Integral Designs Wedge eVENT Bivy REVIEW

David,
Agree with you, but do not think the single wall tent is dead. But there must netting at head, foot and sides, such that there isn't much weight savings over simply having a netting inner. The advantage of the single wall is that the single wall goes up in the rain without flooding the bathtub floor.

The tent reviewed here appears to weigh around 4 lbs with the vestibule that allows sitting up as well as sheltered entry and exit in the rain. The Hilleberg Suolo is around the same weight, and would be my clear preference if I were going to carry 4 lbs. of tent for harsh conditions.
Sam

This seems like the ideal tent for a very small group of people, and an inideal tent for many others. I think the users who would get the most out of it will be a pair of climbers who share a single sleeping quilt or bag and who intend to climb difficult routs with small bivy sites and the possibility of bad weather. There really aren't all that many routs like that in the lower 48, but I'm guessing these will see some action in Alaska and the Himalayas.

The vestibule seems like a really excellent addition, it actually looks like it would make serious rain-camping quite doable. This combination might yield a shelter that would work for a trip with a long approach to climb a serious rout somewhere, which may become more common as air travel to get to peaks gets more expensive.

If I had unlimited funds I'd buy one today, because someday I hope the do the sort of trips it would be ideal for.

Thanks Brad- I appreciate that.

Yes- you do see condensation on the poles (that always happens with exposed interior poles) but not on the breathable eVent fabric. The blue nylon at the bottom is not eVent and it does have some condensation from being pitched on the snow. I never had water running down the eVent fabric- there was never enough condensation to allow this to occur.

I never had the water pooling as you mention. I found the doorway issue to be a small one- I could dive into the tent in seconds. But a doorway that allows no water to enter is certainly preferable. Of course the vestibule elminates this concern.

The flat roof is a non-issue in high winds. I've never used a shelter that performed better in high winds.

If you mean vestibule when you say "canopy" then yes- there was absolutely condensation on the silnylon vestibule. This is stated in the review.

Water on the floor could either be from condensation or from snow carried on on clothing.

Have a good one!
Doug

I imagine for this reason :

Franco
Photo : Jennifer Caye

>>But what it's good at, it's REALLY good at.

Bingo here – highly specialized gear that fits a certain niche better do its niche better than everything else.

I live Ecuador and camp alone in wet, rainy, windy highlands known as paramos. My preferred overnight spot is just under 14000 feet with some protection from wind but I want to camp as high as 15000 feet in exposed areas.

This e-vent bivy/tent plus vestibule for an extended stay seems to fit what I need. I actually like the way the door is set up because I usually find myself scrambling up the volcanoes on full moons and clear nights so being able to view the moon and stars while hunkered down appeals to me.

More often than not my stargazing aspirations turn into a mountain storm so having a storm shelter is necessary. For one nighters I wouldn't bother with the vestibule but for longer stays the added room of the vestibule would be a welcome addition.

I like the small footprint and low profile for the exposed peaks I want to camp on. The breathability of e-vent will be a nice break from wind whipped condensation in the face.

Does anybody have any more insights to this bivy/tent before I pull the trigger and buy it? Murphy's UL Law says something roomier, lighter and more appropriate will come out as soon as I buy it.

Thanks.

Based upon the above comments, I’m assuming that the Wedge does not have double zipper sliders that would enable the door to zip down from the top or up from the bottom in storm conditions? The zipper would then run down both sides and across the bottom, the ends and pulls meeting in the bottom center and at the top as it is now. Or, perhaps a tunnel entry addition to the zippered door would be helpful when raining.