affordable tarp shelters?

[Steeliedrew]

Does anybody have any experience with these Miles Gear Uber Bivy's?
http://www.milesgear.com/UberBivy.html

Or how bout the Auqua Quest single pole bivy right here?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0056SOA48/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1401801747&sr=8-3&pi=SX200_QL40

Great price on Amazon right now for the auqua quest. From the research I've been doing though it seems as though I'd want to buck up and drop the money on one made with the eVent fabric to reduce or eliminate condensation on the bag. Any truth to that or with the no-see-um mesh on the above two Bivy's be enough to hold condensation at bay?

 

[hammer0419]

Are you looking for a stand alone bivy or something to use in a floorless shelter?

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Does anybody have any experience with these Miles Gear Uber Bivy's?
http://www.milesgear.com/UberBivy.html

Or how bout the Auqua Quest single pole bivy right here?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0056SOA48/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1401801747&sr=8-3&pi=SX200_QL40

Great price on Amazon right now for the auqua quest. From the research I've been doing though it seems as though I'd want to buck up and drop the money on one made with the eVent fabric to reduce or eliminate condensation on the bag. Any truth to that or with the no-see-um mesh on the above two Bivy's be enough to hold condensation at bay?

Drew, The Aqua Quest is kinda heavy at 39oz, there are any number of tarp tents that would give you WAY more room & less condensation issues. But your right, the price looks attractive. But it's probably made in China and sewn w/ zero attention to back stitching & seam locking.

The Miles Gear Uber Bivy actually looks interesting to me. That tyvek floor will be very noisy when you move around in the night, but should soften up w/ use. I don't recall the weight, but overall I kinda liked it. Might question the seams on the bottom edge, my understanding is tyvek doesn't take seam sealer very well. Maybe I'm wrong there, but I think I'd rather see the bottom Silnylon or some other waterproof fabric that can be seam sealed really well. Certainly big enough, thus my concern for the weight. But you probably could pull your pack inside. Price seems fair.
Buy it and let us know.
Hunt'nFish

 

[hammer0419]

If you want a Bivy look into a Borah bivy.

 

[Steeliedrew]

Are you looking for a stand alone bivy or something to use in a floorless shelter?

Something to use under a floorless shelter

 

[hammer0419]

Something to use under a floorless shelter

I would def get a pyranet from Bear paw wilderness designs. I am having one made for my mountain smith Lt. Better than a bivy right on top of you and only $95

 

[Steeliedrew]

That Pyranet is a cool setup for sure and for the same price as a bivy it may be the way to go. I like that I could move around in it.

 

[dangerousD]

I'm in the market for a bivy for use under my tarp also. I haven't made up my mind, but another popular option I believe I've heard others mention is TiGoat Ptarmigan bivy. This is actually what I'm leaning towards at the moment.

http://www.titaniumgoat.com/Bivy.html

 

[hammer0419]

To goat makes a great bivy. I like the pyranet better as you have room to move. It will work under any tarp or shelter. String a ridge line inside the peak of tarp and suspend pyranet off it. John the owner is an ex ellent person it deal with. He will custom make it to any dimension you need it for.

 

[mfolch]

If you're going to go with a tarp as your shelter, the bearpaw minimalist or net tent might fit better than the pyranet. If you have a pyramid tent or pitch your tarp in half-pyramid style, then the pyranet would work. I prefer variations on the A-frame pitch, so I ordered net tent with 8-inch siding, which basically maximizes the amount of usable space under the tarp. Overall, the net tent weighs more than the minimalist, but I like the extra room to move and the splash-proof siding; it saves having to bring a ground cover and keeps everything dry and insect-free; and it weighs more than a pound and half less than some of the bivvies above (38 oz is a lot, and for that you can get a tarp and insert/bivvy with weight to spare). When camping in cold, bug-free seasons, I use a friend's ultralight bivy; for around $100, you can get one of these (e.g. from Oware or Ti-Goat) that weighs less than 9oz.

All of my gear is silnylon, both because I'm trying to save money and experimenting with the system that works best for my needs. Right now, my tarp/insert system - which is actually a two-person set-up - weighs in at just around 2lbs. (depending on which guylines and stakes are appropriate for the season and environment). I would love to cut this in half, which is possible with cuben fiber, but I'm trying to find the perfect system or set of systems (if it exists) before ponying up the extra cash. Maybe by then the cost of cuben will have fallen...

Also, take a look at this website for useful suggestions: http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/a/11139/Modular-Accessories-for-Floorless-Tents.