Gear List || Backpacking Tarp & Bivy: Ultralight minimalism


This is a multi-post series on backpacking shelter systems. Start with the Introduction or skip to:
A tarp & bivy offers full -- albeit barebones -- protection against precip, insects, groundwater, and wind. It's an ultralight and compact package that will be too minimalist for most.
A tarp & bivy offers full — albeit barebones — protection against precip, insects, groundwater, and wind. It’s an ultralight and compact package that will be too minimalist for most.

In a normal winter, the Sierra Nevada, Pacific Northwest, and Rocky Mountains get hammered by systems that roll off the Pacific Ocean and drop hundreds of inches of snow. The summers, however, are sunny and dry, with only occasional precipitation related to the North American monsoon. Storms can be violent, but they are normally short-lived and an afternoon-only concern.

Bug pressure, meanwhile, requires action for about six weeks, plus/minus depending on the location, winter snowpack, and timing of the spring melt. Even when the mosquitoes are thick during the day, they are grounded at night by a light wind or temperatures below about 50 degrees.

The Desert Southwest sees even less precipitation and fewer bugs.

In such benign conditions, a backpacking shelter is rarely even needed. While I could continue to carry my modular double-wall tent as a just-in-case precaution, I instead opt for a lighter and more compact tarp and bivy system. This combination offers sufficient — albeit barebones — protections.

Gear List: Backpacking Tarp & Bivy System

My tarp & bivy system is the lightest and least expensive of my go-to backpacking shelter systems. The reason is simple: There is not much to it.

  • Critical: A must-have, no exceptions
  • Suggested: A valuable addition, few reasons not to bring
  • Optional: Not critical, but worth consideration
  • Contingent: Depends on trip objectives, conditions, and/or other selections
  • Unnecessary: Unlikely to need and/or can be improvised

Advantages

In addition to its weight and size, the primary reason I give up my tent is so that I can “cowboy camp,” or simply sleep under the stars in my bivy. This has a number of benefits. I:

  • Retain protection against insects and groundwater, and some wind.
  • Avoid having to set up and break down my shelter, which saves me time and an inconvenience
  • Pull into camp later and leave earlier, because I have less set up to do;
  • Camp where I would struggle to pitch a tent, like on a slickrock slab or under the tiny canopy of a krumholtz spruce.
  • Can move around more comfortably, because I’m not stuck inside a bug nest or fly.
  • Enjoy it, honestly.
Cowboy camping in southern Utah, where the nights are almost always dry and bug-free. For such benign conditions, why carry much of a shelter?
Cowboy camping in southern Utah, where the nights are almost always dry and bug-free. For such benign conditions, why carry much of a shelter?

Another oft-cited advantage of tarps is ventilation, which helps to reduce condensation. This is absolutely true, but it’s not a relevant perk in the arid Mountain West and Desert Southwest, where nighttime temperatures usually remain above the dew point.

Limitations

Let me just put it out there: For most backpackers, a tarp & bivy system is completely unappealing. It’s:

  • Not foolproof,
  • Not private,
  • Not full-sided, and,
  • Not for claustrophobics.

Furthermore, while the bivy is fully enclosed, there is no fully enclosed living area, as there is with a tent. For better or worse, with a tarp & bivy you feel more immersed in the wilderness.

If you are not turned off yet, then let’s discuss a few specific situations that are a struggle for the tarp & bivy:

Bug pressure

Technically, the bivy is bug proof. However, ‘skeeters can bite through the mesh where it’s flush with skin. Solutions:

  • Tie off the top of the bivy to a tarp or branch;
  • Wear a hat at night, so that the brim suspends the mesh off your face;
  • Cinch tightly the hood of your mummy bag, and let the mesh drape across it.

But even if the bugs can’t get at you, their high-pitched whine will keep you awake if they are inches from your ear drums.

I only use the tarp & bivy if I expect no or light bug pressure. I can handle a persistent mosquito or two, but I prefer other solutions for constant pressure.

Protected camps

Open-sided tarps are incompatible with wind. The photos that suggest otherwise are good candiates for Instagram.com/YouDidNotSleepThere. If they went through with it, I hope that the photo was worth a crappy night of sleep.

Some types of tarps can provide full-sided wind protection. But unless this need is the exception (not the norm), I would rather have a full-sided tent that is easier to pitch and that has a real door.

In high winds, an A-frame tarp can be like a wind tunnel. On a desperate night in the Grand Canyon, I took (not very effective) refuge behind this dead tree. Some tarps and tarp pitches can offer more wind protection than an A-frame, but if I'm regularly coping with high winds I would just assume have a full-sided tent that it easier to pitch and that has a real door.
In high winds, an A-frame tarp can be like a wind tunnel. On a desperate night in the Grand Canyon, I took (not very effective) refuge behind this dead tree. Some tarps and tarp pitches can offer more wind protection than an A-frame, but if I’m regularly coping with high winds I would just assume have a full-sided tent that it easier to pitch and that has a real door.

Applicability beyond the West

I have used a tarp & bivy in every ecosystem in North America. Without question, it excels most in the Mountain West and Desert Southwest, where nights are normally dry, calm, and bug-free. In other settings I’m not as enthusiastic about it.

Eastern woodlands

Nighttime temperatures do not drop drastically in the East, and mosquitoes buzz around all night during the summer. So at a minimum, I would swap the bivy for a tent-like nest such as the MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House 2 or one from BearPaw Wilderness Designs, for more robust bug protection. This system would approach the weight of a lightweight tent, but it would be better ventilated and more versatile than most (because not all tents are modular). For example, the nest could be pitched inside of an AT shelter, or pitched by itself on dry nights.

A tarp & bivy before a wet night in Shenandoah National Park. For the eastern woodlands I think the system makes less sense. The night-long whine of mosquitoes just inches from my ear drums is overly bothersome.
A tarp & bivy before a wet night in Shenandoah National Park. For the eastern woodlands I think the system makes less sense. The night-long whine of mosquitoes just inches from my ear drums is overly bothersome.

Pacific Northwest

In the Pacific Northwest, I would be concerned about nighttime insect pressure at lower elevations (warm temperatures), as well as driving rain at higher elevations. The latter can be partially mitigated by an oversized tarp, such as the Rab Siltarp3, which is a giant 10’ x 12’, but I would tend to simply favor a full-sided modular tent.

I would be curious to hear thoughts from PNW specialists about the tarp & bivy system.

Tarps for group camping

Even if you end up with a different type of backpacking shelter (e.g. a tent or a hammock), do not give up on tarps in wet environments. They can be used to create a large protected space under which a group can gather in wet weather, rather than everyone being stuck in their individual shelters. A budget friendly option is the REI Camp Tarp, which is a 12-foot square and about $70. Oversized hammock tarps work extremely well, too.

On wet trips a group tarp pays enormous dividends. It provides a communal spot to gather that is out of the rain and well ventilated. Without one, group members are more likely to remain isolated in their individual shelters.
On wet trips a group tarp pays enormous dividends. It provides a communal spot to gather that is out of the rain and well ventilated. Without one, group members are more likely to remain isolated in their individual shelters.

Tarp discussion

Size

Unless you just want to impress other people in the forum with your UL gear list, avoid handkerchief-sized tarps like the Rab Element 1, which is just over 7 feet long and 3 feet wide.

