Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

A place to chat about gear and the philosphy of ultralight. Ultralight bushwalking or backpacking focuses on carrying the lightest and simplest kit. There is still a good focus on safety and skill.
Forum rules
Ultralight Bushwalking/backpacking is about more than just gear lists. Ultralight walkers carefully consider gear based on the environment they are entering, the weather forecast, their own skill, other people in the group. Gear and systems are tested and tweaked.
If you are new to this area then welcome - Please remember that although the same ultralight philosophy can be used in all environments that the specific gear and skill required will vary greatly. It is very dangerous to assume that you can just copy someone else's gear list, but you are encouraged to ask questions, learn and start reducing the pack weight and enjoying the freedom that comes.

Common words
Base pack backpacking the mass of the backpack and the gear inside - not including consumables such as food, water and fuel
light backpacking base weight less than 9.1kg
ultralight backpacking base weight less than 4.5kg
super-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 2.3kg
extreme-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 1.4kg

Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby -dz- » Sat 25 Nov, 2017 2:44 pm

Recently put in a order for a bug bivy. My main concern is crawlies and not so much rain or mozzies.

My thinking is most of my nights involve some warm weather and I like having the option of sleeping under just the net without a sleeping bag.

Does anyone here use that setup or did they opt for the solid shell with a net hood?

I thought the net shell would be more breathable but now Im thinking sleeping under the net is going to be roughly as breathable as sleeping under just a thin shell of argon or light nylon.

The solid shells have a few added benefits / more versatility like shedding water / wind better, offer a little privacy, and work like a minimal sleeping bag in hot weather and perhaps more importantly block bug bites if my skin touches the edges while stretching out.

Would I be too hot in the solid lined bivy on 20c nights?
-dz-
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun 17 May, 2015 9:49 am
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby Moondog55 » Sat 25 Nov, 2017 2:54 pm

If I am going to be summer camping and walking I actually would prefer a proper net tent to any sort of "bug bivvy" I like to keep the bities at least an old fashioned yard away if I can so I would rather get something like the TerraRosa net tent, keeping the tarp on hand for a change in the weather if I didn't have it up in anticipation already.
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
Moondog55
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 11066
Joined: Thu 03 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Norlane Geelong Victoria Australia
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby -dz- » Sat 25 Nov, 2017 3:25 pm

Yea I'm not super concerned about huge bug pressure. I'll take a tent if I expect that.

Main use case is to keep the ants, leeches, and ticks off me.
-dz-
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun 17 May, 2015 9:49 am
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby michael_p » Sat 25 Nov, 2017 6:46 pm

Have a look at the Minimalist Net Tents from Bearpaw Wilderness designs: http://www.bearpawwd.com/net_tents/net_tents.php#min%201

Bearpaw also have some clearance items on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/eastie2117/m.html?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEFSXS%3AMESOI&_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2654

I have an old version of the Minimalist One and it works well under a tarp.

Cheers,
Michael.
One foot in front of the other.
User avatar
michael_p
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1376
Joined: Sun 15 Nov, 2009 6:58 pm
Location: Macarthur Region of Sydney.
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby Rileyr » Sat 25 Nov, 2017 10:10 pm

IMO for warm weather nothing beats a bugnet under a tarp.

I found this on ebay today and it looks like a great cheap and light option - if you can wait a couple of weeks for postage.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2226596244

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Rileyr
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Mon 23 Oct, 2017 5:40 pm
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby -dz- » Sat 25 Nov, 2017 10:28 pm

I actually have one of those. Got it off Aliexpress. At 6'1 / 95kg its way too small. Like my sleeping bag is more roomy. I can fit but it's tight and would compress anything more than a summer bag.

Quality ain't half bad though. Solid design etc. Materials are a bit heavy but it comes in at 230g due to the size.

For anyone looking at that, it'd work but prob better to grab one off borah gear for like 75us
-dz-
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun 17 May, 2015 9:49 am
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby Rosscodj » Sun 26 Nov, 2017 9:24 pm

I've got an outdoor research bug bevy that has treated me well, but I don't really like the opening at the head end, its a bit of a shimmy action to get in. The loop over the head is nice to keep the mesh off, but I'm thinking about replacing it with an EE recon bivy, to save weight, space, and have the top zipper instead.
User avatar
Rosscodj
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue 30 Sep, 2014 3:57 pm
Location: Newcastle, NSW
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby PedalRoll » Mon 02 Apr, 2018 9:32 pm

I have a Terra Rosa full mesh bivy that I got from a guy on here.

Slept in it 6 nights now and love it. I've used it on a couple of nights whilst cowboying for the same reason you stated...crawlies.

