There are three various kinds of ultralight bug shelters appropriate for cowboy tenting, sleeping in a lean-to, or beneath a flat tarp or a pyramid tarp: bivy sacks, bug bivies, and web tents. All of them have their execs and cons, however that’s true of all ultralight backpacking gear. Whereas bivy sacks are confining, they supply glorious insect safety. Bug bivies often supply extra residing house, however are typically more durable to get out and in of and have to be used with a tarp or trekking poles. Web tents supply probably the most residing house, but in addition are typically the heaviest possibility. For a deeper dialogue of those concerns and tradeoff, see our Ultralight Backpacking Bug Shelter Choice Information under.
With these components in thoughts, listed here are our high bug shelters for ultralight backpacking that we suggest.
| Make / Mannequin | Kind | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katabatic Gear Pinon Bivy | Bivy Sack | 7.3 oz / 207g | $139 |
| Borah Ultralight Bivy | Bivy Sack | 5.0 oz / 142 g | $105 |
| Mountain Laurel Designs Superlight Bivy | Bivy Sack | 5.5 oz / 156 g | $185 |
| Paria Outside Breeze Bivy | Bug Bivy | 13 oz / 369g | $70 |
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Bug Bivy | Bug Bivy | 5.7 oz / 162g | $250 |
| Mountain Laurel Designs Bug Bivy | Bug Bivy | 6.5 oz / 184g | $140 |
| Six Moon Designs Serenity Web Tent | Web Tent | 11 oz / 312g | $150 |
| Outside Analysis Bug Bivy | Bug Bivy | 16 oz / 454g | $99 |
| SlingFin SplitWing Mesh Physique | Web Tent | 11.2 oz / 318g | $145 |
| Yama Mountain Gear 1P Bug Shelter | Web Tent | 9.3 oz / 272g | $159 |
1. Katabatic Gear Pinon Bivy
2. Borah Gear Ultralight Bivy
3. Mountain Laurel Designs Superlight Bivy Sack
4. Paria Outside Breeze Mesh Bivy
5. Hyperlite Mountain Gear Bug Bivy
6. Mountain Laurel Designs Bug Bivy
7. Six Moon Designs Serenity Web Tent
8. Outside Analysis Bug Bivy
9. SlingFin SplitWing Mesh Physique
10. Yama Mountain Gear 1P Bug Shelter
Ultralight Backpacking Bug Shelter Choice Information
Bug Shelter Varieties: Execs, and Cons
Ultralight bug shelters might be bivy sacks (supposed for heat climate use), bug bivies, or web tents. You can even repurpose the interior tent of a double-wall tent though it will likely be a lot heavier and awkward to make use of in additional constrained areas.
Bivy Sacks
Ultralight bivy sacks do not need waterproof tops as a result of they supposed for use in dry circumstances beneath a separate waterproof shelter in non-winter circumstances. Most have mesh hoods for insect safety and luxury with a stable, extremely breathable material, masking the torso and legs. A water-proof ground is commonly included as comfort together with a zipper or drawstring closure. Grosgrain loops are often included to droop the mesh overhead with wire and to stake out the bivy sack corners. Bivy sacks made solely with mesh tops might be problematic as a result of bugs can chew by the mesh if you’re sleeping on high of your quilt or sleeping bag in scorching climate as a substitute of inside or beneath them.
- Benefits
- Present wind and splashback safety beneath tarps. (Splashback is when water bounces off the bottom close to a tarp and again at you.)
- Good for insect and dew safety when cowboy tenting beneath the celebs.
- Straightforward to make use of in a lean-to as a result of they are often suspended from rafters and take no extra room.
- Present inflatable sleeping bag safety when a pad is used inside bivy sack.
- They can be utilized like a sheet for insect safety in scorching climate.
- Disadvantages
- Extra claustrophobic than options
- Low to the bottom so much less waterproof in opposition to pooling water
Bug Bivies
Bug bivies (to not be confused by all mesh bivy sacks that some producers name bug bivies) are much like bivy sacks however have sidewalls and have to be suspended overhead utilizing trekking poles or an overhead shelter. They’re often supplied with a water-proof ground. Many include high zippers on the ridgeline which generally is a little troublesome to get out and in of relying in your stand and talent to steadiness whereas stepping out of them.
- Benefits
- Extra residing house
- Should be suspended on the ends utilizing trekking poles or masking tarp
- Larger sidewalls present higher insect and water safety.
- Disadvantages
- Prime door entry might be awkward.
- Heavier than a bivy sack.
- Tougher to make use of in a crowded lean-to.
Web Tents
Web tents are the equal of an interior tent from a double-wall tent however are often designed to be arrange utilizing trekking poles and staked out on the corners. as a substitute. Web tents have waterproof flooring and a zippered entrance. In case you are planning to mix a web tent with a tarp, it’s vital to guarantee that the door places align correctly for ease of entry.
- Benefits
- Plenty of headroom so you may sit up inside and alter clothes.
- Disadvantages
- Heavier than bivy sacks or bug bivies.
- Tougher to make use of in a crowded lean-to, particularly if they’ve a aspect door.
Zipper Location
On bivy shelters with zippers, it’s usually extra handy to have a aspect zipper or one on the head finish than a zipper that runs lengthwise down the middle. In case you’re sleeping beneath a tarp, there’s going to be restricted headroom beneath it, notably in inclement climate when it’s pitched low to the bottom for extra wind and rain safety. Bivy sacks with aspect zippers and massive bivies with finish doorways are simpler to get out of in comparison with bivy sacks with middle zippers or bug bivies with high zippers within the ridgeline.
Bathtub Flooring and Sidewall Depth
If it’s important to sleep on high of your sleep insulation on scorching nights, bugs can nonetheless chew you thru the mesh should you are available in contact with it. In case you sleep on a 2″, 3″, or 4″ excessive inflatable pad, you would possibly contemplate selecting a shelter with larger sidewalls made with stable insect-proof material as a substitute of mesh,
Breathable materials
When selecting a bivy sack, attempt to get one with a extremely breathable high material to assist cut back the possibility of inner condensation contained in the bivy again. Keep away from shopping for a bivy sack with a water-proof/breathable high material for heat climate use as a result of they’re rather more vulnerable to inner condensation.
SectionHiker by no means accepts cost for gear critiques or editorial protection. If you purchase by affiliate hyperlinks on our web site, we could earn a small fee at no further value to you. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and unbiased gear critiques, mountain climbing and backpacking FAQs, and free mountain climbing guides.