When you actually need it, a small tarp will fail you: it offers minimal interior space, and the scantily protected head and foot will get wet from rain splatter and incoming rain.

A few extra ounces of fabric go a long way in increasing the space protected by a tarp. For example, the MLD Grace Duo weighs just 2.8 oz more than the Solo, but it’s 6 inches longer and 24-30 inches wider, enough space for a second person or to create a palace for one.

Shapes

Dedicated A-frame tarps have a pre-shaped catenary curved ridgeline that eliminates sag but hinders flexibility. I like them: they are simple and relatively easy to pitch. The two open ends are vulnerable to driving rain, but that can be offset with good campsite selection, an oversized tarp, and a low-to-the-ground pitch on the windward side.

Some A-frame tarps are tapered, whereby the head area is wider & taller than the foot area. Others like the Eagles Nest ProFly Sil Nylon Rain Tarp have a uniform width. Tarps with a taper make for better ground shelters, but symmetrical tarps can play double-duty in a hammock system.

Besides A-frames, other tarp shapes include:

  • Flat tarps like the Sea to Summit Escapist, which is 10’ x 10’. They are the most versatile, but also the least user-friendly because they have no natural shape.
  • A-frame tarps with optional “beaks” at the head and foot, like the Rab Element 2. These beaks improve storm-resistance but add weight, reduce ventilation, and limit pitch angles.
  • Poncho-tarps like the ZPacks Groundsheet-Poncho, which is best used as just-in-case shelter or rain gear, not regular use.
An A-frame tarp (right) and flat tarp (left) on the Kings Canyon High Basin Route. The flat tarp has a more adaptable pitch than than the A-frame, and was configured to provide more wind protection. But if I were camping regularly in such exposed settings, I would simply opt for a full-sided tent.
An A-frame tarp (right) and flat tarp (left) on the Kings Canyon High Basin Route. The flat tarp has a more adaptable pitch than than the A-frame, and was configured to provide more wind protection. But if I were camping regularly in such exposed settings, I would simply opt for a full-sided tent.

Bivy discussion

Top material

A bivy with an all-mesh top like the Borah Bug Bivy or Outdoor Research Bug Bivy will be cooler than a fabric top like the Mountain Laurel Designs Superlight or ZPacks Splash. That is an advantage in warmer temperatures, but a disadvantage in cooler and windier conditions.

Fabric tops must be made of highly breathable fabric. Avoid “coated” top fabrics, such as with the MSR E-Bivy, as well as any “waterproof-breathable” top fabrics, such as with the Black Diamond Twilight Bivy. Without adequate breathability, moisture (from insensible perspiration and drying clothing) will become trapped inside the system and condense when it reaches the bivy top, wetting your sleeping bag.

Side zip

Unless you want to squirm into your bivy each night, select at least a standard length zipper. It adds about a half-ounce versus a short one, big whoop dee doo.

Material quality

The primary purpose of my bivy is to keep the insects off me. The floor should be waterproof, but it need not be bomber since I always sleep on top of a waterproof ground sheet and since the ground is usually dry.

The water-resistance of the top fabric is not a concern of mine. I rely on an oversized tarp to keep away precip and splatter. Plus, I have no long-term faith in DWR treatments.

Alternatives

In addition to bug nests, mentioned earlier, another alternative to the bivy is to simply do without it. I would only recommend this if you are using a mummy bag, which is less drafty than a quilt, and if you are expecting no bug pressure, since your backup system would be a head net.

Flyin' Brian's tarp & groundsheet. Since he uses a mummy bag, he does not need a bivy. If bugs are a remote possibility, he may bring a headnet for just-in-case insurance.
Flyin’ Brian’s tarp & groundsheet. Since he uses a mummy bag, he does not need a bivy. If bugs are a remote possibility, he may bring a headnet for just-in-case insurance.

Ground sheet discussion

A ground sheet is optional in the tarp & bivy system, although I would generally recommend it, and strongly recommend it to bivy-less sleepers.

The ground sheet has a few roles:

  • A clean and dry space to lay gear;
  • Supplement the waterproofness of the bivy sack’s bottom; and,
  • Reduce abrasion between the air mattresses and the ground, and to blunt sharp objects like pine needles.
Cowboy camping in the sub-alpine in the Wind River Range. The Mylar space blanket provides a clean space to lay out my gear, protects my air pad from abrasion and sharp objects, and adds some warmth.
Cowboy camping in the sub-alpine in the Wind River Range. The Mylar space blanket provides a clean space to lay out my gear, protects my air pad from abrasion and sharp objects, and adds some warmth.

A popular groundsheet is Gossamer Gear Polycryo, because it’s cheap and ultralight. You can buy this material locally at hardware stores, in the form of window shrink map, but you must cut it to size.

My ground sheet preference is an emergency space blanket. It is comparable in expense, weight, and durability as Polycryo, but it is warmer because the Mylar reflects radiant heat.

Own a tarp & bivy? What’s your exact setup and what are your thoughts?

Considering a tarp & bivy? What are your top prospects or your reservations?


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Posted in , , on November 20, 2016
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93 Comments

  1. Ric R. on November 20, 2016 at 9:04 am

    My go to set up is a Gossemer Gear Spinn Twinn tarp (no long manufactured with spinnaker materiel). My geo-specific shelters (Northeast – West, Pacific NW) I use are the Henry Spires Tarp Tent (Squall II – no longer manufactured) and the Sierra Designs Tensegrity 2 Elite Tent (at 2.5 lbs it’s super light). Both offer full protection and I feel are perfect for all three seasons. When I might be challenged for a smaller foot print area, I opt for the Squall II over the Tensegrity but you can’t beat the versatility, space and comfort of the Tensegrity.
    With my Tarp, I use a Tyvek ground sheet (washed about 4-6 times – makes it less noisy and more flexible) – then goes my air maters and Enlightened Eq. quilt (20 degree). I used to use a bivy (MLD superlight) but learned I really did not need it and since I move around plenty in my sleep it just became an irritant. Even in heavy rain and light snow conditions – I never have looked back or regretted not bringing a bivy. The only caveat is if I don’t pack a bivy, I definitely bring a ground sheet.

    • Edward on November 21, 2016 at 5:48 am

      Hilarious. We are told in the equipment list that trekking poles are unnecessary and natural anchors are best. But picture after picture shows the trekking poles in use. So add $150 to your already high dollar equipment list.

      • Andrew Skurka on November 21, 2016 at 7:35 am

        Natural anchors are best, but not always where you need them to be. If they are an option, I use them every time, and encourage others to do the same.

        My trekking poles are going with me regardless of whether I use them as part of my shelter or not. I count their weight and cost elsewhere in my master gear list.

        Here’s a nice $30 set for you, Cascade Mountain Tech Quick Lock Trekking Poles.

  2. Johnny on November 20, 2016 at 10:09 am

    I use the Borah gear bivy (not side zip) and a Borah 5×9 tarp, with extra pulls for versatility. My pad is a blue foam Walmart pad, cut to about 3/4 size. I supplement that with a leaf pile that I’ll put my ground sheet (visqueen) over.

    I usually pitch an A-frame, with the windward end close to the ground. I love it, and it’s my go-to for the Appalachians. I like the bivy for bug and wind protection, but . . . the bottom is so slick I usually slide in one direction or the other. As a side-sleeper, this can be frustrating. What are your thoughts on how to correct the sliding?