I do like the look of the EE Recon and wouldn't mind picking up a Terra Rosa version with just the mesh hood for those dewy nights and to block some wind.
PedalRoll
Atherosperma moschatum
Atherosperma moschatum
 
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu 04 May, 2017 3:59 pm
Region: Western Australia
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby drewmac » Mon 09 Apr, 2018 6:31 pm

Hi there,

Bit late to party.

My tarp / bug net thingy.

Zpack cuben tarp
Couple of hooks taped to inside roof
Sea to summit nano net thing
Tyvek groundsheet sewn to net thing with a zip entry.

Works real well.


Camp 1 copy.jpg
Tarp and net set up
Hi there,
___________________________________________
Drew
drewmac
Atherosperma moschatum
Atherosperma moschatum
 
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue 10 Jun, 2014 12:32 pm
Region: Queensland
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby Muddy Mate » Tue 06 Nov, 2018 9:28 am

Check out go2systems velar bevy, have used mine a few times and love it.
I use the velar with Klymit pad and Massdrop pine blanket when cowboying or in my tent in sub zero temps. Love it and breaths fantastically.
Muddy Mate
Nothofagus cunninghamii
Nothofagus cunninghamii
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue 06 Nov, 2018 8:37 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby Eljimberino » Thu 03 Jan, 2019 3:47 pm

These are good, light and cheap if you want to experiment: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/230G-Ul ... c70b1becd1
Eljimberino
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 331
Joined: Wed 02 Jul, 2014 7:39 pm
Region: Western Australia

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby Petew » Tue 23 Apr, 2019 11:33 am

I don't walk in summer unless it's to get to a canyon.

I just use a tyvek sleeping bag cover from Terra Rosa gear. I got it made bigger with a drawstring closure. Very happy with it. Not a bivvy bag but deals with spray, mist and wind well.
Petew
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 711
Joined: Wed 05 Oct, 2016 12:07 pm
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby wildwanderer » Fri 26 Apr, 2019 8:43 am

drewmac wrote:Hi there,

Bit late to party.

My tarp / bug net thingy.

Zpack cuben tarp
Couple of hooks taped to inside roof
Sea to summit nano net thing
Tyvek groundsheet sewn to net thing with a zip entry.

Works real well.


Camp 1 copy.jpg
,


Not sure if you are currently around drewmac.

curious what method you used to add the extra attachment points on to the sea to summit nano net? Did you sew or tape? any durability issues with the netting around the attachment points?
User avatar
wildwanderer
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1640
Joined: Tue 02 May, 2017 8:42 am
Location: Out of lockdown \o/
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby drewmac » Fri 03 May, 2019 6:05 pm

Hi,

been off lately in other pursuits....
Ummm...think I used the existing points on the top, do not use the little alum spreader that came with it

will have to go get it out and have a look, not used for awhile as been going with a tarptent stratospire for 2 of us
tarp and net is a light one person kit, could fit 2 though as wide enough

Cause it is all lightweight, have to be nice to your gear, then no problems, rough? I would expect it to pull and fail
___________________________________________
Drew
drewmac
Atherosperma moschatum
Atherosperma moschatum
 
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue 10 Jun, 2014 12:32 pm
Region: Queensland
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby wildwanderer » Fri 03 May, 2019 6:48 pm

drewmac wrote:Hi,

been off lately in other pursuits....
Ummm...think I used the existing points on the top, do not use the little alum spreader that came with it

will have to go get it out and have a look, not used for awhile as been going with a tarptent stratospire for 2 of us
tarp and net is a light one person kit, could fit 2 though as wide enough

Cause it is all lightweight, have to be nice to your gear, then no problems, rough? I would expect it to pull and fail


hmm.. maybe I have a newer model of the nano net. As no alum spreader. Its just a reinforced nylon shock cord that runs from the net to the attachment point (in our case the tarp). I see in your pic you have attached it in two places at the top. Where as mine I only have a single attachment (see pic) http://www.bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic ... 29#p373408

Wondering how you attached the two to the nano net as that setup would provide more room for when I sit up.
User avatar
wildwanderer
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1640
Joined: Tue 02 May, 2017 8:42 am
Location: Out of lockdown \o/
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Tarp users, what kind of bivy do you prefer and why?

Postby drewmac » Sat 04 May, 2019 4:39 pm

Hi,
will get it out and do a few pics, really bad working off memory.......
___________________________________________
Drew
drewmac
Atherosperma moschatum
Atherosperma moschatum
 
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue 10 Jun, 2014 12:32 pm
Region: Queensland
Gender: Male


Return to Ultralight backpacking

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests