bivy questions

I use an eVent one made by MLD. Has a cuben fiber floor. They were available with silnylon floor as well. I highly recommend it for your needs.

Just used one returning to bivy sacks for north of San Francisco (Point Reyes) and did not have time for an eVent one from MLD. Water beads up on the outside but when zipped (or by a water source … Pacific Ocean), condensation readily forms especially when zipped up (i.e. rains). A little higher in altitude (1000 ft) there was noticeably less condensation but still… Using it as a bug bivy was ok as there's a small catch to pull the pertex up and keep the skeeter netting somewhat taut…

Simple construction of just one pole means you need to use a non-inflatable sleeping pad. Also using the frame means 5 stakes need to keep the fabric taut, and a ground sheet can be wider but not "taller" than the hood/foot measurement.

It depends on how much you sweat ultimately IMO and whether you use down or synthetic insulation. It is pretty minimalistic and not nearly as comfy as their "Advanced bivy".

nathan,
thanks for the advice, i unfortunantly am ballin' on a budget when it comes to a bivy. They look awesome and i own a burn pack from them, so i know whatever MLD makes is completely worth every penny.

newman,
my main attraction to the OR style bivies are the hooped frame. why wouldn't i be able to use a inflatable pad? do you know of any other companies that offer similar style bivies? i checked out the usual, MLD, Borah, Tigoat, etc.

Thanks,
Martin

I have a Bear Paw bug bivy that I'm very happy with. It's all no-see-um with a silnylon floor, hooped at the head with a loop for guying off at the foot. So it sags a bit in the middle, though not enough to touch the body (unless you're using one of those three-inch-thick mats), so it doesn't bother me. The hoop raises the mesh up to 22", which allows me to read propped up on my elbows (if I'm careful) without touching the mesh. Of course, it doesn't protect from the rain, but it does do a good job against insects (although I've yet to camp in an area plagued by those notorious midges), and the price is below MLD's.

Martin, just to compare with Kenda's measurement, the OR helium has about 19 inches of hoop height* with no pad. A pad will shorten that obviously. 26 in side to side …I fit in it stationary OK but, with a Neoair pretty much filled up, if I rolled around in it, I'd contact the hoop waking me up. Think OR should make an XL size IMHO.

Add: * just measured my personal distance from shoulder to shoulder and there's no way I would've fit rolling over.

The helium is pretty neat at a great price … IF your shoulders will fit.

I use Bearpaw Wilderness Design bug bivy and it is my favorite piece of gear. If it rains I will pitch my MLD Patrol shelter over it. Last weekend I was sleeping in my bug bivy and around 2 am it began to rain. It took me all of 3 minutes to get up, out, pitch my patrol shelter and get back in the bivy. I was so happy. I really love this set up. I can make camp pretty much where ever I need. If there are no bugs I can use it as a ground cloth and sleep in top of it. For winter I swap out the bug bivy and use my katabatic bristlecone bivy..same idea with the patrol shelter. Either way my set up weighs a pound..give or take an ounce or 2 depending on which bivy I use.