    • Jon on November 20, 2016 at 7:57 pm

      Johnny,

      I’ve put a total of 8 quarter size dabs of silicone on the top of the bottom layer (read where the bottom of your pad touches the top of bottom layer) to correct that problem. So far so good with a neoair and about 10+ nights as a side sleeper.

    • Tyler on December 5, 2016 at 7:06 pm

      Have you tried placing your sleep pad inside the bivy? I started doing this over a decade ago and have slept out hundreds if not thousands of nights like this and it works quite well to prevent slipping and sliding all over the place.

      • Mikkel Trier on December 29, 2021 at 2:10 pm

        That is correct…but it takes the thickness of the sleeping pad, away from the roomy inside of a good bivy. those few centimeters, actually make it a whole lot less spacious.

  3. Perry on November 20, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    Have you ever used, or have thoughts on, a “bug net condom” system like Lint uses? Seems like it’d be good in situations with little chance of rain whilst dealing with bug pressure better than a bivy. I’m in the process of sewing one together (estimated 3.5oz), long enough to cover up to my thighs in a quilt, whilst giving more headroom than a bivy. Plus, i can sit up it in cross legged and stay covered when sat still in buggy areas.

  4. Russell J on November 20, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    Tarp sans bivvy is our (wife’s and mine) go-to system. We rarely use it because most of our backpacking is in the desert in winter. No precipitation and no bugs. In fact, during our last dozen or so nights, we’ve set it up exactly once based on the appearance of the evening sky. Ended up not using it. Just a polycryo ground cloth, NeoAir Xlite, and quilt and we’re good to go, with an unobstructed view of the Milky Way. Still, the tarp is a nice “just in case” item for an extra ~23 oz. (MLD Grace Duo, silnylon, including guy lines and stakes).

    We also have a Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo for the far-less-frequent summer trip to the mountains, where/when bugs can be an issue. More weight (~42 oz.), but the tradeoff is usually carrying far less water than when in the desert.

    Also use the REI Half Dome 2 for car camping/base camping and canoe camping where weight and space are not as big of concerns. Free-standing, sturdy, easy and quick set-up. And a whopping 6.5 lbs.

    • Andrew Skurka on November 20, 2016 at 3:59 pm

      It is rational to be fearful of scorpions and snakes that might want to snuggle up with you?

      • Russell J on November 20, 2016 at 6:35 pm

        I don’t think so; certainly not in the case of snakes. Most squamates go into brumation (dormancy) during the winter and aren’t likely to be slithering around in nighttime temperatures of 40 or below. I think most “dangerous” desert creepy-crawlies … tarantulas, scorpions, centipedes … are much the same – torpor, I think it’s called. At any rate, in all the nights I’ve slept on the ground, I’ve never had any visitors in my quilt. At least that I know of.

      • Tyler on December 5, 2016 at 7:11 pm

        Fearful? No. Cautious? Yes. The biggest thing to watch for is to make sure you check your footwear and gloves thoroughly before putting them on.

        I don’t backpack much through the desert, but 12 years as a Marine infantryman led to many, nigh countless nights sleeping on the desert floor.

      • Loo on April 21, 2017 at 12:25 pm

        You question was about creepy crawlers on cool desert nights, correct?
        In which situations should we be concerned about spiders and snakes getting under our quilts?

        I frequent the wilderness in Georgia, Tennessee, & North Carolina, and I always imagine a snake passing by on cool ground, and noticing that my quilt is a few valuable degrees warmer, so she’s at least gonna investigate. So I’m always enclosed in something, even if it’s just a bug bivy.

      • jerry on April 28, 2019 at 6:55 am

        I’m just getting into tarp camping. I live in the southeast, (TN) and my main concern is waking up to a snake cuddled up next to me. So I may have some type of inner net made by Bearpaw Wilderness Designs. I’m not worried about the extra weight because I believe i’ll get less condensation with the tarp setup than with my Sierra Design Flashlight2 and i’ll be dropping 1 1/2- 2lbs to boot.

      • Randy on April 28, 2019 at 9:15 am

        I always got a kick out of this post: https://www.instagram.com/p/BbShBN8BZbT/
        Make sure to click through the series. Raises the question if he had been cowboy camping. I treat these sorts of things like getting hit by lightning; the chances are low but it’s foolish to do things that leave you open.

  5. spelt on November 20, 2016 at 5:21 pm

    I’ve never used a shaped tarp. I’ve used 5×8 and 8×10 flat tarps. I actually prefer the smaller size. The 8×10 is too much fabric for one person (I’m short, which helps). I’m planning on trying a small square tarp this year b/c I want (even) more flexibility with pitches. A-frames have never really appealed to me. I like the semi-enclosed pitches like lean-tos. Definitely a psychological factor there but it’s pretty minor.

    I’ve only used a bug bivy (MLD), never a solid one. I like the MLD because you can tie up the head end and get the mesh off your face.

    I used (the nice) space blanket ground cloths for a while but I’m using polycryo now. It seems more puncture resistant, but more fragile once it’s torn.

    • Andrew Skurka on November 20, 2016 at 6:32 pm

      That’s been my experience with Polycryo, too. A little bit more resistant to punctures & tears, but tears quickly once it gets nicked.

      The Mylar puts it over the top for me, though. Especially when using an non-insulated sleeping pad, the difference is noticeable.

      • Bryon on January 24, 2017 at 5:51 pm

        I’m currently polycro, neoair all-season or S2S ComfortLight, and EE Revelation Quilt. Would the mylar make much difference, or does either pad negate its radiant properties? Just finished a section hike last week where a few more degrees of warmth would have really made a difference, and wondering if this would be that little bit to help me dial in my system.

  6. Tom Clark on November 20, 2016 at 7:10 pm

    I have used 8’x10′ Silnylon tarp, 5’x8′ Silnylon poncho-tarp, 2-person cat-cut Spinnaker tarp, and 2-person cat-cut Cuben (current go-to option). I usually use a lightweight bivy (Pertex top and Spinnaker bottom) with a quilt or mummy bag when colder. I really prefer the openness to see what’s going on around me vs. a traditional tent. When it’s humid, I do experience condensation inside the bivy, so try to keep it open or elevated when possible. I like the larger tarps to provide better rain protection and more space, but prefer the Cuben cat-cut for ease of pitching. Larger Silnylon tarps (8×10) are harder to pitch tautly in wet, windy weather because of the sag of the material when wet and larger panels that flap in heavy winds. I have used my Chrome Dome umbrella to better seal off the foot end and my Cuben rain kilt to seal off the head when bad weather threatens and site selection is limited.

  7. Fred L. on November 20, 2016 at 7:23 pm

    Backpacking in New England I’ll use a tarp and bivy when overnight temperatures are 40 or below ensuring no bug problems. I have the REI Minimalist bivy and use a closed cell foam pad and sleeping bag inside the bivy. The tarp is a rectangular 6 x 9 ft if solo or a 10 x12 ft if with a partner, light weight sil-nylon from Campmor, typically pitched as an A frame using treking poles or a line between trees. For a ground sheet I just use the foot print from a tent. If the chance of rain is low I may not put up the tarp.

