Bivi bag

[oyster_07]

Hi everyone,

It's time for a new bivi and I'm tossing up between the following:

Outdoor Research Aurora
(GTX, 0.624 kg, $319)

MSR AC-bivy
(Ripstop Durashield, 0.510 kg, $315)

Rab Alpine Lite
(Exhange Lite eVent, 0.420 kg, $370)

Any thoughts?

I want to be able to use it both with and without a tarp. As such, it should be waterproof and breathable.

Use would be all purpose, with various bags inside. I have never had a problem with warmth, so that is less of a concern. Waterproofing and breathability are my concerns.

Cheers.

[Nuts]

Hey Oyster, I have and have used the OR and Rab bivys. Both do the job, I prefer the Rab just in being lighter and the event being perhaps a bit more breathable.. and its a bright red colour .. buuut the Aurora does have that mesh hood to keep the bugs off. It 'breathes' well enough, maybe a tadd bigger than the rab?? opens up a bit wider and the velcroed opening is smoother..

They can both be had much cheaper than those prices if you search and/or wait for a sale.

[etrangere]

The OR Aurora doesnt have a hoop so you would need to support the mesh off yourself by stringing it up with a branch, trekking pole etc. Mossies can still bite you if the mesh is laying on your face plus its annoying.

I have:
OR Deluxe bivy - goretex, hooped entry, mesh/solid entry flap (similiar to OR Alpine bivy). Used it on a 6 week trip with temps from 15 to -5 C, only got slight condensation inside from time to time, caused only surface wetness on sleeping bag, layed it out in sun and dried off quickly. The mesh hooped entry is great you can star gaze at night and keep out mossies.

OR Highland bivy - hooped entry, mesh/solid entry flap exactly same as OR Alpine bivy but made from Pertex instead of Goretex, havent used it as much as my OR Deluxe bivy, but similiar experiences, tub floor side walls are raised higher than the OD Deluxe so probably less chance of leaking if you found yourself situated in pooling water. Excellent value, picked mine up online for $150

Integral Designs Bugaboo bivy - does have a wire hoop, but doesnt created as much space around your face or work as well as the OR hooped bivies, is larger overall than OR bivies, can even fit a large pro lite thermarestpro in it. Being made from eVent i had absolutely NO condensation in it. Only has a small mesh window so not so good for star gazing.

The main things I have heard about the MSR AC Bivy is that its not very breathable and you get LOTS of condensation.

The OR Aurora bivy I have read heaps of great reviews on it, esp if you are able to support the mesh of your face. Having the ability to pull the hood back and still protect yourself from bugs would also help in reducing condensation. A small tarp (StS poncho/tarp is what I have used) over the head area would enable you do that even in rainy weather.

Personally my fave is the OR Highland bivy, the mesh opening really gives the feel of sleeping in the outdoors, the hoop keeps the bivy/mesh off your face with enough space to read a book etc. The only improvement would be if it was made from eVent, but at $150 its great value.

[hikin_jim]

I've got the OR Aurora. Pretty happy with it. Durable so far.

I have had some condensation problems in below 0C weather. I had ice condensation on top of my sleeping bag in the morning which I shook off and then let the bag dry in the sun. No adverse effects. eVent might be more breathable, but I haven't tried it.

HJ

[Nuts]

I had the one with the hoop (OR Advanced Bivy??), getting close to tent weight though.

[oyster_07]

Yes, agreed. My MSR Hubba HP is almost 1.4 kg, so those heavier OR bivies are not really a weight loss.

I'm now thinking the MLD Soul eVent bivi (340 grams).

Thanks for all your tips.

[Moondog55]

All other things being equal I decided years ago to get the biggest bivvybag i could find, as i had small kids and wanted room for them in an emergency, so i got a MD "Foxhole" and i have been happy with it's performance except for the lack of bug mesh, the bug mesh can be very handy

[oyster_07]

Bug mesh: essential.

[hikin_jim]

I suppose one could sleep in a headnet if one's bivi came sans-mesh.

HJ

[etrangere]

OR Alpine bivy - 859 gms
OR Aurora bivy - 624 gms
OR Highland bivy - 674 gms

Bug head net if fine during the day but in a bivy i think i'd go for the full mesh to keep not only mossies/flies off you but spiders/ants/snakes out too!!

[ninjapuppet]

Did you consider the macpac eVent bivy currently on sale?

specs appear slightly heavier compared to some, but it appears bombproof.

[oyster_07]

Yes, it looks good and it's at a good price, but I already have a heavier one and am looking at shedding weight.

[Moondog55]

All things equal isn't a decent tent lighter than the combination of a tarp plus bivvysac?
Although I always carry mine it is used mainly to protect my delicate sleeping bag from dirt

[etrangere]

When looking at the RAB website the stats are

Alpine Lite - 2250 x 750, 420gm, event material, 10,000 HH tub floor, NO mossie net
Ascent - 2250 x 700, 600gm, event material, 10,000 HH tub floor, WITH mossie net
Ridge - 2150 x 800 x 600 (H), 840gms, event material, 10,000 HH tub floor, WITH mossie net and pole hoop
Storm - 2250 x 700, 560gms, hyperlite material, 1200 HH 1,200 HH tub floor, NO mossie net
Alpine - 2200 x 800, 630gms, event material, 10,000 HH tub floor, NO mossie net

Looking at that if you wanted a hooped pole bivy I would pick a OR Highland or OR Alpine bivy over the RAB Ridge as they are a fair bit lighter
If a hooped bivy wasnt that important then out of the RAB bivies i would pick the Ascent bivy as its the only other one with mossie netting

[ninjapuppet]

very good summary there estrangere.

I had been very interested in the Rab bivies too and emailed them to get more information. Rab recommended .... (obviously because its the most expensive at $300)... to get the ascent bivi because it has a removable bug net at the entrance so its weight can actually go below 600 grams. But what I noted was that there were different variations of the eVent material and not alot of information on their different types of eVent used.

[Nuts]

I'd go with that MLD biv if he is making them again Oyster. I have one of his bivys with an event foot panel, mines momentum fabric, no good without a tarp but nice roomy size and well made.

[icemancometh]

You definitely want a mesh net in OZ if you plan on using it year round. A head net doesn't cut it (all my bites the other night will attest to that) when you're not rugged up (thermals/gloves/buffs/etc) and not above the tree line

[icemancometh]

Get the Soul from MLD. Best looking bivy I've seen except maybe for a tie in point and a brighter colour so you can find it at night and so you don't get stepped on

[andre35]

I've used a Mont bivy bag for a fair while. Think it's the hibernator model. Breathes well and keeps the water out, most of the time... Goes in the pack on every trip in Tassie.