Bivy Sac or Tent?

[BrentLaBere]

The poles of the Eureka don't seem to be very durable from some of the reviews I have read. I like the lower price, but in most cases you get what you pay for.

 

[Jimbow65]

The Mountainsmith Morrison 2 is the tent that I may end up getting.
I will probably settle on this for several reasons:
-Price $125
-Weight 4#11oz
-Area 35 sqft
-my wife probably won't sleep under a tarp here in PA
-I think this tent could be set up with the footprint, poles and fly to reduce the weight even more.
-I prefer to hunt from a base camp, even if it is a backpack hunt.

 

[ElknastyT]

I have done both a bivy and a 1 man and for me I like the tipi tarps ! go with a 1 or 2 man, its really nice on those 3 day plus hunts to have more room for gear and such under cover. I also like the fact that you can sit up in them and dont feel so cramped.

just my 2 cents

 

[Jimbow65]

If you are still looking at the Eureka one man tent, you may want to check this out. I got one a couple weeks ago for $25.50 I couldn't pass it up.
I haven't set it up yet, but unpacked it to examine it, http://www.eurekacampingctr.com/eureka/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=3070

 

[Jimbow65]

I got the Mountainsmith Mountain shelter LT last week and set it up over the weekend. I posted a video and photos and quick review

http://jimbow-in-pa.blogspot.com/2013/03/mountainsmith-mountain-shelter-lt.html

 

[BrentLaBere]

That's a give away on the eureka, wow. Thanks for posting that.
Jimbow65 I think you went with a good one their. Let us know how it works out.

 

[BrentLaBere]

Still looking and haven't pulled the trigger yet. I'm really bad at these decisions haha.
I guess I will wait to see if I get drawn for the Permit area of just go to the general. That will play a bigger factor in my decision.

 

[BrentLaBere]

ok I am still looking at all the tents I possibly can.
BA UL2 vs. the Easton Kilo........Extreme Elk Mag had both in there and hadnt done much research on the easton kilo but I have found it on sale and really trying to decide if I should get it or not. Anyone have experience with it?

 

[Wallow]

You can get a quality two person tent quite a bit lighter than 6lbs.

If you use trekking poles a Kifaru Supertarp with annex and stakes will run about 2lbs.

A Go-Lite Shangri-La 5 (5 person tipi) without nest will run about 3lbs 9oz...even lighter if you use trekking poles. Or you could go with the smaller Shangri-La3 (3 person tipi) without nest and it will weigh around 3lbs 5oz.

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL3 (3 person) will weigh around 4 lbs, while the UL2 (2 person) will weigh around 2lbs 10oz.

Personally, I would go with the extra room, and as you can see it should still save you a bit of weight.

I am looking at the Shangri-L3 and just using the 3lb tarp.  Very roomy for the weight.

 

[BrentLaBere]

moosejaw has a nice sale going on so I ended up with the BA fly creek UL 2. Even with the sale it was expensive but I am hoping it is worth it. Using this one it will cut out roughly 3.5 lbs!!! off my pack weight from the old 2 man kelty I used.

 

[quarbles]

i live in the yukon and would never go back to a tent. ever.  i run an integral designs microbivy (e vent) and a siltarp 3 (huge real estate at 12 x 10). i don't know the precise weight, but i do know that it is light and uber versatile. leaps and bounds beyond a tent. plus its good for me but can also house a partner and their gear easily. i can set it up over brush even if need be. it can be pitched in a number of ways from A frame to a tipi and can accomodate any situation. sticks work if you don't already carry poles. i use 550 and groundhogs mostly. plus, if its a nice sky i can just sleep in the bivy sans tarp. it can also accomodate a bug nest if need be. never had a problem in some truely manky weather. it may all even add up to a light tent weight but again... versatile.
the bivy itself is awsome and very breathable. good bit of kit.