Thread: 2 man bivvy

Hey. I’m thinking of getting a bivvy. Mostly for summer tops huniting. I’ve a Kuiu Mountain Star 2P which I’ve used and like but to keep weight down I was looking at a biv/tarp setup. The likelyhood of bugs etc is low so wouldn’t need a bug screen, plus I walk with poles so got that sorted. The cuben fibre or similar materials appeal for a lightweight and versitile option. I’d sleep on a poofter pad but was wondering if I need a ground sheet too? I like to keep warm so would limit it to summer hunts. I see some nice options but was keen to get some advice and options if anyone can offer. The old Huntech ones look to have little advantage over the tents but the Stoney Creek or Kiwi Ultralight looks to be good options?

I use a tarp for solo/ 2 man hunting november to april in the top of the south and fine weather overnighters from base camp in Haast roar blocks, coldest nights are probably right around minus one. Never bothered with a ground sheet, sleeping pad is about the R4 range I think and my bag is a 0.5C comfort/ -4C limit. Currently using a 3x3 tarp from Hammock gear in the US, works well for two blokes in finer weather but pitching it for high winds to hunker down would probably make it *really* cosy.

For an ultralight, warmer conditions all weather two man capable option my ideal setup would probably be a Durston X-mid 2 without the inner tent. Other cool ones out there to look at are the MLD trailstar (there's an alixpress Flame's creed knockoff version to test the idea cheaply) and also the Torka gear geobiv has popped up. I'm a big fan of shelters that use a trekking pole/folding saw and a straight-ish stick. Honestly I reckon you can't go wrong with a flat tarp if you've got a mild weather forecast, use the terrain available to shield yourself from the winds and have a bailout location if the weather turns. My plan when i'm in the tops is to know which is going to be the more sheltered side of the hill and have a backup location down below the treeline if the weather shits itself. I've built up not so flat areas with crown fern, used my pack to level out my feet or under the head end of my pad to create an awesome pillow, rolled rocks around to build a wall beside a bigger rock to create the beginnings of a rock bivvy... Possibilities are endless. Even propped up the tarp a bit higher with a (taped up) suppressed rifle once to give a bit more headroom at breakfast time.



https://youtu.be/oKpr5FBbrXY

I have a durston mid 2 solid outer if it's of interest to you has a couple of small holes from kea so I replaced it so just the outer and poles .

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Originally Posted by Jt89

I use a tarp for solo/ 2 man hunting november to april in the top of the south and fine weather overnighters from base camp in Haast roar blocks, coldest nights are probably right around minus one. Never bothered with a ground sheet, sleeping pad is about the R4 range I think and my bag is a 0.5C comfort/ -4C limit. Currently using a 3x3 tarp from Hammock gear in the US, works well for two blokes in finer weather but pitching it for high winds to hunker down would probably make it *really* cosy.

For an ultralight, warmer conditions all weather two man capable option my ideal setup would probably be a Durston X-mid 2 without the inner tent. Other cool ones out there to look at are the MLD trailstar (there's an alixpress Flame's creed knockoff version to test the idea cheaply) and also the Torka gear geobiv has popped up. I'm a big fan of shelters that use a trekking pole/folding saw and a straight-ish stick. Honestly I reckon you can't go wrong with a flat tarp if you've got a mild weather forecast, use the terrain available to shield yourself from the winds and have a bailout location if the weather turns. My plan when i'm in the tops is to know which is going to be the more sheltered side of the hill and have a backup location down below the treeline if the weather shits itself. I've built up not so flat areas with crown fern, used my pack to level out my feet or under the head end of my pad to create an awesome pillow, rolled rocks around to build a wall beside a bigger rock to create the beginnings of a rock bivvy... Possibilities are endless. Even propped up the tarp a bit higher with a (taped up) suppressed rifle once to give a bit more headroom at breakfast time.



https://youtu.be/oKpr5FBbrXY

That looks cool.
The MLD Grace Duo looks like the ticket. The Trailstar is maybe a bit big for what I want?

I like the mid style shelters over a tarp on the tops, below th bush line a tarp all day, way more space per gram.

I run a super lightweight biv from borah gear most of the time, weighs the same as a ground sheet and helps keep pad and bag together.

Ive tried cuban fiber and gone back to silnylon/poly. Cuban is noisy and fragile, and there isnt a heap in it weight wise.

I use a smd deshutes, light fast to pitch and work in the wind. Pretty small tho, will probably pick up a 2 man mid shelter when getting back into tops stuff.

Ive always liked the look of these for under 2lb weight. Their stuff is good, Ive used their packs.

https://www.gossamergear.com/products/the-two

Anyone tried the gear from Remlite? Kiwi outfit.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Anyone tried the gear from Remlite? Kiwi outfit.

Looks to be somebody who is importing/onselling Liteway equipment. Ukrainian outfit, a lot of the gear looks really good

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Anyone tried the gear from Remlite? Kiwi outfit.

It's this guy. He shows a a tent at 39 mins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBZ-gkqOzyk&t=120s

I read it correctly I think, that the Remlite's don't come "seam sealed" You have to do that yourself. Which for their price, is off putting to me.

My old Huntech 2 man bivy that I blew the cobwebs out of recently..... but just beware that they can condensate if you don't pitch the open end higher than the rear.
Stoney Creek make one now as well.

Those huntech bivys are great bit of kit.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Those huntech bivys are great bit of kit.

Yes..... and I always go out of my way to promote Huntechs after sales service, even though I think its different owners now to my experience.
When they launched their 1 and 2 man bivy's, I bought a 2 man one, but found it a bit short, so returned it with a request to add 500mm to the front. which they duly did.
About 2 years later I got caught on the Kaweka main range one night when a howling Norwester sprung up, and snapped the pole, the jagged end of which tore the bivvy Badly.
So I took it into what is now Rivers To Ranges who sent it back to Huntech for repair. I was happy to pay for the repair as it was in no way Huntechs responsibility that I got caught out in 60kph winds.
Well, to my surprise, Huntech replaced it with a new one within the week, and at no charge. It even had the extended 500mm front on it, which I might add, they adopted as standard.
Bloody legends in my mind

Prior to the extended front

What's the weight of the kuiu if u pitch it without the inner?

I've gone with a xmid for the tops and simple Orson tarp for the bush. Use a Tyvek sheet if it's been wet otherwise just use foliage and ferns.

You have to be wary of fog and low cloud when using a tarp on the tops as it can saturate everything in water real quick!

Originally Posted by SPEARONZ

You have to be wary of fog and low cloud when using a tarp on the tops as it can saturate everything in water real quick!

What's the solution to that, because I've had that happen before and you're right, we got soaked, even though under a good tarp. Use tent instead? Or a bivvy bag over the sleeping bag to catch the fog?

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Those huntech bivys are great bit of kit.

But heavy

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