequate weather/bug protection as needed (or not). The combo is probably heavier than you're looking for, but it was lighter than most brick and mortar tent options and more flexible (and sometimes lighter) than some of the 2-person single wall shelters out there.

I had a Borah bug bivy made in long/wide and was very roomy for changing clothes, reading, etc. Weighed in at 7 oz I believe and with the side zipper, a breeze to get into and out of. At $70 tough to beat.

I bought a bug bivy off gear swap years ago for cheap because the person selling it found it too small and were getting bit because they were up against the netting all night,I’m very small so it’s not so bad.If I remember correctly he has the zipper on top for people using them in shelters on the AT so that they could get in and out easily during bug season when sleeping in shelters. Here are some photos of people with them set up(unfortunately none with people in them).

I don't see where the tarp is going to have a smaller staked footprint than the hexamid it might be narrower but its going to be longer, no? Maybe if you used a tent with the largest size staked footprint you could find and use it for one year you could get over this phobia and realize there are more important things than a ssfp. And if it was me and you go the tarp and insert route I would go for a tarp with beak like the patrol shelter. OK maybe just start by looking at a picture of large flat tarp pitched low with a lsfp and look at it once a day for as long as you can and then increase the time you look at it till you feel you can actually look at a real one at a distance.

Thank you for the input. But. Other options keep the weight inching up again. This is why I ask to see if missing something I did not think of. I'll have to think about how much room a flat tarp needs to be set up, even in a "A" frame configuration or modified to a slight overhang, with one side staked at the ground. I really appreciate the feed back. I'll have to get a blue tarp out of my shed and start messing with it. Just like here at work (lunch time) always looking for continuous improvement as the driver.
Duane

Re: Bug netting. Does the bug netting really need to have a floor and zipper, or extend down to your feet? Would a few Velcro tabs to a foam pad be all you need?

I've looked at those options, at this moment prefer the floor on the netting, seems like an easy setup. I've seen a couple with elastic? that encloses the sb and pad and some were not necessarily light. With my floorless TT Squall, I had ants now and then, best if the ant trail is spotted before setup. :)
Duane