Bivy opinion

[DickHead]

I was thinking about buying this bivy
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=254698
Seems to be a knockoff of a much higher priced bivy. My thought would be small tarp, plus bivy plus 0* bag plus small ground cover plus air mat for a low budget and lighter-weight packing combo. Thoughts?

[accadacca]

Hmmmm....looks cheap to me. Now that I said that, Sombeech will chime in about Walmart. They don't carry these BTW...

I have this bivy and I love it. http://www.summithut.com/catalog/rem.../rc/vendor_MH/ You don't want to go cheap on one of these IMO. The diff seems to be "Conduit SL outer shell" mentioned in the description. It feels like thin rubber and is really durable and waterproof. It also zips to your bag...very nice. Just my .02.

[DickHead]

The biggest temptation is that they have a reasonable return policy. I'm considering ordering it to check it out, if it seems really cheap then I'll send it back.....
Walmart is missing out by not carrying more outdoors gear then they do.

[DickHead]

Another one I'm looking at
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...berId=12500226
Over twice the price, but seems like a good compromise. I'd likely still get a tarp to pull over the tent.

[live2ride]

Hey I was also looking at purchasing the same Eureka tent, They are way cheaper as a buy it now on ebay in case you were wondering. I was contemplating this bivy

http://www.backcountry.com/store/KEL...-3-Season.html

and this from REI which will probably be the decision because of the weight and the packing size,

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...=4500665&vcat=

What about this one, sicnce I am going to use it for biking trips?

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...=4500666&vcat=


Last thing, anyone used a lafuma sleeping bag they weight around 1.5 lbs and are rated for 40 degree weather.

Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions, I would be using these for overnight biking trips this summer

[DickHead]

That bike tent is cool, but I think it eliminates some options for you. You won't be able to use it otherwise, and if you need to do bike maintenence you gotta pretty much tear down your shelter.

Sidenote,
I'm watching a buttload of auctions on the military ECWCS sleeping bag systems. If I get one, I'll plan on just using a tarp, bug netting, and ground cover. Otherwise, I'm getting the Eureka tent.

[Mtnman1830]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bivy-Tent-2-Man-...QQcmdZViewItem

I bought this tent last year, and so far it has served me well and it was only $25.00 It is kinda cheap, but it does the trick, and if it goes to s**t on me, I won't be out all that much.

Later on, I will get a better one, but until then....

[Scott P]

Hey I was also looking at purchasing the same Eureka tent

I don't have that bivi, but I have had good luck with Eureka tents. My tent has 20 years of much use and abuse now, and is still holding up fine (had to replace a pole after a big storm and had to replace the zippers twice). I would recommend them.

I bought this tent last year, and so far it has served me well and it was only $25.00 It is kinda cheap, but it does the trick, and if it goes to s**t on me, I won't be out all that much.

You may not be out that much money, but does it keep you dry in a storm?

[BrokenHorn]

Don't do it! Nylon coated fabric does not breath. You might as well just use a tube tent cause you will get condensation...bad!

To have any real luck with bivy's you need one made of GoreTex coated or similar type. I have a Outdoor Reasearch Deluxe and so far I love it. I will find out how good it really is this summer.

I found it on ebay for 110.00 brand new last fall.

[DickHead]

Score! Eureka Solitaire, brand new, $47 + $12 shipping on ebay. Its a double-hooped bivy and weighs less than 3lbs. I thought it'd be a good compromise.

[FlyfishermanMike]

I'd get a MSR Micro Zoid. It's a little bigger than a Bivy but not much.

^^ike

[DickHead]

I'd get a MSR Micro Zoid. It's a little bigger than a Bivy but not much.

^^ike

And its over twice what the Eureka cost.
Since I might get out 4 or 5 times, and still need a sleeping bag, water filter, and new pack.....I'm happy with the eureka.
And...its a little late...since I won the ebay auction and am sorta going to have to buy it.

[BrokenHorn]

Looks like a decent compromise to me. I had one of the older ones. I got rid of it because I couldn't even sit up in it. But it looks like the design has changes so it just might work out rather well. Best of luck!

[DickHead]

Looks like a decent compromise to me. I had one of the older ones. I got rid of it because I couldn't even sit up in it. But it looks like the design has changes so it just might work out rather well. Best of luck!

I'm 5'3"....I tend to take up less space then most people.

[live2ride]

Looks like a decent compromise to me. I had one of the older ones. I got rid of it because I couldn't even sit up in it. But it looks like the design has changes so it just might work out rather well. Best of luck!

I'm 5'3"....I tend to take up less space then most people.

man you could have got away sleeping in a garbage bag, J/k Looks like you are going to go out on some light weight trips this summer, I found some pretty light weight sleeping bags. You will have to let me know how the eureka goes, i might get one myself.

[cachehiker]

Years ago I bought a Walrus Micro Swift before they were bought out by MSR. It is very similar to the Micro Zoid and has become my favorite tent for a variety of conditions. At less than 3 ft wide, you can pitch it in places when others can't find a good spot. With such a low profile, you can just pitch it between some low bushes and it will make short work of some pretty high winds. The small enclosed space also lets me push my sleeping bags 5