I am currently trying to decide between 2 bug shelters by MLD: the Serenity Shelter and the Bug Bivy.

Serenity: extra protection
extra privacy
taller


Bivy: lighter
slightly wider
better views
cheaper



Right now, I am leaning toward the bivy because of the increased views it provides and because it is lighter and cheaper. One of the great advantages of a tarp is the great views it provide and how it does not block you off from the wilderness. The Serenity Shelter seems to do away w/ this feature. However, the Serenity's extra protection and headroom is hard to pass up. This choice is made even more difficult by the fact that I've heard good things about both of them and that they are not cheap. So, does anyone have any suggestions or experience w/ either of these two products?

Edited by pedro87 on 07/08/2008 11:35:21 MDT.

Why not see if Ron will make you a serenity with all net panels? The great thing about dealing with MLD is that you can have it tailored to what you want. I wouldnt think that replacing the sil panels with net would be a very hard upgrade. Wouldnt it also make it lighter?

Jay just had a serenity made for him and it was produced a little wider then the stock specs.

Food for thought
Jeff

Jeff -
That's another good idea. However, what would be the difference between the Serenity and the Bivy? The Serenity would be slightly roomier and have a little more structure but would be more expensive (considering the custom charge). I think what I am really trying to decide on is whether I want the extra privacy and protection that the fabric panels offer or I want the extra views and sense of openness of just plain netting.

Peter

I think the biggest difference of the two is the fact you can sit up in the serenity. Second would be the better protection if the weather turns. I have yet to use any bivy style anything so I can not comment on how important the head room is in practical use. I can however say from a personal comfort level I like to allow for sitting up in my shelter. I will be testing this limit more soon...

Assuming money is not an issue. What about adding a net door to the serenity? Maybe that would give you the best of both worlds?

Everybody has their own style. I sit up in my shelter all the time. I sit on top of the bivy - under the tarp. I can toerate the bugs and stuff so there is no real reason for me to get into a shelter until I am ready to read myself to sleep. I like to have enough bug protection to keep the moths and stuff off my face when I read by headlamp, and thats about all I need it for. I am not sure when I would need to be inside a shelter if I wanted to sit up. I had a larger roomier under tarp shelter, but shed its weight for bivies. I have several bivies for different times of the year and only one has a bug screen.

If I were you I would go for a homemade Meteor Light bivy and get a little of both worlds. Just my .02. Alvie

thanks for the suggestions. There are definately times of the year when the bugs are terrible and I think I would appreciate being to sit up. The Meteor Bivy is enticing because it would be cheap to make.

You can always make your meteor Bivy taller.

Make the netting two pieces wide instead of one at the top ..... you'd be able to sit up in it then.

dang it...

why doesn't someone (ti goat? mld? six moon?) make a relatively cheap meteor light bivy version, for me to use under my MLD Sil Pro Poncho?

seems like the ideal answer for almost all of my backpacking needs - a little bit of bag protection, good bug protection, and nothing more.

but i can't sew, so i'd love to buy one from someone who does.

I have the same problem...I haven't sewn since 7th grade sewing class :)
One of these days, I have to ask my mom to teach me how to sew again, so I can do this MYOG thing

just ask her to help you out...aka she does all the sewing. at least thats how it worked when i asked my mom to "help" me make a meteor bivy and it turned out really nicely.

Just a thought ....

An A16 bug bivy and a simple sack made of Tyvek (put together with Tyvek tape or 3m Heavy Duty tape instead of sewing) would make a nice modular bivy system similar to what you're talking about for about $45.00.

No Zipper, but plenty of space inside and it would have a lot of advantages.

It wouldn't be that much heavier than the meteor bivy (mine came in at 8 ounces).

Self supporting.

Adaptible to multiple conditions, ie, ground sheet, rain bivy, shelter bug protection, complete bug and weather protection under an oversized tarp.

Just came back from a trip where I had the bivy and a buddy had the serenity. Aside from all the things mentioned, the serenity required a higher tarp pitch to draw it tight where my bivy drew up nicely under the Patrol tarp that was set low for incoming weather.

We were both happy enough with our rigs. I use mine sleeping only, not a "hang-out" though you could read in there. Sitting up is not an option in the bivy.

The bivy is narrow and my arms touched the netting. The bugs could theoretically get you here though a quilt/sl. bag or a sideways pad will protect you. I had no problems with a moderate skeeter population. Also, I maxed out the length. If taller than 6' you may want to size up (on second thought bivy was bought on sale as factory slight second and may be short; talk to Ron).

My preference after the trip is the bivy. Seems to me the closed end of the serenity might be offset by the need to pitch a higher tarp.

Also, I am monkeying with some tensioner options for the peak lines to accomodate various tarp pitches. Seems the best solution though may be to purchase the tensioners from MLD. The tensioner on Ron's tarps are great and super light.

Hope this helps.

I've been going back and forth on this as well. I use a MLD cuben Grace Solo tarp for 3 season shelter along with a MLD cuben bottom LiteSoul bivy. I bring a head net along and that usually is enough. However sometimes I'm in really hot muggy conditions with heavy mosquito's & wouldn't mind some extra protection.

After talking to Ron I just ordered the Serenity shelter with the following options.

1)To keep the views open and get as much ventilation as possible both the front and rear are mesh option.

2) Line locks & bungee for the top tieouts & bottom corners to allow me to tie up & adjust to the tarp poles and stakes. No need to carry extra stakes and should allow for different pitch heights.

3) Bottom in cuben (Ron thinks weight will come in around
5+ oz). With the Serenity I don't need the Litesoul bivy.

So switching from the Litesoul bivy (4.4oz) to the Serenity shelter when needed should only be around 1 oz weight gain!

what weight cuben on the floor?

