I want to get a 3 season bivie im about 6'2" 220lbs would like gortex or something simular with a screen and also a rainfly or some type of a pull over rain cover. I have been looking at a few but its hard for me to tell wich are better than others since I know nothing about them. any info is appreciated on what you would think would be a good purchase. thanks

Not sure I understand why you would want a goretex bivy with a rain fly. If its goretex it should be completely waterproof. No need for an extra rainfly. Unless your talking about a tarp or a bivy tent like a Eureka Spitfire.

You might want to check out the event bivies that Integral Designs offers. They sell a few with mesh and they are lighter then similar goretex models. Or get a military issue goretex bivy and have someone sew bug netting on it and save a lot of $$$

i just got back from doing an appalachian trail hike, springer mtn to woody gap. i used an outdoor research alpine bivy. it got down to 21 DEGREES at night and 30 mph gusts of wind...not pleasent to say the leasts... the bivy did great...i stayed warm and out of the wind all night and i only had a 30 degree marmot hydrogen bag... thought i would need to wear some clothes but i stayed toasty in just my baselayer...you do need to keep about 12 inches cracked open for ventilation...also not having to pack up a big tent in 30mph wind makes the cramped space worth it...i highly recommend this bivy!

Are you looking for a bivy shelter or a pole less bivy? If the latter, then you can couple with a small tarp for rainfree entry. If the former, consider eVENT fabric - as waterproof as Gortex but up to 10 times more breathable (depending on test). Look at the Integral Designs Unishelter or the Big Agnes 3 Wire Bivy.

With all that, might as well get a solo tent. Some of those bivies weigh more than UL solo tents.

With bivies you use a tarp, which you generally buy separately.

I get the impression he may want something more waterproof - functionally - with a higher hydrostatic head than silnylon.

I was looking at that one. Is the zipper sperate for the gortex fabric and the bug screen? im intrested in a bivy like this. not one with just a bug screen and some type of over head support or a 3 pole design. I dont really want to have to carry a tarp also and some of theese are lighter then one man or solo bathtub floor tents. If ended up going with a tent a want a sewn in floor. so thats more of the reason im looking at a bivie

Justme
If I understand you correctly you are looking for a one piece bivy sack for use with no other shelter. When the weather is beautiful and you don't need a bivy, or if you can set it up under fir trees, they are great. Spending a night in a storm, rain or snow, in a bivy is a drag, but nothing compared to getting dressed in a storm with just a bivy. If you suggest specific models to us, we can critique them, but only if you explain how and where you will be using it.
Jim

Cuben, spinnaker, PU coated, plenty of tarps out there...

Yes - but all with a lower HH.

Why would you get dressed in a bivvy in a storm?

What about the Mountain Laurel Designs bivies? I've been looking carefully at them though they are using Momentum for the top fabric with an eVent footbox capping off the toes. The Integral Designs looks rock solid but heavy to me.

MLD does sell a event bivy that can handle direct rain. Check out their Alpine Bivy.



I think he just meant getting dressed while in a storm and only having a bivy as your shelter would suck. If you cant get dressed in your bivy you'll have to get out of the bivy and get dressed.

Yes - I was just kidding....

I've thru-hiked the AT twice and carried a bivy both times.

The first trip was a relatively heavy Integral Designs job with no additional shelter. It had a wire that kept it off my face and a bug net. It did well, though I did get water in it several times when I was out in the open in a driving, long-lasting rain, I was using a synthetic bag then, so not overly serious.

Second time I carried an MLD bivy, but with an MLD poncho as primary shelter (and a down bag). Never tried the bivy by itself in serious rain,but was very happy with the performance of this outfit. It must have added several degrees to the performance of the bag (yeah, it was a WM). Bag was rated to 40F and two different nights I failed to bring my water bottle in with me. Both mornings I reached out of my nice warm cacoon and grabbed a frozen water bottle.

Furthermore, I've found that I like working with Ron Bell (MLD= Mountain Laurel Designs). Easy to work with, reasonable prices for what he makes, and understands trail life well, making it easy to communicate.

Best, jcp

If I ever decided to get a bivy it would be a very basic eVent bivy W/ no netting or poles. Mainly I'd use it for winter camping in snow trenches or quinzhees (piled snow mound shelters).

eVent is, of course, the most breathable waterproof laminate and that's very important in keeping a sleeping bag from acumulating more and more moisture each night.

Eric

I have done a lot of backpacking with just a basic bivy. I use the OR basic - it does have a mosquito net with a separate zipper. It weighs 1 lb 5 oz. I am failry small (5'4" 115lbs). I am a bit concerned because of your size. I feel the bivy fits me well. It is too long but this does give me a space so I can get all my gear inside. I really feel I need all the girth. I think you would feel very squeezed in this bivy.

Once you start adding the poles and fancy stuff, you can get a tarp tent for about the same weight. My bivy has several loops on the hood and I can lift the hood to make a sort-of tent by usng my trekking poles. This keeps my face free even when it is all zipped up. I personally would not get a bivy without mosquito netting. It weighs very little and when you need it you will be mighty glad.

I use a bivy for most of my trips in the Sierra. I use a tent for most trips in Wyoming. I have used the bivy a few times on short 2-3 day trips in Wyoming. But the daily lightning storms and intense rain are easier to deal with in a tent. I use the bivy a lot on the coast - where it is wet but quite warm and you end up wet anyway.

For me the biggest advantage of the bivy is that you can sleep nearly anywhere you can curl up. You can crawl under a big tree, sleep on top of a flat rock, sleep in the trail if needed, or on a hummock of grass. I never have to worry about finding a campsite.

Here are two pictures showing my OR basic bivy set-up. The second one is with a small tarp. Both these were taken on a 12-day trip in the Sierra.

Awesome pics - bivvying at its best!

sorry, its can be hard to catch sarcasm via text : )

Those are great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

If you need more room in a bivy you might want to check out the Nemo gogo Almost 2lbs though.