So I'm loving the look of the new MLD Mini Trailstar, and I plan on ordering one. I also love camping in storms... I think I'm gonna pick one of these up for when my hammock is a liability.

If I wanted to get a bivy for sleeping underneath a tarp, what's the most breathable? I'd love one with foot venting options, and a LOT of space. I'm tall and I like to dry gear out next to me.

I need it to protect me from wind spray under the edges of a tarp, bugs, and saturated ground, although I will have a thin tyvek groundsheet.

Under 16oz is a plus, but not a prerequisite.

Price is no consideration.


Thanks!!

Edited by mdilthey on 03/04/2013 10:33:18 MST.

Mld bug bivy




You kill me dude! :)
Zpacks
Mld
Ruta?
Google that stuff- search "bivy" on bpl

You aint dumb... All the answers are on the box that you are typing on. You just have do do a little work instead of asking the same ol q's that have been asked since the dawn of time

Ttdr vs smdld anyone?

Edited by WoodenWizard on 03/04/2013 11:08:38 MST.

While I can't tell you which bivy is breathable, I can tell you that the MSR AC Bivy is not very breathable or water tight.

I purchased the AC Bivy to hopefully replace my 2.5 lb USGI Goretex Bivy. It's plenty big for me ( 5'6" 180 lbs ) plus my gear. But it isn't as breathable as I had hoped. I spent about an hour in it in the backyard. Temp was only 38 deg. And within an hour I had drips forming above my head. I'm not particularly bothered by this cause the drips tend to roll down the sides under my sleeping pad and away from my sleeping bag. And I'd rather be warm and wet, than cold and dry. But that's just me, maybe. SO I had hoped it would more breathable, but it's not a deal breaker for me.

Additionally, because you enter the bivy from a top-side zipper, it's difficult to keep it dry inside without a tarp. ( I like to bivy without a tarp. ) To keep the water out, you have to carefully position the top of the bivy to overlap the entrance zipper and be sure to keep the top of the bivy higher than the middle so that the water is channelled away from the mesh opening.

I did try my trick of washing the bivy in tekwash to see if there was perhaps dust and residue clogging the membrane that was left over from manufacture. Unfortunately there was no change. I still had drips forming within an hour and I suspect that the condensation would increase as the temperature drops.

Perhaps not the answer you were looking for. I'll be interested to see if anyone has found a breathable bivy the UL range.

-daniel-

It's not a stupid question. Check out the work they did in the Patagonia thread. Some forum users do quantitative tests on breathability. I want to know the difference, quantitatively, between Gore-Tex, e-Vent, and all the little proprietary spin-offs. Someone has a fabric that is slightly more breathable than the competition at a low weight. All bivy bags are "good enough," one is "better."

It's a serious question. if you can't answer it, don't worry about it!

Daniel, thank you for the heads up. I will cross it off my list.

Edited by mdilthey on 03/04/2013 11:50:58 MST.

Check out Borah Gear. They have some bivys with M50 and M90 material.

A bug bivy with a full netting top would probably be the most breathable, but I don't think that's what you're looking for?

Look at Miles Gear: http://milesgear.com/

The upper material he uses is very breathable and waterproof (see the "Uber Bivy" page for more fabric details). He can pretty much build you whatever you want.

like he said. a search on this site will give you plenty of info. That's always the first port of call IMO.

But your question isn't totally clear anyhow.


You're talking about sleeping under a tarp with a bivi, but seem to be asking about WPB bivis judging by the 16oz figure (which is lower than any of the most breathable available in that class (i.e. something made of eVent)
Lighter than 16oz wpb's tend to be made of less breathable coated fabrics.

Water resistant topped bivi (with waterproof base) is likely more appropriate and more breathable than WPB. And much lighter. weight range 5-9oz.

Travis linked to one maker.

FWIW this is my next MYOG project once I finish my sleeping bag/quilt conversion.

http://www.rei.com/product/832336/sol-escape-bivy

I'm going to add a bug net and see how it works out.

I CAN tell you that none of the most breathable bivys will have a membrane.

Just my 2 cents,

You guys that post "run a search" are not being helpful. I don't know if you noticed but this forum is not over run with endless posts.

Since I have been a member here I have seen the post count drop off significantly, and one reason is the attitude some members have on here.

We are all hikers here and unless someone is an obvious troll, either be helpful or don't post.

OP, sorry. No help on the bivy but good question.

Edited by bfayer on 03/04/2013 12:46:35 MST.

So, if I had to do it over, I'd try the Aurora Bivy since it's using Goretex, and I have plenty of experience with that fabric. It's .5 lbs heavier than the AC Bivy, but it's 1 lb less than my USGI bivy. Perhaps it's a good compromise solution.

I also really like the looks of the Uber Bivy. That is a great suggestion. It's the same weight as the Aurora, so it's a toss-up for me which I would choose.

Regarding the snarky retort of the previous poster. I think it's totally OK to re-ask previously answered questions. Products change, philosophies change... Plus it's helpful when I am researching products to see several positive comments from the past and positive comments in the present. It shows a track record of good performance and good experiences. and as a rule, I think we should always be nice to each other... Kumbaya and such :)

Plus, I have no clue what or who RUTA is. I've pieced together many of the acronyms that are used for the elite UL suppliers referenced in these forums, but it seems I run into new ones every day. Perhaps there's a thread somewhere of UL supplier acronyms? Or am I subjecting myself to ill will just for asking? Luckily, it's true that a search on BPL led me to the http://rutalocura.com website. But come on, there's no reason to be disagreeable. In my opinion: In then end, we are all the same. Fighting with each other is like fighting with yourself.

sincerely,

-daniel-

Suggesting that somebody who "isn't fooling around" do a little research before posting is snarky? Sorry.