    • Carl on January 11, 2017 at 12:37 pm

      My tarp + bivy is a very similar setup. Condensation is exceptionally tricky to minimize in a bivy out east; what are your strategies? Do you leave open the netting at the head? Although that should help a great deal, it leaves you open to bugs.

      FWIW, I had a lot less condensation with the tarp set up as A-frame than as a “flying wedge” (3 corners down, 1 tied to tree at head level). A breeze seems to help reduce condensation quite a bit, so the A-frame permits more airflow (esp. if you can pitch it high).

      In the southeast, where I live, nighttime humidity is very high, even in conditions of drought, such as we had in the 2nd half of 2016. This makes condensation management in a bivy all the more difficult. Some people modify their bivy and cut out a swath of fabric from the topside (down the middle, though I would think across the foot area would be better), and replace it with mesh. Seems like a clever solution for tarp+bivy camping, but if you are just dayhiking in the mountains and carrying a bivy for emergency shelter, you’d probably want an unmodified one for better rain protection.

  8. richard on November 20, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    I wish I had read this article months ago. You would have saved me 100s of dollars… while I aspire to hike the AT and/or PCT I’m currently limited to the FT and so I’m limited to a hammock and cypress trees. The tarp I elected to take with me this weekend was a mylar emergency shelter that required rocks or some object to make knots as there were no grommets.

  9. Thomas on November 20, 2016 at 11:15 pm

    I used the Yama Mountaingear Cirriform 1-person tarp for the Colorado Trail this summer. As Andrew says, the bugs are downed at about 8 PM and the lack of a screen was of no major concern. The tarp fitted nicely into small sites and that on occasion reduced the scouting that I had to do.
    I am tall and I would not want to have to spend two days in it in Inclement weather, I just can’t sit up in it when it is pitched close oto the ground The three nights it rained with wind/ poured without wind, the beaks really shone, everything stayed dry. Without the beaks this tarp would be too small in terms of width to store gear. I used 2 mil sheeting from the hardware store cut to shape as ground sheet. This was held in place with elastic shock cord via grommets in the sheet and looped around the stakes. Lasted about 10 days and was replaced from the bounce box with a new one. Mylar sheet sounds like an excellent alternative.

  10. Chris F. on November 20, 2016 at 11:48 pm

    Thanks Andrew, you are reading my mind again and writing articles on topic.

    When you say that you like the versatility of a separate tent, ground sheet and bugnet, do you mean that you leave some of it behind or do you bring all of it, but save time bt setting up a minimal camp based upon the conditions?

    I’m thinking about a bivy for winter to add warmth, extra wet protection and protection in the infrequent snow cave. For summers, I thought I might be about to use a tarp to travel lighter, farther and as slow as I normally trod 🙂

    Many thanks

  11. David Noll on November 21, 2016 at 5:23 am

    My wife and I backpack both out West and in Minnesota. We have used a tarp and bivy, tarp and net tent, and tents. We now use a Duplex because of weight, great bathtub sides, but mostly because of mosquitos and ticks which are a hazzard in Minnesota. At 28.5 ozs it’s not much heavier than a tarp with a double bivy.

  12. Louis on November 21, 2016 at 6:41 am

    I love this system. My current setup is a HMG 8’5″x8’5″ flat tarp with line locks removed and ZPacks Z-Line for the guy lines. I use two 6″ Y stakes and six-eight 6″ shepherd hooks. I don’t like using trekking poles for shorter trips so I salvaged some poles from older tents and made two custom length sections for when I can’t use my surroundings (3.2oz). I use a Tyvek ground cloth and a Borah side zip bivy when the conditions or insects get dicey. Condensation in any bivy here in the SE can be a pain, especially near the foot box of your sleeping bag/quilt. I had the folks over at Borah add a grosgrain tie out on the end to raise the fabric off of my quilt and it helps a bit.

  13. PS on November 21, 2016 at 7:18 am

    I spent a while deciding on my gear back when I was getting started a little while back. Things have CHANGED since my boy scout days to say the least! I’ve been blessed and was able to spend more or less ridiculous amounts of money for the lightest and strongest stuff I could find. I also wanted as much comfort as I could reasonably get. I’m on the south end of the AT so a full bugproof enclosure was a must for me personally. After reading about everything currently available I decided I also wanted to go with cuban fiber and that I wanted to try a quilt for my sleep kit instead of a bag. I move around alot so it sounded good.

    If you have the money to burn I can highly recommend the Hyperlite Mtn Gear Echo 2 system:
    https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/echo-ii-ultralight-system.html

    It’s pretty roomy for one and will fit two if you are good friends… It’s light and very strong. It does take a few tries to learn the optimal way to set it up but once you have that it’s quick & easy. For those that won’t always have to worry about bugs or rain you could leave the insert portion at home. I’ve never camped in that situation but I hear some folks are lucky. 😛

    For my mat and bag I went with Nemo gear – an Astro insulated air lite (long size) and the tango solo down comforter. I keep a RAB silk liner along as well to help if I need to sleep a little warmer, or cooler (sometimes I’ll sleep just in the liner). And it helps keep trail grime off my the down comforter so I have to think about washing it less often.

    None of that set up is the absolute lightest thing around but it isn’t heavy by any measure is super comfy, fits my 6’2 frame well and has served me flawlessly so far on the SE AT and once down in NW Brazil for a week.

    The whole kit is also far from the cheapest but I bought gear that I believe will last me pretty much for the rest of my life with careful use and that I can use almost anywhere and certainly everywhere I’m ever likely to find myself going. Many folks won’t be able to justify spending $1000+ for a tent, bag and pad (and I don’t really disagree) but that sort of thing is one of the few advantages of getting older that I’ve found!

    (as a side note I went with a HMG Southwest 55L Cuban pack also. Very nice. If you are used to a lot of compartments and/or a frame in your pack you have to learn to organize and pack well however. Also like everything else that’s CF – Expensive.)

    As a final note: if you can, wait for blackfriday and similar sale periods. That Echo 2 is normally $695. I paid $540 by waiting for a sale to come up. Buy it as a kit with a backpack (if you need that also) and you can save even more).

  14. Pstm13 on November 26, 2016 at 12:52 pm

    What are your thoughts on mummy bags with a Dryloft, Pertex, or similar shell? It seems like it would be a good alternative to a bivy when combined with a solid tarp. It would also save 10-36 oz depending on bivy.

    • Andrew Skurka on November 26, 2016 at 2:04 pm

      The bivies that I like to use in conjunction with a tarp are in the 6-8 oz range, depending on the size and exact materials. The heavier bivies (e.g. up to 36 oz) are mountaineering bivies that are inappropriate for backpacking, IMHO.

      The shell fabric of a sleeping bag needs to breathe well and keep the insulation inside. I completely disregard claims that a shell fabric is “water-resistant.” That simply means it is treated with DWR, which will degrade due to abrasion, body oils, and dirt.

      Waterproof-breathable shell fabrics do not breathe well. Thus, they trap moisture inside the sleeping bag and end up having the exact opposite effect than was intended — it causes the insulation to get wet, instead of keeping it dry. In a sleeping bag, at least, the moisture enemy is internal moisture, not external sources of it.

