User Review: REI Minimalist
Rating: ![]()
Design: 1 person minimalistic, no pole to keep mesh off face
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: quite easy. Zippers worked fine from inside and outide
Weight: 11 oz
Price Paid: $55 plus tax on sale at REI
I have used this bivy once so far on a three day backpack in the Eastern Sierras around 10,000ft (in July). Due to nice weather predicted, and clear skies I left my tent in the car to lighten my load. Bivy is light, well built, seam sealed and looks nice.
First night was clear and nice sleeping under the stars. I used my TNF Blue Kazoo inside the bivy, a warm hat, and a tent groundcloth. I was quite warm and comfy in the upper 30s. I also used the A16 Insect bivy to keep away mosquitos.
Early second evening, dark clouds came down, and I hurriedly ate my dinner, and moved my ground cloth under some tree shelter. Put my mosquito bivy in place, propped up my hiking poles with rocks. I put my rain jacket as a cover over my face.
It rained for over five hours. I stayed bone dry inside. Just gets you stir crazy, when you cannot really move outside to use the facilities :)
Pros: light weight, well made, kept me dry.
Cons: Face netting stays over the face, and I found it annoying. I did fine using the A16 mosquito bivy (also highly recommended) and my rain jacket.
In the morning, I shook everything, put it out in the sun and dried it before packing onwards.