Jarad,
It's MLD's Spectralite .60 same as used in the Litesoul bivy, tarps, shelters.

I know they have and did you use a couple weights several times, and I suspected the .6oz since that is nearly their standard now. This winter I'll be purchasing a roll of cuben to make a few projects and was wondering what ron was suggesting for the floor. Since I was going to be buying some .6oz I was wondering if I'd need to be buying another roll of a different weight.

Great concept - except for those who are tall. There needs to be XL versions.

I wonder if MLD's verson of the solo inner net is functionally bigger?

I have the MLD Bug bivy, but have yet to use it. I always seem to do my trips when the bugs are not present.

For my last trip, I was expecting the bugs to be very bad, which they were. Anyway, prior to the trip, I set-up my tarp and MLD Bug bivy.
I really didn't like the headroom it afforded, so I ordered a SMD Meteor Bivy. I like its half bivy, half bug bivy design, and its has more head room too.

I did stake the MLD Bug bivy down, which does lessen the amount of headroom.

I think, I'm going to order a MLD custom Serenity like Barnett did, with Cuben floor, rear and lower front strip, with a side zipper entry, instead of the standard front zip entry.

Damn Michael,
Just when I thought I had everything figured out you come out with side entry :>. I never was to fond of the idea of climbing in and out of a tube. Yet it never dawned on me to ask for that option. I'm sure Ron can do it & I think that would be an excellent feature. I hope you don't mind if I borrow your idea?
Barnett

I actually borrowed the idea from my SMD Meteor Bivy, which zips all the way around the front and on both sides of the bivy, back to about just shy of mid-point.
I usually, entered from one side, but if you have gear placed along both sides of you, its much easier to access.
I'll probably see, if Ron would do a zipper, across the front and down both sides, and forgo even having a zipper on the front corner, that runs up to the peak.
You really don't need one anyway with a zipper that runs across the front and sides.
This will add weight, but would be worth it for me. Also, when you get the urge in the middle of the night, the side zip really shines. I don't even bother to get fully out of my bag, just lean over and go! Just be careful with your aim!

Edited by mfog1 on 07/17/2009 20:35:22 MDT.

I emailed Ron about a side zip option. This would be a side zip up to the front peak. He said its doable but he hasn't done it and there's no pattern for it. He thought there might be a bit of pucker in the mesh near the zipper curve.

I like the idea but I'm still on the fence about it vs. the regular front entry. Anyone out there with the Serenity that can comment on the front entry likes or dislikes?

I do like to have access to gear on my left side, make tea in the morning from my bag (bag is left zip). I also usually swing my legs out of my bag and sit sideways under the tarp to put my trail runners on etc.

I can see advantages to having the zip go around the lower edge front & both sides without going up to the front peak. Might be the best overall configuration as it gives access to the front & both sides. Unziped it could easily be held up in place with an attachment.

Mike you are EVIL :>!! Looks like another email to Ron...
Barnett

"Anyone out there with the Serenity that can comment on the front entry likes or dislikes?"

I like that the front entry allows me to get infrom the front of the tarp.

I dislike that I have to contort a little to get into the Serenity (I'm ~6'2").

Its very easy to enter into a side zip bivy while using a tarp, probably much easier than a front zip. When, I go to place my order for a Serenity, I will ask for the bottom "U" shaped zipper. I don't even see the need for the zipper to extend up to the peak. A zipper along the top edge of the bath-tub floor is easier to use/reach, IMHO, anyway. Also a full roll back Cuben front cover would be nice too. Although, without a front zip, you'd probably need to exit the bivy to deploy the cover, should it be needed. A few velcro tabs would hold it closed in place.

Todd,
Thanks for the input. I'm 5'8" 165lbs so I don't think I'll have much of an issue with room once inside. Just trying to figure out the best way to get in and out plus be able to get to my things.

Talked to Ron this morning and his thoughts were to keep the design as is for overall strength under tension and functionality with different tarp pitches.

- keep rear full cuben as 1/2 mesh doesn't really gain any significant ventilation and does compromise strength. Also allows good weather protection with the Serenity setup farther towards the back of the tarp to allow more room in front.

- Keep door in front Because it keeps tension off of the zipper and is the best entry if you have to pitch the tarp low. Front door 1/2 mesh no problem.

So I ended up with a Standard size Serenity with cuben floor, 1/2 mesh front door & lineloc's.

Thought others might like to know Ron's thoughts here.

Same thing Ron told me, although, he didn't offer or respond to my orignal request for a cuben floor and what the added cost would be?

Barnett did he give you a price?

Mike,
It's not cheap as its a lot of cuben. It was $100 to upgrade. Pretty much the same $$ to upgrade a bivy bottom if you look at the LiteSoul bivy.

Not really worth it for me. What are you really gaining, other then reduced weight, when you consider that a silnylon bottom will keep you dry for the most part.
I use a GG Polycro sheet under my bivys or tents, and sleep on top of a Neo-Air pad, which will float, should things get really wet.

One little trick I've been thinking of trying would be to take small 1/2 sq tabs of mating velco, attach one to each corner of the Polycro sheet with seamGrip, then attach the other 4 tabs to your bivy or shelter.

This would allow you to pull the polycro sheet up and along side you like a big bathtub floor, any running water would then go under the polycro sheet and not between the polycro and the bottom of your bivy.

In reality, I've only had running or pooling water on a few occasions, which were at heavily compacted sites, like at N.P. Backcountry sites. So there probably isn't a even a need to do something such as this, but might come in handy.

Pretty cool idea Mike. You could put gear under the fold to add height and increase the effectiveness of the bathtub effect.

I think you could accomplish the same thing with some rocks or even a heavier branch though. Why use velcro? Am I missing how this would work?