      • pstm13 on November 26, 2016 at 6:26 pm

        To me it would seem that a bag with basically the same membrain as a bivy would breath a little better because it is not seam sealed. It would loose some of its waterproof characteristics but if used with a tarp could help avoid the dreaded wet footbox due to an unexpected shower. Unlike a bivy you couldn’t just take it off or leave it home. Just a thought.

        Anyway, I appreciate your work and enjoy reading your posts.

  15. Igor on June 14, 2017 at 2:42 pm

    Andrew, I’m curious as to how important you think the “bathtub” feature of a bivy or inner net/floor combo is?
    I’m looking at a tarp set up of some sort for lighter conditions when a full tent is unnessecary (I also like feeling “closer” to nature). I’d like to keep the setup to a tarp + groundsheet, I think – maybe having a net for when bugs are likely an issue.
    I live in new Zealand where it can rain a lot, even if unforecasted. So my concern would be the lack of bathtub meaning a higher chance of flooding my shelter – but maybe my concern is a result of needing to improve my campsite selection?

    • Andrew Skurka on June 14, 2017 at 3:35 pm

      In dry environments, the value of a bathtub floor is almost nill.

      In a wet environment, it’s only valuable if you can’t reliably find campsites where the precipitation will pool on the surface. For example, if you regularly backpack in a National Park with designated campsites, or along the Appalachian Trail with high-use campsites, the soil is no longer porous and the water will sit or run on the surface. In that case, a bathtub floor can help a lot.

      Of course, if I’m camping in that kind of place, I’m simply going to bring a hammock. That solves the issue entirely.

      • Geoff on December 22, 2018 at 6:45 pm

        Oh to be in America!

        In Scotland or Dartmoor, where I do much of my camping, a bathtub can be a life-saver. All to often, we end up camping on boggy ground…

  16. Robert on June 20, 2017 at 11:38 am

    I’m planning a 3 day trip in RMNP in early August and want to try a tarp (as opposed to my REI Quarter Dome2). Campsites are at 9000′ so I’m assuming temps will be low enough at night that bugs are not an issue. I’ve decided I want to go with a flat tarp to have some pitch versatility, but not sure what size to get. This trip is just me, but I want the flexibility of using it for 2 people. Considering 8×10, 9×9, and 10×10. I’ll be sleeping on the ground because I find hammocks uncomfortable.

    What should I consider when deciding between rectangular vs square? I’ve read some posts where people say square is more flexible, but I’m not sure why that would be.

    Is 9′ long enough for a max dimension? I have a high tolerance for discomfort, but if there is a significant flexibility or safety advantage to 10′ then I will take the 2 extra oz hit.

    Thanks.

    • Andrew Skurka on June 20, 2017 at 9:42 pm

      For two people I think 9 feet is about as short as you want to go. 10×10 does not buy you much more, and it’s marginally more unwieldy.

      I don’t know why squares would be more versatile than rectangles. I think versatility is more a function of size than shape. If you have a rectangle that is, say, 6 feet wide, you’re going to be pretty limited by that.

  17. Kate Hurley on June 22, 2017 at 9:16 pm

    Awesome article, really helpful. I have done lots of tarp-and-bivi setups in the military, but never really on my own, and Im looking forward to experimenting with this ultralite form of camping this summer. As much as I love my tent for snow, bugs in Spring etc. I won’t have any excuses for a dry August in the Rockies!

  18. Frank on November 19, 2017 at 10:53 pm

    My 1 lb. 3 oz. system that I’ve been using on PCT section hikes in the Sierras and SoCal:

    Ground sheet (Polycryo) – 1.2 oz.
    Borah Gear Cuben / Argon sidezip bivy – 5.4 oz.
    ZPacks Hexamid Solo Plus tarp w/ storm doors – 8.4 oz. incl. all tie-outs & guy lines
    Pegs / stakes (8 Ti hooks, 2 MSR mini groundhogs) – 3.6 oz.

    The bivy has a mesh band around the head, and Argon 67 for the rest of the top part (all cuben bottom). I asked Borah Gear to use Argon instead of mesh for the upper ~6″ of the top, for a little extra splash protection. They did this custom work without an extra charge!

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKKRmVc8fjA/WhJtbchhSuI/AAAAAAAADIs/icI6bt9Emk04VFyVFoVrbniDoAjW_JScgCLcBGAs/s400/tarp-bivy.jpg

    The mesh section has a Grosgrain pull-loop sewn on; I taped a mitten hook to the underside of the tarp ceiling, and use a length of very thin elastic cord and a cord lock to keep the mesh raised off my face when I zip it up.

  19. Joshua Rodriguez on March 10, 2018 at 8:34 pm

    Andrew, I was wondering if you had any thoughts on a good Grand Canyon setup.

    The past 3 years I’ve done multi-day hikes during spring, and had perfect bivy/cowboy camping weather until the last night — when I was hit with rain and some of the fiercest winds I’ve ever seen. One year it tore a hole and broke the pole in my TT Moment DW tent.

    Would you still go tarp/bivy and just hope for the best as far as site selection and tarp setup? Or would you be more inclined to bring a full tent?

    • Andrew Skurka on March 13, 2018 at 2:54 pm

      I would still go tarp/bivy. I know the GC gets some weather occasionally, but it’s rare and I think worth the risk. Bringing a very wind-resistant shelter seems like too much of a “just in case” for me.

      One thing about the wind. I have noticed in the desert (and the mountains, too, though not to the same degree) that the winds really calm down in the evening, after the sun goes down. I will often wait to set up my shelter until after the winds die down, because it’s such a nuisance to try setting up a shelter when the wind is blowing at a steady 10 or 15 mph, or more.

  20. Randy on May 9, 2018 at 9:02 am

    Andrew, question for you. I’m glad to see you mention Bear Paw products. I’ve been eyeing their Minimalist 1 for a while now for use with a tarp. What are your thoughts on 30D vs. 70D silnylon for floor material in wet conditions? Someone on a forum said he got the 70D option since he’s experienced badly flooded sites (like the Rocky Mountain designated camp sites you mention in your site selection article). He felt 30D probably wouldn’t perform as well in such conditions. On such a small shelter the weight penalty is only a couple of ounces for 70D, but then again I like to be picky on “big 3” items. Thoughts?

    • Andrew Skurka on May 9, 2018 at 9:15 am

      I would go with the 30d, and bring an extra ground sheet (e.g. polycryo, cut-open trash compactor bag, durable mylar blanket) for wet trips.

  21. Randy on May 9, 2018 at 9:22 am

    Thanks. That was my original thinking; I’ve got polycro. I guess the issue would be sites that pond during heavy rains, submerging the ground sheet.

    • Andrew Skurka on May 9, 2018 at 9:27 am

      If I was worried about submerging a ground sheet and desperately needed a bathtub floor, I would either (1) find a different campsite or (2) use a hammock.

      You mentioned RMNP. Not sure if you camp there. But my favorite sites are in the cross-country zones — I take them whenever they are available. You get to camp at-large, while everyone else worries about their bathtub floors.

      • Randy on May 9, 2018 at 9:41 am

        I’m primarily a hammock camper and am putting together a tarp shelter only for occasional use and getting some opinions before purchasing. I’m sure 30D will be fine for me. It would be rare or never that all of those factors happen at once: that I’m in a ground shelter+designated site+heavy rain+flooded site. Thanks a bunch for the input.

