Reader Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5

Light weight bug protection. Plenty of room around the head to move around. Makes use of sleeping bag to protect the lower body which minimizes weight and size. Free standing system makes it easy to use in a variety of conditions. Would be perfect is it was a bit more compact when packing.

Rating: 4 / 5

Perspective: I thru hiked the AT (NOBO) this past spring using many ultralight concepts (though I'm not worthy of that claim-my pack typically weighed 25-27lbs).

Resisted bug dope, head nets and sleeping nets as long as I could. Finally for NH I bought a head net and for Maine, an A16 Bivy.

Head net-best silly-looking investment ever for day use. Tried it for sleeping, it sorta worked. But the buzz of misquitos kept me up, even if they couldn't get me!

A16 Bivy - best "unnecessary" added weight $40 investment ever for sleeping. My fellow NOBOS jerked and slapped all nite while I relaxed in my palace. For a lightweight thru hiker this is ridiculous added weight,??6 oz - I forget exactly- but I was never happier. Restfull sleep matters!

I'm sure netting alone is lighter, but this worked well. And 5 seconds to set it up.

I agree, while it's tolerable, it could compact smaller; I managed to slip it in my pack along the backside before repacking everything else, and it pulls out easily without unpacking.

Rating: 2 / 5

Purchased this on a whim to replace a stolen envelope-style bug net by Dancing Light Gear that I had previously used and liked fairly well. Opening up the bug bivy I was thrilled to "boing" it into shape using the compressed wire, and slide right in. The setup is indeed very fast.

I enjoyed the room above my head, just enough to prop up on an elbow or shift sleep positions comfortably. I did notice that my favorite position, sleeping on my stomach with my arms folded in front of my head, would usually have my arms resting very near or on the mesh. Even laying on my back, I would have to be careful that my arms were either inside my bag or folded over my chest (when it's warm I would rather they be at my side).

The main downfall of the product is its primary design function: to use one's sleeping bag as bug protection for one's lower half. Aside from the sleep position issues above, I found that in northern Minnesota the mosquitoes simply found their way in to this little abode. I'm not sure how, but they did, even when I was tired enough to sleep immobile on my back...I would wake up with between 5 and 20 of the satisfied suckers flying around or resting inside the mesh. I tried to remedy the problem by putting a bungee on the two loose corners of the mesh, or by weighting it down with clothing, but to no avail. Equally frustrating, it was very difficult to ventilate on hot nights.

Oh, and the large ring of the packed product encouraged me to take a larger pack. All in all, I'm sure it works for some, but not for me in the upper midwest.