Tarp and Bivy Set Up

[mtnbound]

I run the Seek Outside DST, it’s heavier but I like that it can be pitched in multiple configurations.

 

[Beendare]

Tarps are fine for good weather camping, but I will take my Tarptent Dbl rainbow for a hunt all day long. That setup kills a tarp in every way.

Tarp and ivy is not lighter and has no advantage only disadvantage. Just a tarp and you get wind, sideways rain, bugs, etc. Bivy gets you condensation in your bag, I must give off a lot of moisture, my bag gets soaked.

I dumped the bivy idea and the tarp idea 35 years ago and never looked back.

 

[gsully]

Just give the Borah and the Sky Air a try first and what you like/dislike. I use this setup and am close to your height. It's no palace and pretty tight quarters but it works fine. Front entrance is kind of a pain, but its a light setup.

 

[CMF]

I just did a sheep hunt in Aug and used a hammock gear dcf tarp with doors and a bora bivy on some trips and durston x mid 2(not dcf version) on other trips.
The tarp took me 3 or 4 times longer to get set up right than the dd xmid. I never zipped up the bivy over my face cause the mosquitoes were never bad, but I know I wouldn't want to. my pad slid real easy in the bivy when I wasn't on perfect level ground.
To me the only benefit of the tarp would have been pitching in smaller spots, but if you're already going solo, then look at the durston xmid 1.
The Xmid 2 in DCF is only 18oz.
My tarp and bivy was 18oz.
The xmid 2 in DCF is on my list...
I've also helped a buddy set up a sky air and it wasn't as easy as an x mid.

 

[Benjblt]

I just did a sheep hunt in Aug and used a hammock gear dcf tarp with doors and a bora bivy on some trips and durston x mid 2(not dcf version) on other trips.
The tarp took me 3 or 4 times longer to get set up right than the dd xmid. I never zipped up the bivy over my face cause the mosquitoes were never bad, but I know I wouldn't want to. my pad slid real easy in the bivy when I wasn't on perfect level ground.
To me the only benefit of the tarp would have been pitching in smaller spots, but if you're already going solo, then look at the durston xmid 1.
The Xmid 2 in DCF is only 18oz.
My tarp and bivy was 18oz.
The xmid 2 in DCF is on my list...
I've also helped a buddy set up a sky air and it wasn't as easy as an x mid.

I do have a double rainbow Li. It's at about 2 pounds. I can maybe shave a pound off that but that's not much. I think one other advantage is that those tarps tend to take up less room in the pack.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Just bought a gossamer gear twin tarp for 60.00.
Less than 10oz and packs small enough I will actually carry for emergency use.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I have DB Rainbow and love it. Mine is the silpoly version weights 2lbs-10oz, but its a palace for 1. However, I am considering a bivy setup for some august high-country hunts that shaving some weight is nice. I think the tarp as other mentioned can be problematic.

If I decide to go bivy setup I think I will go Argali Owyhee 1P tent (no insert) and than use a Borah bivy. Tent is 16oz for side entry and full enclosure for weather. Bivy 6.8oz so total weight 23oz. That setup seems pretty legit.

 

[Benjblt]

I was looking at the Zpacks pocket tarp but it's $400. I found one on ebay for $290 but that even seems too exspensive.

 

[Hunterscamera]

I was looking at the Zpacks pocket tarp but it's $400. I found one on ebay for $290 but that even seems too exspensive.

Wow! Not in the market myself but was curious about tarp prices and that surprised me.

 

[Benjblt]

Wow! Not in the market myself but was curious about tarp prices and that surprised me.

It's cuban fiber so that's a big part of it. I think if you could find the same one in silpoly it'd be $100 to $150 less but be close to double the weight. The pocket tarp looks pretty slick and is about 6 oz., which is crazy light. Add a 6 oz bora bivy and you're in at about 12 oz. That'd be about the only way it'd be worth it for me.

 

[P Carter]

It's cuban fiber so that's a big part of it. I think if you could find the same one in silpoly it'd be $100 to $150 less but be close to double the weight. The pocket tarp looks pretty slick and is about 6 oz., which is crazy light. Add a 6 oz bora bivy and you're in at about 12 oz. That'd be about the only way it'd be worth it for me.

I bit the bullet and got this setup (pocket tarp + borah bivvy). Funny thing is - I have had it out in bad weather, and don’t need the pocket tarp in good weather, so the tarp has just sat in my pack. (I set it up a few times for kicks but didn’t need it.) then again, it’s best for in the pack because it’s so light. Strange tradeoffs. Let me know if you have questions - probably can’t answer them all but I can try.

 

[Hunterscamera]

It's cuban fiber so that's a big part of it. I think if you could find the same one in silpoly it'd be $100 to $150 less but be close to double the weight. The pocket tarp looks pretty slick and is about 6 oz., which is crazy light. Add a 6 oz bora bivy and you're in at about 12 oz. That'd be about the only way it'd be worth it for me.

Makes a lot of sense. Been debating between tent and bivy for when I'm ready to Backcountry camp, definitely considering the bivy more if I can get to a 6oz system for sure