Tent vs Bivy

[Takeem406]

I'm planning a week long trip mid September here in Montana once bear opens up.
I've got an older NF backpacking Tent, a Tephra 22. It's great!

But I'm wondering if a light bivy would be better? I could take the tarp/rain fly from the tent to keep my gear dry possibly.

What are some good bivys to look for?

 

[squeekieslayer]

I have the Omni raven from ti goat and like it. It is not completely waterproof on top so I also carry a go light poncho tarp for just in case. I take the poncho tarp and a few pegs every where anyway so its not a big deal. I realy like it when going in a long time in good weather.

I have a ti goat vertex tipi and stove for the cold stuff. The bivy is so light I just use that as my ground cloth in the tipi. So I guess long story short... the bivy is just a permanent part of my sleeping bag and I just add the tent when its cold/shitty weather/im taking the horses/or my wife is coming.

You are more than welcome to take a look at them any time you like. I work on 9th and live out fox farm... hell you may be able to fill your bear tag out by my house after last night hahaha

Joe

 

[camping1601]

With some two man tents at or below 2# I'd say a tent but I've never bivy either.

 

[Dos Perros]

I really enjoyed this guy's take on the subject.

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/for-what-its-worth/103-a-few-thoughts-on-bivies.html

 

[gobbler1662]

I've owned plenty of tents and floorless shelters, Seek outside tipi's and little bug out, as well as a multitiude of tarps with bivy's. Here just one guys take. The pros of a bivy are under a tarp you have plenty of room to cook sit up and even glass in poor weather. In a tent your stuck looking at the walls and you barely have room to store your gear let alone make a meal in most vestibules. Lets say you find a nice site and set your tent up and go out hunting. You return a 1 pm for a meal and a little nap only to find out where you pitched your tent is full on in the sun. This really sucks! With a tarp-bivy you just grab your bivy sack and move it wherever the shade is at and have a little nap. Now I know there are light weight tarp tents out there that are under a pound but for the most part those are cuben and cost 400-500. I use a tarp-bivy total weight is 1 pound and I use this setup for spring bear where the conditions are flat out rain-snow high winds and sleet to archery elk season. It's just a different mind thought and takes some getting used to. Heck the last time I used a tent was about 5-6 years ago. We got totally weathered in rain-snow for 3 days bear hunting. I friggin just starred at the walls of that tent bored as hell. After that it was tarp-bivy for me where I can have plenty of room to move around sit up make a meal or coffee and even glass from the tarp.

 

[LostArra]

Agree with gobbler on tarp v tent but sleeping in a bivy also has a learning curve. And if you are over 50 yrs old and watering the garden at various times at night getting in and out of a bivy can be a struggle. If possible get a full length zipper on the bivy. I've sold my bivy, actually two of them and use a slightly bigger tarp and ground cloth.

 

[thejones]

Dos Perros, thanks for the link, good read, and good advice.

 

[Tim in Wa.]

I have not been able to find a bivy that breaths.I stay more dry without one
Tim

 

[Bughalli]

I love to use the bivy as long as I'm expecting decent weather (little to no rain). It's just so easy and mobile. REI makes a nice one: good size, half zip for temp control or for more room, open head area and very affordable ($100). I've stayed in that within rain, snow or shine. As others mentioned, I often get condensation, but it's not an issue if you have decent weather and it can dry out during the day. If heavy rain is in the forecast, then tent is preferred. It's just more comfortable for prolonged exposure to bad weather.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I have used bivys for years for solo outings. I am leaning toward a one-person tent as I have come to realize that by the time I add a ground cloth and overhead tarp I haven't saved much weight. I have also had some bug issues on my last two outings that made the open face bivy a poor choice. There are a lot of good, light one person tents that seem to offer a lot more shelter for the same or not much more weight.

 

[gobbler1662]

Desk Jockey, I don't know what you mean by not saving much weight. My bivy and tarp are 16 ounces. Most ultralight tents are 2-3 pounds. To me that's a lot of weight difference.

 

[Dos Perros]

There are reasonably priced 1 person tarptents at 24 ounces. Some you can even get a view, like the SMD Trekker.

If you get a big enough tarp, what's the point of the bivy? Just bugs?

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Desk Jockey, I don't know what you mean by not saving much weight. My bivy and tarp are 16 ounces. Most ultralight tents are 2-3 pounds. To me that's a lot of weight difference.

What bivy and tarp do you have that weighs 16 ounces? Does that include guy lines and stakes?

 

[whitingja]

I have the Tarptent Protrail which is 26oz. 30oz with poles and everything. I figure I am 6-10oz heavier, but much more protected IMO.

 

[AK Troutbum]

What bivy and tarp do you have that weighs 16 ounces? Does that include guy lines and stakes?

There are a few options for bivy/tarp set ups that can weigh in at, or less than, a pound. I think HMG, MLD, & BPWD to name a few all make CF tarps in the 5-9 oz. range and then there are also several companies that manufacture bivy's in the 4-7 oz. range. Granted that doesn't include guy lines and stakes but, those tarps don't require much in regards to that either and if you're using mini Groundhog, carbon fiber, or titanium stakes and light line, I'm sure you could keep it in the 1 lb. range.

 

[gobbler1662]

I run a Jimmy tarps Granite mountain 9.5 ounces with guy lines, and a Jimmy tarps bivy at 6 ounces. That weight includes guy lines but not stakes. I use the Easton Nano stakes six of those weigh 2 oz with stuff sack on my scale. It takes 6 stakes for the setup. Now for full disclosure I make these tarps and am not trying to sway anyone in one direction or another. There are tons of good options from tarp-bivy, to tarp tents to ultralight tents. I honestly think it all depends on location and use. I also get it that a lot of folks don't like the tarp -bivy combo and that's great. There's tons of combinations that are all right for each individuals need. You just need to find whats right for you. Good luck

 

[Backpack Hunter]

What size is your tarp and is your bivy waterproof?

 

[Dos Perros]

Welcome Jimmy. I recently discovered your product and FB page and like what I see. I'm about to try out a floorless shelter for the first time, so consider me a convert to the philosophy. Good luck with your venture, I'll be watching when my next need arises.

 

[gobbler1662]

Thanks guys, I am using a Granite Mountain shelter which weighs 9.5 ounces. Its basically 9'-5" long 8' wide at the vestibule end tapering down to 6' wide at the foot end. My bivy sack is not water proof but I guess water resistant. I mainly use the bivy because I have a fear of those small critters bugs-spiders. Yuck, hate them. I use 1.1 ounce sil-poly for the bottom which is waterproof, and Momentium 90 on the top which is waterproof breathable. From just above the waist up I use all netting with a full length center zip. I've found that with the extended netting there is zero condensation.

 

[AK Troutbum]

My lightest shelter system is 25 oz. all inclusive. MLD Solomid with Innernet both in CF, 7 mini Groundhog stakes, all guy lines, 2 pole extenders, and all in 2 CF Jimmy tarp stuff sacks. Definitely not as light as you can get, but it works for me. Sorry to the OP, I just realized this thread is titled "Tent vs. Bivy". I didn't mean to hijack.