  22. Paul on May 11, 2018 at 2:06 pm

    Andy, Great to see you continue to reply to comments on these posts! So very helpful. I’m headed out on a 3/4 day section of the KCHBR in the first week of July. I’d like to go tarp/bivy, and cowboy camp most of the nights.

    Knowing that the bug pressure is usually high that time of year, will I be able to find spots to camp that are relative bug free?

    Your comment, “I only use the tarp & bivy if I expect no or light bug pressure.” has me considering a full enclosed shelter with some bug free space.

  23. Jeramie Nielsen on December 10, 2018 at 9:30 am

    I’m curious how you approach a tarp ridgeline with association with trekking poles. I’ve reviewed your stance on guy lines and using knots over linelocs. That guy line system makes nothing but sense to me.

    For corners and other tie outs the knotting system seems simple. But when you throw the trekking poles in at the ridgeline, you have to add something like a clove hitch to attach it to the pole. I’m presuming you still use a bowline to attach the guy line to the tarp, but it’s a trucker’s hitch still effective between the trekking pole and the stake? My guess is that it will still bring the tarp taught just the same, but I just wasn’t sure if the trekking pole messes anything up since the guy line wouldn’t be able to move around the pole.

    I’m guessing I’m just overthinking it. And info would be awesome!

    Thanks!

    • Andrew Skurka on December 10, 2018 at 10:35 am

      Use a bowline to attach the line to the tarp.

      To catch the trekking pole, you can use a clove hitch, but I do something a little simpler: wrap the tip once completely, to create a loop, and then reverse the direction of your working end so that it catches itself at the loop. Like this:

      • Jeramie Nielsen on December 10, 2018 at 11:49 am

        And then the trucker’s hitch would then go between the pole and the stake? That loop set-up isn’t too loose? I’ll presume you just adjust the base of the trekking pole to achieve maximum tautness?

        • Andrew Skurka on December 11, 2018 at 9:45 am

          Correct, put in a truckers hitch between the pole and stake.

          The loop around the trekking pole will not slide. I kept it loose in this photo so you could see it easily, but it tensions nicely and there’s plenty of friction in the system.

          I adjust the trekking pole so that it’s a few inches higher than the tarp’s apex. This gives it some vertical tension, in addition to the horizontal created by the guyline.

  24. Marc on December 22, 2018 at 5:33 am

    Hi Andrew, I know you tried both the MLD superlight bivy and the Borah gear side zip bivy, I was wondering if you saw some differences between the two? Mainly between the top fabric, MLD mountain 10D and Argon 90 or 67 for Borah. At 95$ for the Borah side zip, it seems to be a great bargain. Thanks.

    • Andrew Skurka on December 22, 2018 at 6:44 am

      I have not used the Borah bivy. The SuperLight is nice, but I agree with you about the Borah’s price.

      If you camp in a wet environment, the top fabric is actually not the key differentiator. It’s the floor fabric. With a high performance floor fabric, it’ll remain waterproof for longer (i.e. more nights).

      I think the water-resistance of the top fabric is a completely overblown marketing thing. You want it to be really breathable. The water-resistance lasts for about a week, after which time the DWR finish is to degraded to be of much value.

      • Anthony on June 14, 2019 at 2:30 pm

        Is it feasible to use the SuperLight in rain without a tarp? I ask because it doesn’t appear that the half moon window can be covered. I don’t plan on using a bivy in a wet climate (I live in SoCal), but it would be nice to know that if it does rain, my face won’t get drenched.

  25. Marc on December 22, 2018 at 7:24 am

    Thanks for the quick reply. I’m looking for a bivy to use in dry climates, mainly to comboy camp. Living in the East, I use an innernet with my mid for wet and buggy conditions. Since it would be my first bivy, I was wondering how breathable they are. Did you have any condensation issues with the MLD superlight?

  26. LB on January 17, 2019 at 8:40 pm

    Andrew,
    Have you noticed your space blanket retaining moisture? I used one as a ground sheet on the L2H in December and when I had to dry things out in the sun (from condensation) I noticed that the space blanket was the last to dry, and sometimes would not dry at all… I thought this was odd because of the reflective surface, but day after day my bag and tarp would dry before the space blanket. It also ripped very easily and was difficult to keep clean. Have you noticed anything similar? Maybe I just happened to buy the absolute cheapest kind…

  27. Mike on February 3, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    Thoughts on Bug Bivy-less camping, with tarp, in East Coast (SC/GA/VA) during winter months Dec-Mar. Specifically regarding ticks. Worry about them or not? thanks

    • Andrew Skurka on February 5, 2019 at 2:37 pm

      Ticks are not my forte, but maybe someone else can chime in.

      I used to be a fan of tarp/bivy for Appalachians, because it’s light, works nicely with trailside shelters, and gives you full bug protection. But then I discovered hammocks, and I’m hard-pressed to use any other shelter type in that location.

      • Mike on February 27, 2019 at 8:46 pm

        You have a link to a basic emergency blanket as a ground sheet. The Orange version in your pictures is the SOL version. Is that the 1 person or 2 person version you have shown? Do you have a reason for your size choice?
        Thanks!

        • Andrew Skurka on March 6, 2019 at 11:09 am

          Thanks for identifying it — I no longer have it, and didn’t recall where I got it.

          IIRC, it seemed more like a 1-person version than a 2-person. The ideal size gives you a few inches of extra length, relative to the length of your sleeping pad; and about 18 inches of extra width, relative to your pad.

  28. Bruce G Williams on March 22, 2019 at 11:12 pm

    Andrew,

    I took your advice and went with the MLD Grace Duo tarp and bivy. Supper light. Cannot wait to try it out. Question about guylines; do you have a recommendation about the length of the various guylines at the different attachment points to the tarp? I ask because once I cut the line, I’m kinda committed to the length I select. Any suggestions about length would be appreciated. Thanks

    • Randy on March 23, 2019 at 10:21 am

      Also, consider starting off with less expensive cordage. You can experiment with various lengths, if necessary. Once you’ve got your setups dialed in, you can switch to something higher visibility, etc. and cut exactly what you need. Paul “Mags” Magnanti likes bank line; it’s light, strong and cheap. ( https://pmags.com/quick-tip-bank-line-for-cord ) I got some Catahoula bank line on Amazon that I’ll be using while experimenting with various flat tarp configurations. For some setups, it may be all I need. I also picked up some Atwood Micro Cord in neon yellow to experiment with for some permanent hi-viz guy lines on other setups; very light, comes in an array of colors and is far less expensive compared to some other cordage. It’s very thin but works fine with my tensioning system. I’ll just need to test long-term durability.

      • Bruce Williams on March 24, 2019 at 6:54 am

        Thank you

  29. Fred Bar on June 5, 2019 at 9:23 am

    I noticed that you have found what you deem a happy medium, as far as the light stuff, by not going for the ultimate XXXUL products of the day. This should serve as a lesson for those who buy the most expensive and lightest equipment just for the sake of it…You can mix and match accordingly.

    Additionally , you seem to be at your optimal weight, compared to some 200 lb guy who would buy the following lightest gear but would be better served by losing the extra 20 lbs he carries around his gut, which should be the priority, instead gram counting and investing in XXXUL gear like the one below:

    1) Hexamid Pocket Tarp at 3.8 ounces (and $199) and…
    2) It can be combined with a 4.9 ounce rain poncho / bathtub groundsheet at $175.
    3) Borah Gear makes a 4.1 ounce cuben bivy with a mesh head at $185.

