No-Sew M90 Bivy Modification

[Gonzalo Rodriguez]

Hello folks,

I recently picked up an MLD LiteSoul bivy from a fellow BPLer. It is one of the earlier models, which has no bug netting.

I am looking to create a small window, resembling the half moon bug net window that Ron makes for his Superlight bivies. However, I am on the road with limited supplies, and (though I can repair something in a pinch) I do not have the wherewithal to make a hand stitch look presentable.

Any recommendations as to possible solutions? Is anyone aware of tapes that will bond well with M90 (and netting)?

[Gonzalo Rodriguez]

Bumping this puppy. I’m really in need of some input here!

[Jerry Adams]

Don’t sew it?  Just take, say, a three foot diameter circle of netting and lay it over you?

[Gonzalo Rodriguez]

I was thinking about that, Jerry… Maybe using my headnet in some way over the top.

The thing is that I would like, if possible, to limit the amount of headnet-only space so that my bivy can truly add a few more degrees to my 30 deg bag.

A more direct question would be: Is anyone aware of a type of tape that will adhere properly to M90 and noseeum?

[Jerry Adams]

I have no idea what would bond netting to M90.  Well, probably McNett Seam Grip would.  I have some M50 which probably has a similar coating.  I think it’s a Teflon like coating, as opposed to silicone.  The M50 is more water resistant than other fabrics, so it must be a heavy coating which may affect the ability for Seam Grip to adhere.

I’ve used a 36 inch circle of netting.  Head net during the day.  Just laid it over me while sleeping which worked pretty good.

[Jerry Adams]

I just happened to be repairing some shoes, so I put some seamgrip on a scrap of M50.  It seems to hold solidly.  Kind of hard to get netting to stay in place while it’s drying.  Maybe tack it down with tape.  Like one inch strips along the seam with one inch gaps between, glue where the gaps are, let dry, remove tape and glue there and let that dry.

You could maybe do hand stitches or pins instead of tape.

Remember that with seamgrip, after it dries, if two places touch each other they’ll stick together and not come apart.  You have to rub a powdery substance like talc or clay or drywall on the surface.

[Gonzalo Rodriguez]

Thanks for testing it out!

I’m going to try it this weekend. I am thinking if either using some tape as you said, or perhaps sandwiching the netting between a fold of M90 (making a couple of diagonal cuts to allow the fabric to fold).

[Jerry Adams]

report back results : )

[Gonzalo Rodriguez]

Will do! Netting on the mail, so I’ll work on it next weekend.

[Gonzalo Rodriguez]

Okay, Updates!

Started off with an MLD Soul Lite bivy, M90 top, cuben bottom.

Marked off a 12-inch area, which would house an 11-inch mesh that would end up being a 10-inch window.

 

Cut the window off. Note: Missing a picture here. I used the piece of M90 to create a border for the mesh window. I “glued” it with silnet. The purpose was to have something to thread through (and for the tape to adhere to).

You wanna know how broke I am? I gutted a foot of spectra, and used one of the threads.

Taped it from the outside with Zpack’s nylon tape.

Then placed some silnet on the inside just for overkill.

Ta-da.

Not pretty… but it is just what I wanted.

[Matthew / BPL]

Hey I think you broke the rules by sewing.

;)

[Gonzalo Rodriguez]

Haha I know… I just thought that my weight (from being inside) and the string (to keep the bivy off my face) would likely cause the tape to peel. BUT… I think it could still work without the thread!

[Jerry Adams]

great!

I assume you mean seam grip, not silnet?

[Gonzalo Rodriguez]

Nope Jerry, did not have any seamgrip left. I tested out the silnet, and it bonded the mesh to the M90 quite well. However, just in case, that’s why I used thread + nylon tape. The Silnet was mostly for extra support, plus covering the thread and preventing snags or such.

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