so which do you use? Bivy or tent

[jordanh]

I've done both...prefer the tent for extra room and comfort. Bivy is great but confining and not as comfortable. I still have and carry the bivy.....great for those one night bomber runs but for a couple or more days I use the tent.

[Headin West]

I used a bivy last year w/tarp, going to use a Big Agness Copper Spur UL2 this year. I like the comfort of getting dressed out of the wind and elements. And also able to setup for a couple of days and not worry about little friends helping themselves to my food and bedding.

[JimKirk]

the tarptents come in as light at the bivy tarp combo. usa made. order early because they are not mass produced. shipping time can be anywhere from 1-5 weeks depending on which one you order.

http://www.tarptent.com/

[MT_Nate]

NW Montana doesn't provide any guarantees for weather...and I've found out the hard way in a bivy. The way I figure, having the knowledge that I know I'll be comfortable wherever I plant myself is worth the 3 extra pounds I end up carrying.

I have a root in mountaineering, and a good buddy turned me onto this this tent by Hillberg. Fly and tent integrated, ultra quick setup, bombproof, and packs super small. I've found camp nirvana with this thing - granted, abit more expensive, but totally worth it when the shit hits the fan weatherwise.

http://estore.websitepros.com/1764795/-strse-64/Hilleberg-Akto-Ultralight-Tent/Detail.bok

[gobbler1662]

Kind of a old thread but i can't resist this one. I am a Bivy and Tarp guy and this is my take on it. I live in Oregon and hunt various conditions from rain to snow to hot temps. You get it all during Archery Elk in the high country and also spring bear in Hells Canyon redifines hard core. The reason I like the Bivy with Tarp setup is not only weight savings but also its space. I use two different tarp-bivy setups. First one is Ti-Goat Bivy at 7 ounces in combination with the MSR E-Tarp 8 ounces. This combo total weight is 15 ounces. I use this setup whern the forcast is for a sunny week with maybe a questionable day or two in the middle. This setup definately would not be preferred in heavy weather conditions. My other Bivy -Tarp combo is Kelty Noah Tarp 9',in combination with the OR Highland Hooped Bivy. Weight of this combo is around 2.3 pounds. This combo setup properly will handle anything and I mean anything two years during spring bear in Hells Canyon we were pinned down two days in 60-70 mph winds blowing snow and rain . The tarps offer lots of room. Room to take off your rain gear, room to lounge,room for all your gear including pack gun or bow and anything else, room to cook, room for a clothes line to dry gear, and what I like is ability to still look around and see out. Tents hard to get into, difficult to remove clothing while keeping inside of tent dry, vestibule is usually to small to store gear. can't see out very well.The other option is whats called a tarp-tent meaning usually a sil-nylon floorless tent, like the go-lite shang-gra-la. I used the golite this year in Hells canyon and didn't like it mainly because of lack of room to get out of rain gear and it sucked not being able to see out when a rain storm pinned us down for a day and half. I will try to attach some of my combos including the go-lite setup. It really comes down to a Ford-Chevy type thing. I actually oun several tents as well as 4 Bivy Sacks and two Tarps. Good Luck with your decision. Jim

[falconred]

I've never used a tarp and bivy so I am asking out of ignorance, what do you do when the wind direction changes and the rain comes in from the open side?

I have a small bivy/tent that has a floor and hoops at the head and foot area that I have never used but may try just for the heck of it this year along side my big tent just to see how I like it. The problem is it weighs close to 3 pounds so it and a tarp wouldn't be a weight savings over a tent and is only slightly bigger than a standard bivy. I bought it several years ago as a breakout shelter to use along with my poncho and poncho liner should the need arise to loose myself in the mountains for awhile.

[MT_Nate]

[gobbler1662]

Generally if you set them up like the manufacture suggests such as the noah tarp there isnt a problem because there is so much square footage under the tarp you can position yourself somewhere in the middle where weather won't affect you at all. Most decent size tarps are 3-4 times more square footage than a regular tent. Of course there are lots of effecting facorts there such as how high you pitch the tarp and configuration etc.

[GunnyD]

Out of curiousity, has anyone had any experience with a Eureka Spitfire for a Solo-backpack tent @ 2.75 lbs.??

[Hagar]

I use a Squall II by tarptent and love it,roomy for a 2 man and only weights 2 lbs.

[hank4elk]

I'm a tent guy,Gunnison 2. Like the room and can handle any weather....but I do use my OR bivy and tarp for coyoteing out if weather is not too bad and only going short time.