    The Zpacks Pocket Tarp covers less than Andrew’s choice for tarp, therefore less comfort/space.

    I know, you will say that for all that money and weight you can get a Zpacks single tent, but, ask any zpacks owner about condensation, you will have to ‘towel dry’ the interior walls every morning.

  30. Anthony on June 12, 2019 at 6:30 pm

    Has anyone used OR’s Helium Bivy? I’m thinking about a bivy-only option (no tarp) for 3 season SoCal excursions.

  31. Anthony on June 14, 2019 at 2:33 pm

    Gossamer’s Polycryo is useless in my experience. I tore it on my first night during a trip to Mt. Langley. Gossamer was kind enough to send me another sheet but I tore that one in Chimney Creek on my first night.

    • Bruce Williams on November 6, 2019 at 7:39 pm

      I totally agree. I set down the Polycryo underneath my brand spanking new GossamerGear “The One“ tent, and when I woke up in the morning I had a nice hole in the bottom of the tent. Even a minor rock under the tent, with the associated abrasive movement a human being would do in a tent, caused a nice tear.

  32. Matt on July 21, 2019 at 9:01 pm

    I’ve got a GG Spinn-Twinn that I want to couple with an inner net for those times/places that it’s essentially required (e.g., BWCA in June, ticks in N WI), and notably, i’ll virtually always have my partner with me (i.e., we’re covering two people for the weight/price of one tarp/net). Anyway, I think i’ve reduced my decision to either the MLD Serenity 2 or the Yama MG 2. Anyone have thoughts/experience to share? I’ve heard good things about both companies, and they are essentially the same price. I’m not the kind of guy that will be new gear every year, so i’ll likely have this a long time if it works (and thus, I don’t mind paying for good stuff, but can’t do dynema). FWIW, i never use a bivy, just a tarp (when necessary, otherwise, cowboy) and window wrap.

  33. Evin Ollinger on August 11, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    Just returned from a 8-day high Sierra trip with my two adult kids. Needed a 3-person, ultra to lightweight, bug pressure (late winter melt), Sierra summer solution – that was CHEAP (3P not my normal gear list). Got:
    – $49 ~3lbs. Mountainsmith Mountain Shade Tarp 12′ x 12′ Big, cheap, lightweight enough tarp. (note swapped out to stakes, guy lines from my UL kit to lighten)
    – $19 9oz. Lavish Home Mosquito Repelling Canopy Net (yes, one of those princess bed nets). Home Depot
    – $12 9oz. Duck Indoor 5-Window Shrink Film 2x. Cut in half for 3 – 62″ x 105″ ground sheets. Amazon
    – $3 Velcro Dots. Put the dots on the inside of the tarp as attach points for the bug netting and to close the net entry – quick and removable netting layer.
    Total: $83 4lbs solution for three people.
    Note: Ended up cowboy camping as no rain and just used the princess bed canopy net suspended on a guy line, best $19 ever spent camping. At base camp we earned a lot of laughs BUT no bugs for us three princesses!
    WORKED GREAT!

  34. PaulitP on August 12, 2019 at 6:26 pm

    Snug pack have the travelite sleeping bag with built in bug net.They do them 1-4 for the different season I have a 2, basic sleeping bags I got mine for £35 and have been using it more than my more expensive bags due to the net during the midge season. The 2 weighs a kilo also has a permethrin coating, decent bags even though they are quite cheap.For hammocks and bivvys can’t beat it

  35. Dogwood on November 5, 2019 at 12:04 pm

    I’m not grasping why you said under Flying Brian’s set up pic “because he uses a mummy bag he doesn’t need a bivy.” I might not be seeing something but I assume it’s more accurate he’s not a large guy, has plenty of experience in choosing sites and tarp coverage sizes that are adequate.

    Bringing along a WR breathable bivy(not a mesh bug bivy design) like made by Borah, MLD Superlight, or Ti Goat allows for a higher temp rated sleeping bag or quilt to be used because the bivy, properly enclosed, adds warmth to the sleep system. It also may address features not found in the solely in the bag or quilt. This may allow to overall go to not only a more conditionally appropriate sleep/shelter system but save wt but perhaps add to complexity and possibly system’ cost. It may actually save money because a wider range of use can be had with a smaller bag and quilt quiver. Same with sleeping pads.

  36. Sarah on November 12, 2019 at 1:04 pm

    Pacific Northwest –

    The summers here are typically very dry and the nights cool off a lot, so the bugs are not that bad in my opinion. Nothing like the bugs in the east, where the summer nights don’t cool off much. Tarp and bivy or tarp and bug net has worked well for me. Also, our “rain” is often more of a drizzle or a fog, so condensation might be a bigger enemy than driving rain.

    An exception to the bug problem are the alpine lakes in July and early August, after the thaw but before everything dries out. Mosquitos can be pretty vicious.

  37. Jonca on November 20, 2019 at 2:49 am

    Re. the SOL emergency blanket – I see in the pics you use it silver side down.
    Is this for any thermal reason or just how you like it? I’m dumping a tyvek footprint for a 1 hiking pole tent and thinking to replace it with a SOL for an ounce or two’s saving, but more from a volume pov. In my head I’m thinking silver side up would produce more (if any) thermal efficiency, and will of course double-up for a survival blanket in emergency. Probably irrelevant under a tent floor anyway – maybe more use on top of it?

    • Andrew Skurka on November 25, 2019 at 11:12 am

      Relative to other factors about your campsite (e.g. thermal cover, exposure to wind, softness of the ground), I doubt that it matters much.

      It may not matter much on an absolute basis either, but I don’t understand the material well enough to say.

  38. Diane on February 13, 2020 at 10:10 am

    I know this topic is old, but recently I went on a trip in Southern California and was rained on half the nights. I brought an 8×10 flat tarp and a floorless bugnet tent for inside that I sewed myself. I was not expecting rain and worried that it would not keep me dry. I was surprised to find that I was drier than using a tent. Partly maybe because there is more air flow in a tarp but also because there is no “inside” in a tarp. You never seal your wet self inside. I could throw down my pack, lay the tarp over it, set it up, then crawl under and set up my living area, then take off my wet shoes and clothes and lay them to the side and get into my dry living area. I could cook within arms reach of my sleeping area. In the morning, do the reverse and throw the wet tarp into my pack’s back pocket until the sun came out and gave me a chance to dry it off.

    • Sarah on June 16, 2020 at 5:11 pm

      This is exactly my experience in the PNW. One memorable trip my friends in a nice 2-person tent ended up with everything wet following takedown, whereas all my stuff was completely dry – having packed up underneath my tarp and put everything directly into dry bags. Stuff the wet tarp into the outside pocket of the pack and take off.

  39. Josh R on April 3, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    Hey Andrew, on the off chance you’re still checking comments on this page…what do you do when the weather is great but the bugs are heinous?

    I’m specifically thinking of early-season Sierra hiking. When mosquitoes are bad, I find myself wishing for a little bug-free living space to eat dinner, get dressed, and hang out at the end of the day. But usually the weather is great enough that I feel like a whole tent is overkill.

