User Review: Outdoor Research Bug Bivy

Outdoor Research Bug Bivy
Above: The current Bug Bivy, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed December 31, 1998 by George

Rating:
Design: Mesh Bivy
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Easy
Weight: 14 oz.
Price Paid: about $100

I've been looking for a lightweight alternative to all the small tents on the market, but a conventional bivy sack is still a poor compromise: in good weather, being encased in a limited-breathable fabric is overkill, and in bad weather, you need a tarp or something covering the entrance, so you can get in and out of the bivy without soaking everything.

I have found a better alternative. The OR Bug Bivy (available at Mountain Gear) is entirely mesh with a waterproof bottom. It's so light I got the double wide for the extra room. It weighs nothing, keeps the bugs off you, and offers the same ventilation as sleeping under the stars. I take a 14 oz. Integral Designs tarp for rain, and have a system that weighs under two pounds, but is extremely versatile.