What bivy would best meet my needs?

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Are you talking about a hex tarp without a mosquito net option?  Most of the Zpacks shelters I see out there are deployed with netting.

To the question about would a bivy cut drafts when you are in a sleeping bag or quilt, the answer is yes. Some bivy sacks like those from Mountain Laurel Designs do have the ability to completely enclose your face (and you breath out of the mosquito net small window). Note that if you enclose your face, you do risk forcing some moisture from respiration into the inside of your bivy.

If you have a very small tarp coverage (say 5X8 feet) you are probably wise to have a bivy. With more coverage, say 8X10 feet you could probably get by without the bivy since the extra coverage provides more protection from rain and wind.  Careful placement of the tarp near trees, rocks or brush can reduce drafts from wind.  On the contrary side, the more you get used to camping with the bivy, the more you find yourself not using the tarp. Sometimes I only put my tarp up when there is a threat of rain and I roll my bivy out near by and just move under the tarp if and when the rain starts.

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I have found that Borah Gear has best ratio of weight, quality and cost for me. I would suggest something low cost and basic to make sure you like sleeping in a bivy. I would try their Ultralight Bivy that starts at $80. You could look at Oware and Ti Goat for basic low cost offerings. I find that Katabatic, Zpacks, and MLD bivys are too expensive for small weight savings.

Thanks for the feedback!

Bruce—Yes, mine is a hex tarp with no mosquito net option.  My tarp is big enough that I likely don’t *need* a bivy, but I’m nervous to test that hypothesis in the wild since I usually backpack solo.  I’ve even considered bringing my tent and setting it up as a backup plan, and then sleeping under my tarp to build my confidence in it… but that just sounds awfully heavy.  I view the bivy partly as a way to help me build confidence in my tarp.  I think I will opt for one with the mosquito net option, and only use that when needed.  That would enable me to use the tarp/bivy combo during bug season.  And I hear you about just using the bivy without a tarp; one of the other reasons I’m considering getting a bivy is to give me more confidence sleeping under the stars (the best way to camp!); it would hopefully protect me enough from a few minutes of sprinkles and give me time to get under the tarp.

Edward—thanks for the tips.  I’ll definitely look into those options (specifically the Borah gear).  I would be willing to accept a few more ounces in weight if it will save me money.  As long as it’s reasonably light, I think I care more about getting a bivy that meets my other criteria (cost, breathable, bug protection, some protection from breeze on face, easy to get into and out of) than I do about getting the absolute lightest.

Titanium Goat Ptarmigan bivy with the insect net head option.

To get the right bivy girth, do a mock setup. Put a fabric tape measure on the ground first, then pad and get on with your bag. Probably easier with some help but hold the tape in a loop that you think is comfortable to move around in. A little extra fabric ways almost nothing but the comfort it brings will add to your experience. I also recommend a longer side zipper to make it easy to answer nature’s call in the middle of the night.

Ti Goat is good; you might also find an older Rab Micro in Pertex Endurance.

If you are interested in bivies here are some articles you should read

. STAYING DRY IN A BIVY SACK: TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING THE MOISTURE BALANCE BETWEEN EXTERNAL PRECIPITATION AND INTERNAL CONDENSATION .

. NIGHT TIME CONDENSATION ON TARP AND TENT FABRICS .

. Dew, Frost, Condensation, and Radiation .

. The Bivy Condensation Conundrum .

Thanks all!  This forum’s great!

Borah gear will also do custom work for you so you can pick your length.  I’m over 6 feet and got the long and a wide + another 4″ of girth.  I’m glad did.  With this set up it fits a 20 deg bag and neo air xlite large without compression.

you can also get more netting put on.  My logic was that I will position myself under my cat cut tarp to keep my torso dry but splash or pressing up against a low tarp pitch might get my legs wet.

So I wet with a half bug half dwr bivy that I like reasonably well.  As your using it in an enclosed shelter I’d go with just the bug bivy.

I have been using a TiGoat bivy for the last seven years.  Here’s my take.

1) many companies have similar products, likely very little difference as these are very simple designs.

2) I would suggest a side zipper.  I believe that is an option on TiGoat, not standard as I bought a used one and will have to rezipper it to get a side zip.  Too many gymnastics to get in and out without side zip.

3) TiGoat has a bug net that is very functional but it works a lot better if you tie up the window to your tarp or a tree to keep it from your face.

4) i use my bivy three season, FWS but not summer unless I’m out west where the nights are cooler.  In the east the bivy has a major downside, they are hot.  I did a July trip on the AT in NJ where the bugs didn’t sleep, and the night was hot.  It was because of this night that made a bug inner for my mid style tarp.  This is my preferred setup in the summer.  Using it with or without the tarp it allows you a few cubic feet of mosquito free bliss.

5) my bivy weighs about 8 oz. and I don’t take a ground sheet and It keeps my quilt cleaner.  Combined with the trap it makes a 1 lb shelter that is highly versatile, I only setup a tarp if I know it’s going to rain.

6) I believe a bivy is ideally suited for a quilt.  It addresses the biggest downside of a quilt which is drafts.

my suggestion is not to get locked into the manufacturer, rather determine the functionality that you are looking for.  TiGoat if Ford, MLD is Chevy.

Great tips everyone.  Several people suggested getting a bivy with extra girth/width.  Sounds good to me; is there any downside (other than the small amount of weight) to doing this?

The main thing I’m struggling with now is how far to go on the breathable vs. water-resistant spectrum.  I like Greg’s idea of getting the bivy with all netting for the upper half, since when I’m under the tarp I’m mostly worried about splash protection for my legs.  I admit I’m also a little worried about rain protection for my torso, though (I’m in a pyramid tarp, not a cat cut tarp).  Plus, I plan on sleeping under the stars with the bivy, and would like a little rain protection (at least enough to keep my bag dry while I scramble under the tarp).  But I don’t want to have condensation, either, so it’s a tough call.

Does anyone have any tips for blocking the breeze/wind from your face while in a bivy?  It sounds like the more bug netting (instead of other fabric) the better in terms of condensation prevention.  But like I said in my post, the breeze on my face keeps me awake, so I’d like to somehow offer some wind protection if possible for those windy nights.  I was thinking maybe I’d get one with plenty of room by my head, and just keep some stuff (extra clothes, etc.) by my head if it’s too breezy.  Anyway, please let me know if you have any better suggestions.

You can’t edit the first post.

Otherwise you could copy it and the paste it using the TEXT option then click on the VISUAL option to fix it.

. HERE is a cutom Borah Gear bivy under a Trailstar video shot by Mathew S

Thanks again everyone.  I ended up ordering a Borah Ultralight bivy with size zip and extra length and width.  John from Borah was very helpful and responsive, and I’m looking forward to getting it.  Hopefully condensation doesn’t kill me!