    Was considering one of those standalone net tent designs, but I was curious if you had any thoughts. Is that about the time that you decide to bring along the tent and bugnet inner?

    • Andrew Skurka on April 7, 2020 at 1:10 pm

      I’ve never found the bug pressure to be consistently high in the High Sierra. Specifically, they always go away at night. So I still find that I can get away with a bivy in the High Sierra during the peak bug season, because when I’m sleeping they’re not out.

      But I recognize that not everyone is hiking dawn to dusk, and that you might want some additional living space when the bugs are out. This scenario is more similar to what I experience in Alaska, when there are 24 hours of daylight and when my daily schedule does not neatly coincide with the daily bug cycle. In this case, I bring a full bug nest, like the InnerNet for a SoloMid or the inner of a traditional double-wall tent. This option has a weight penalty, but the perk justifies it.

  40. bill on October 19, 2020 at 8:18 pm

    Been using an 8 by 10 dyneema tarp set up with trekking poles and a military surplus pop up bug tent with a bathtub floor (Catoma Burrow) with a piece of Tyvek as a ground cloth. It is a great set up if you are knot impaired.

  41. Bree on January 24, 2021 at 10:04 pm

    This was really informative, thank you. I understand it’s valuable to have some wiggle room in a bivy, but curious if you think it’s worth reducing the length of a bivy if you’re on the shorter side. MLD and Borah bivies at their smallest will have an additional foot of material for me at 5’2″. Room for other stuff or try to customize a shorter length? I’m not a gram counter, but also not going to go further into my bivy than I need to for ventilation. Thanks

    • Andrew Skurka on January 25, 2021 at 9:09 am

      Unlikely that you would shove something down into the bottom. I never have.

      The footbox design is probably more complex than you’d think, so I’d want the manufacturer to do a custom short. But probably little penalty is just having extra length.

  42. Arden on March 20, 2021 at 2:40 pm

    Thoughts on DCF vs Silpoly for a flat tarp? I can afford either, so am specifically interested in which is actually *better*. I know silpoly is going to pack smaller, and DCF is going to be lighter (by about 100g/3.5oz for the tarp I’m looking at), but what other considerations are there? Is DCF harder or easier to get a good pitch with, for example? So far I only have experience of silnylon so I’m shooting blind here, experience-wise. Grateful for any input.

    • Andrew Skurka on March 20, 2021 at 10:11 pm

      Some reading here for you, https://andrewskurka.com/cuben-fiber-backpack-shelter-worth-the-cost/

      If you can afford either, DCF would be the better choice. Lighter, stronger, more waterproof, no stretch. But it’s also an extreme marginal cost increase for those gains, and I can’t help but wonder if your funds would be better spent on other pieces of equipment, on a great trip, or on retirement.

  43. Bob on April 29, 2021 at 12:46 pm

    I’m planning a trip with my son to Southern Utah in May. It will be a road trip with no prior reservations and a minimal car camp setup. I’m hoping to at least do a night or two on the trail and we have a Borah Superlight and EE Recon bivvies. For tarps, would a 9×9 be enough or should we carry that and/or an 11’ Hammock Gear Standard tarp with doors. I worry a little about pitching the tarp/campsite selection since I’m not familiar with the region. Another option would be an MLD Duomid XL All advice is welcome.

    • Josh R on April 29, 2021 at 1:09 pm

      Unless rain is in the forecast, I wouldn’t even bother with a tarp. Save weight for the water carry.

      Using just a bivy also makes site selection a lot easier, as you don’t have to deal with trying to pitch the tarp on slickrock or sand, and can make more use of natural features for wind protection (plenty of ledges and overhangs out there). S. Utah is full of great bivy spots.

      If there’s a possibility of a rainy night, the tarp is worth bringing along, but I’d bring the smaller one as it’s going to be hot and you’ll want airflow.

  44. john mitchell on October 12, 2021 at 7:51 pm

    PNW greybeard tarp lover! Equinox 8×10 sylnylon tarp with tyvek ground sheet, 8 pegs, sewn in perimeter mosquito net acts like walls and doors. The setup weighs in at 3lbs even. I use trekking poles and no bivy. I can easily sleep 3 in fair weather and two in all conditions. Total cost 80 bucks! Two weeks ago we got 6 inches of rain in 6 days and my down bag only got a bit damp from dew, wind blown rain. To me a bivy seems superfluous.

  45. Julian on February 17, 2022 at 1:34 am

    What’s the purpose of a bivy in situations when nighttime bugs are not a factor? General question but the specific area I have in mind is spring on the Colorado Plateau. I have a 10 degree quilt, warm layers if needed, throw in a head net. Am I missing out on something?

    • bill on February 17, 2022 at 5:23 am

      Snow,rain,wind might be an issue with no tent or tarp.

    • Andrew Skurka on February 17, 2022 at 4:14 pm

      You probably won’t need the headnet on the Colorado Plateau.

      For quilts, I think bivy sacks make the most sense because they reduce draftiness, like when you roll over or on windier nights. And the weight penalty is marginal, once you consider that you’d otherwise need a groundsheet to keep your pad and your bag out of the dirt.

      That said, they’re not essential. You can have a good night of rest by using a warm enough bag and sleeping on a ground sheet.

  46. Jackie on March 4, 2024 at 1:07 pm

    Do you ventilate / unzip the foot of your sleeping bag and foot of your bivvy to help prevent the risk of waking up with a damp and soggy footbox ? . Any other advice on how to protect your down bag from damp ?

    • Andrew Skurka on March 4, 2024 at 4:24 pm

      Dampness on or in a sleeping bag is mostly a function of air conditions, not your equipment. Specifically, moisture will accumulate when the temperature drops below the dew point, and it will collect first on the coldest objects.

      So to reduce dampness in the morning, your best method is picking relatively dry and warm campsites. For example:
      * Not near a body of water
      * Not in the bottom of a canyon or valley
      * Under trees that have leaves or needles

      More reading, https://andrewskurka.com/tag/five-star-campsite-selection/

  47. Jackie on March 5, 2024 at 4:25 am

    Great. Thanks for such a great link . So as ultralight is the aim , apart from most importantly choosing the right site , you wouldn’t recommend for extra protection, using the sleeping bag’s own dry bag as an extra layer of semi breathable protection over the end of his footbox as others who wrap raincoats around the end or alternatively trying to leave bag as breathable as possible – using net bug bivvy and tarp so condensation will collect on tarp a distance away from sleeping bag surface instead of no tarp and a semipermeable bivvy which with condensation could wet the bag adjacent to it ? It’s important to me to understand the options as I prefer to cowboy camp without a tarp when possible

    • Andrew Skurka on March 14, 2024 at 7:22 am

      If you layer water-resistant or water-proof fabrics over your sleeping bag, you also reduce the system’s breathability. And unfortunately the moisture will get trapped in the worst location, just one thin layer away from ambient temperature, where the dew point is highest. So doing this will increase the risk of condensation collecting on the exterior of the bag, versus not doing this.

      If you’re facing the threat of precip, the recommendation changes. In this case, a more water-resistant layer would help keep moisture off the bag and help keep it dry. I’d be more trusting of a waterproof/breathable layer in this case though, as water-resistant fabrics tend to quickly lose their resistance with use and seem to be only adequate in blocking some wind.

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