And sorry for misspelling "Routa". Those are just the first three companies that popped into my elitist head.




Zpacks Quantum Bivy 5oz. $175








ooooohhhh Loooord.... Kum By Ya


http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=6796

Scroll down for Nisley's explanation of air movement

Edited by WoodenWizard on 03/04/2013 13:13:18 MST.

I thought my answer had useful content?

It appeared to me that the OP and subsequent post showed a lack of understanding about types of bivi/fabrics. I hope my post helped shed some light. Also my advice to do a little research was meant to be helpful.

That was my intent.

Not to reprimand anyone, as some seem to think necessary ;)

Integral Designs all event overbag is the gold standard.

Edited by stephenm on 03/04/2013 13:46:26 MST.

To Jeffs: I stand corrected, I must have miss-understood the intent of your posts. I just noticed by your locale that we're probably neighbors. Hope you've enjoyed the dry weather.

Sincerely,

-daniel-

1. I did do research. I know what MLD and Integral Designs are making, and I know Zpacks makes split bivy's with a water resistant top and a bathtub bottom. I also know there's a sea of bivy's from non-cottage companies and all use independently developed fabrics touted as "breathable." I have no idea which stand out.

2. I read the entire most recent thread on bivy breathability, but it's much older. Every company seems to be launching redesigns this spring, I have seen new tents from three companies alone, and new sleeping bags from one as well.

3. Unhelpful is assuming since you yourself found out over the course of a few months or years, I must have too, and otherwise, I have failed to do enough on my own. Agree with everyone calling a few users out for being snarky- save it. At the risk of sounding cocky, the amount I contribute to other people when I have good info earns me the right to shortcut straight to the experts once in a while.


Now, in case I'm being unclear...

What I'm looking for is to know

1. Which fabrics are Water-Resistant/Breathable and which are Waterproof/Breathable. I know Pertex is the former and Goretex is the latter, any other examples worth knowing about? I'm fairly certain I want the former, since I'm using a tarp. I want the bathtub waterproof bottom (hopefully tough stuff) and a nice, light, water resistant top for wind spray and bugs. And good netted venting so I don't condense all over myself.

2. What are the low-weight options that fit what I'm looking for, in either the WRB or WPB category?

3. Anything I'm wrong about philosophy-wise when it comes to a bivy. I have never used one. Maybe I need more than I think for sleeping in storms. Remember, this is a New England storm camping kit, up to 50MPH gusts (The trailstar goes to 60mph).

Edited by mdilthey on 03/04/2013 14:01:24 MST.

I'll echo a couple of the other commenters...

If you're considering a shelter like the Trailstar (or Trailstar mini), these provide a good bit of coverage so you don't need to rely so heavily on a bivy for weather protection. Instead it's main purpose with a shelter like this is to offer some wind/bug protection, perhaps a little splash protection and can serve as your groundsheet (no need for the tyvek then).

Because these bivy's aren't doing full weather protection duty, folks opt to go for a lighter water repellent but breathable (DWR) bivy over a fully waterproof (WPB) bivy. The DWR style bivys tend to weigh significantly less (5-6oz is pretty standard) than WPB bivy (probably most start around 16oz and go up from there).

You still get a waterproof floor (usually silnylon or cuben) with the various DWR bivys but the top half of the bivy is constructed out of various materials that tend to breathe better than the waterproof fabrics but that actually still also do a pretty good job at repelling light spray, spindrift, etc.

Lot of top materials to choose from in this regard... pertex, M50, M90, etc. I'm not sure on how they rate compared to one another, my hunch is that in the real world they're all fairly comparable. Of course the most breathable of all is a bug bivy (solid silnylon or cuben floor/sides with bug net top).

If you truly want a fully WPB bivy, I'd agree with Stephen that an eVent bivy is the way to go.

If you want to look at DWR bivys, most of the cottage companies offer their own version. I have a bivy from Katabatic Gear. My GF has one from Borah gear. Both serve their purpose well.

A couple of final notes... you mention being tall:
- Most of the cottage gear makers offer their bivys in various length and width options, so you can get it scaled to your liking.
- I've read somewhere (perhaps the Trailstar mini thread) that the trailstar mini might not be big enough for taller folks. Maybe check with Ron at MLD before you commit to this shelter... or go for the "normal" Trailstar. I use one and love it; although I have yet to use, or need, a bivy with it.

Edited by NickB on 03/04/2013 14:19:58 MST.

". . . loving the look of the new MLD Mini Trailstar, and I plan on ordering one. . . .
If I wanted to get a bivy for sleeping underneath a tarp, what's the most breathable?"

The miniTS is of course smaller than regular TS and Ron Bell has said it may not work well for people taller than 5'10". Why not get the full Trailstar for 2.5oz more and then not worry about having to bivy at all? Coverage is good with Trailstar, you're not going to get splatter if you set it up right, just get an inner net and you're good to go. You'll have (1) no worries about breathability, (2) more space, and (3) much less than 16oz weight. See BearPaw Pyranet, Ookworks trailstar designs, MLD's bug bivy, and I assume inner nets like MLD's and SMD's Serenity net tent can be made to work without much problem.

I don't think you'd need bivy bag merely for splatter coverage with mini-TS, either, but maybe it's hard to tell at this point.

Stephen, it looks awesome but there's no bug net from what I can tell. That's a must for me; I hate sleeping with critters and I don't find headnet sufficient at night.

Any similar ones?

Pertex makes wpb stuff -- pertex shield I believe.

http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=893