i have an upcoming sectional AT trip in the smokies. i have been told that must stay in the shelters and that only thru hikers can pitch a tent. i was wondering if i could sleep in a bivy to protect against varmits. and what bivy would u suggest i get. i want to be able to use it as a tent bivy on later trips.
thanks for any help

You might want to consider a bug bivy to keep away mosquitoes, though in all honestly, they have not been much of a problem in the Smokies on many many trips there at all different times of the year. But you could use one of the solo models in the shelter with no problem

A bivy designed to fend off rain isn't going to do you much good at keeping away mice. They're not going to harass you beyond maybe running over top of you to get somewhere else. The bug bivy would do as much to keep them away. You could also use the bug bivy beneath a tarp at a later time.

thanks for the advice.... i will look into bug bivies

I think you mentioned wanting to use as a tent bivy on future hikes? If you mean as your primary shelter, I've been happy with what is now called the OR Alpine Bivy (was the OR Deluxe Bivy). Single pole so you've got some head room, can sleep under just the bug net if it is nice out. I've spent a couple of weeks on the trail in one, and been through some rain, and it works well. Managed to bring all my gear in with me. You do have to work out an exit strategy if waking up to rain in the morning.

I really like my homemade bug bivy. I can use it under my tarp, in a shelter, or out under the stars. It is quite water resistant (the top fabric is Momentum .90), the bottom is sil-nylon, and there is a huge mesh panel over the head and chest. It cost about $50 in materials from thru-hiker.com, and my wife and I made it in a weekend using her sewing skills.

The closest commercial versions I can find are the bivies at backpackinglight.com, or maybe the Titanium Goat bivy.

I have used my bivy in the shelters in the Smokies and it worked well. I went in November, though, so I used it for the extra warmth, not the bugs. But it did a great job keeping the mice away -- the other guy in the shelter on the second night was mobbed all night long by the mice, and I never saw or heard one. The ear plugs helped with that, of course.

Pix: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=15028&catid=member&imageuser=266

thanks for all the help... i have been searching the internet looking at different types of bivies. i guess i didn't know there were this many out there. i also didn't realize the difference in each bivies weight. i even saw one that was 3 lbs. i will keep looking.

Oh, I forgot to mention that my homemade bivy is 8 ounces exactly in its little stuff sack.

My personal opinion is that this sort of bivy needs to be water resistant and bug proof, but NOT "waterproof." So any Goretex or other waterproof/breathable fabrics won't work. (They're also usually heavier.)

Bibler Winter Bivy should fit that bill as it is made from Epic and is around 9 ounces.

i settled on the outdoor research alpine bivy. i like the features and found one one pretty cheap on ebay. thanks for all your help... i'm ready to get out there

I have the OR Bug Bivy. I really like it. The only think I want to caution. When staking it out (if you do) tie some string loops to the regular ones and drive your stakes through those. . I found that the sewn on loops are easy to damaged with a stake unless you are careful. Enjoy.

Howie

thanks for the advice, i see what you mean.