bivy for spinnshelter

I had a Spinnshelter and it paired nicely with my MLD serenity shelter.

I'm not a bivy guy, but that said was VERY impressed with the Katabatic Bristlecone I had. Can't imagine a better made, higher quality bivy. I'm 6'1" 220lbs and went with the long wide. I could get dressed-undressed in that thing. SO much room.

If I were to do it over again I'd get the regular wide. On second thought, I would go for a net inner like the MLD Bug Bivy or the Yama 1.25. Both are super high quality gear.

I wrested with this question when looking at bug protection for my Gatewood Cape.

A bivy isn't needed, but bug protection is welcome in season. The Serenity net tent for the Gatewood is 8oz and $120— nearly as much as the Gatewood at 11oz and $135.

I looked at light bivies and got a Titanium Goat Ptarmigan with the head end insect screen at 4.8oz and retailing for $100 (I got min used). I can use the bivy for cowboy camping and with my poncho as well as the Gatewood. It is lighter and far easier to deploy, simply needing a cord to keep the mesh off my face if desired. I don't do much hot weather camping and the bivy does give an extra layer of protection for the cool wet camping that is more typical for me. It allows a slightly lighter summer bag or extends the warmth of my shoulder season bag.

It doesn't have the room of a net inner and could be less comfortable in hot weather.

My $0.02

" overkill?"

Depends on the location of your trip? Btw, do you bivy users experience any appreciable condensation on your bag from using the bivy?

>>Btw, do you bivy users experience any appreciable condensation on your bag from using the bivy?

Yep. That was (only) one of the reasons why I went to a ZPacks Duplex :)