I have been looking for a bivy to use with my 8 x 10 tarp which weighs about 14 oz. My main issue is bugs but I also want something that will keep my bag dry during big storms(if that would even be a realistic problem). In the summer in northern MN it can get hot and humid plus the bugs are bad. Breath-ability is important. I tried using just a mosquito head net but that wasn't very fun.

I am looking at a few options: TiGoat ptarmigan with full net hood, MLD superlight with net hood, Bearpaw bug bivy, Bearpaw minimalist 1 and Bearpaw pyra net.

I just want something versatile that will not require me to setup my tarp a specific way. I'm 5'8" and about 215 lbs.

Thanks

Edited by mcpacker on 12/29/2011 01:20:52 MST.

I saw the TiGoat Omni bivy for the first time last year at the PCT kickoff and I really liked what I saw. I have their regular bivy with net hood, but might upgrade to be able to ventilate better and have better entry options. Josh Leavitt used to be with TiGoat and he's introduced a new bivy that weighs about half of my bivy. The only downside for me is that it's worm entry instead of side entry. Fwiw, my body type is very similar to yours. I've used mine with a 2.5" air mattress inside and a 20°F quilt and have been comfortable.

Can't speak for the other choices you mention, but I own a Ti Goat Ptar and love it. I was out in some steady rain last month, and once a few weeks ago with some light snow, and was glad to have it because of wind and dripping from my tarp (I would say half of it is condensation), especially with a down bag. When I woke up in the morning I watched as several drops of water bead away from on top of me as I got up, dry as a bone. I was also surprised at the temperature bump it gave me, but I should note that I seem to have a higher tolerance for cold than some people, so little bumps of warmth I noticed more perhaps.

The bug net is nice too. We get lots of bugs here in Sweden, so that was important to me. If I have to be knit picky, I guess two things that I could give criticism to are the zippers and the entrance. The zippers are small and tricky to open, especially with gloves, and it if you have to pee in the middle of the night, it sucks getting in and out. But the zippers are honestly not a big deal, and pretty much all bivy sacks are tricky to get in and out of from what I have gathered.

I like that there are loops on both the hood and bug net, so if I want I can tie them to something for a dome effect, but so far I have only slept with it with it open (no bugs around in winter).

I should note that I am about 6 foot tall and 180lbs and the reg size fits me just fine, along with my down bag and reg size self-inflating mat.

Hope this helps.

Here was my evaluation of popular Bivys:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=56266

With an 8 x 10, in non-bug season I wouldn't carry a traditional bivy at all (I carry a 9 x 7 and am 5'9.5". I don't use a traditional bivy), just a airy/open bug bivy when the bugs are there. The big tarp u have allows you to save the weight of the bivy. When it storms, just pitch 3 sides of the bivy to the ground in an A-frame pitch. I've always advocated ditching the weight of a bivy and just put some of that weight savings into a bigger tarp.... better rain coverage and livable space.

GL!

SMD Meteor Bivy

I did the John Muir Trail (220'ish miles) this year and it was my first bivy experience. I went cheap'ish and got the Katabatic... actually looking at the site they no longer sell it. Basically it was one you wriggle into because it doesn't have a zipper, just a top closure on the mesh.

Mistake. Once my knees started aching it was hard to lift my legs very high, so at night sitting at the head of the bivy close to it (on a sit pad to keep clean) I had to pull my knees in to put them into the bivy, which hurt like hell. In the mornings you'd have to awkwardly wriggle out of the top as well. I hated that. The bivy was of great quality and I'd recommend Katabatic's Bristlecone without hesitation.

Get one with a side zipper, it's a worthwhile ounce.

*edit: also, I got one with full face mesh (not storm proof) thinking that this would be a good way to see the stars, but honestly you can't see jack from within it, comparable to a tent with mesh. I did appreciate that I could kind of lay on my side and awkwardly put my mouth exhaling into the mesh (thus keeping condensation out of the bivy, a GREAT idea), no idea if this is still a viable option with the storm proof bivy kind (what I call the ones that don't have a full upper mesh).

Edited by Trout on 12/29/2011 10:58:06 MST.

I think that only netting is breathable enough for hot and humid summer use.

I always want full-length netting which I can sit up in. That caught in a net feeling isn't fun. :) I have an 8 x 10 silnylon tarp, but I decided that a tent was worth the cost in money and weight due to bug protection, simplicity, and weather-resistance.

The SMD Meteor is roomy. I almost always suspend the net on mine and can sit up in it.
The zippered entrance is perfect. It's easy to get in and out of in the middle of the night.

The large upper net allows for good ventilation where you need it.

The DWR fabric on the lower half extends you pitching options and reduces the amount of times you have to re-pitch your tarp in the middle of the night when the blowing rain changes direction.

I usually don't stake it down. I once woke up with the foot section outside of my tarp in misting rain and my bag stayed pretty dry.

Another vote for the Meteor. I got mine largely on the recommendation of Steven and after two seasons, have been exceptionally happy with it. Very roomy, light, etc.

I ended up going with the BearPaw Minimalist 1 with the .51 oz cuben floor. Since I mostly need a bivy for the bugs and my tarp is so big for just me I went with Bryce's advice.

The SMD meteor bivy looks great when I get comfortable with the idea of getting a small cuben tarp for stealth camping. That tarp that I'm thinking about is the MLD monk tarp but at the moment I'm very happy with my CCS 8 x 10 tundra tarp.

Doing some rough math in my head my current 'big 3' weight is around 5.25lbs and before I got my tarp it was around 7.5 lbs. I plan on figuring out how to do a spread sheet so I can have a more accurate weight so I can see what I need to improve on. In about 10 years I will be able to open an outfitters out of my home at the rate I'm going.

Thanks for all the replies!

GL w/ your choice. BearPaw makes quality gear. Check out geargrams.com for spreadsheet stuff.