A couple of months ago i realized that i needed to get a bivy to use with a certain tarp, so i started looking around. This bivy has been used on exactly 2 backpacking trips. For the last few years i have been backpacking with a six moon designs lunar duo, and it has been perfect for me and my wife but it is to heavy for a solo shelter. I too have the borah side zip bivy in m90 and i like it a lot. This was my first time using a tarp and bivy setup and i thought that my experience might be of help to someone considering it. Have an unused borah gear cuben bivy it is the long length standard width very light 4. I tried it out last night on my deck and it worked great.
When packed in the included silnylon stuff sack, the bivy is barely larger than a 1 liter water bottle. It is pretty light and i dont believe it effects the integrity of the. If any of the big names in bivy bags offered the borah, you would pay much more for such high quality of both the materials and the craftsmanship. Some about the tigoat kestral bivy bag and some about the borah gear side zip bivy. I havent used the borah gear bivy, but i can say that the mld sl bivy is very spacious. Nice job i received my borah bivy last week and took it out over the weekend. I invested in a winter bivy sack this year because i wanted to be able to use it for camping under a shaped tarp or in snow shelters, as a lighter weight alternative to my black diamond firstlight winter tent. Borah gear is a cottage manufacturer, who makes first class gear for ultralight backpacking bivy bags, solo tarp, rain mitts, cuben stuff sacks and some down products. A few months ago, borah gear had a 25% off everything sale, so i took the opportunity to pick up one of their event bivy sacks, which they refer to as the snowyside bivy. I most often use a regular xtherm and 15 large bag in the bivy and im still swimming. I just got the borah bivy with the silnylon floor, m90 top, and side zipper.
Breathable fabric momentum 90mr momentum 90 mr is an ultralite downproof mini ripstop finished with a high quality dwr. I was warm until about 4am when i was a little chilled. Borah gear borah gear ultralight cuben bivyborah gear. Instead of the net extending to the edge of the bivy itll stop a few inches. After 2 12 months of hiking with it every day, i think i have a pretty good handle on what i like about the borah gear bivy. Fwiw, i believe skurka actually used a pyramid net inside a pyramid tarp during the height of bug season the gear list says mld solomid bug bivy. Mine is the m90 top i have the sil bottom and that seems to be holding up well. The bad choice was to bring carbon fiber poles on this trip. I think that borah gear is going to take off in popularity soon. Borah gear ultralight bivy side zipper is a great lightweight bivy with a mesh face panel and side zipper weighing only 198g at really good price. I misspoke of course when i mentioned the pacific north east like an idiot.
Its proved to be a popular post and its one item of gear ive been asked about a few times so i thought id do a bit of an update on how ive got on with the bivy over the last two years. I also used a borah gear m90 lightweight bivy sack that was partially left open. A piece of shock cord is included for the head netting tie out. This is the sidezip version which makes it easier to get in and out of. The next installments will include logistics, gear, and field techniques. I have a side zip bivy with the argon top material, and so far with my limited use of it, its been great. Borah gear ultralight bivy side zipper argon90 183g. Dd hamock set up was good in steepwet country but the under insulation issue meant things started to get bulky and heavy. There is a light line of discoloration across the tarp, see photo below. With the borah gear, you have the option to cowboy camp and not have the morning dew wet out your bag, or throw the tarp over if the sky isnt clear. The kestral has a side zip entry and looks a good bag.
For overnighters in the bush i use a borah gear m90 bivy and a 9x6 sil tarp, setup with 4 stakes. My only real complaint is that the pad does slip and slide on. You could probably stitch a loop above the hood of the rab bivy if doesnt have one. Borah gear side zip bivy first use following on from this post ive received a number of emails requesting additional information about the borah gear bivy and the answers to which may be useful to others so this is an update to that original post. Not that aluminum poles are indestructible, but less chance of snapping. I wore lightweight hiking pants, wool hat, a wool tshirt and 2 long sleeve wool base layers. The overnight temp inside of my floorless pyramid shelter was 32f. I figured id start my first post off with a new piece of gear i just got. Shop the best selection of bivys at, where youll find premium outdoor gear and clothing and experts to guide you through selection. It only comes in the same length as the ptarmigan and it looks as if the mesh would be too low down from my face as i lay in it. In december 2012 i posted a first look at a custom borah gear bivy id just received. Its windproof, very breathable as it doesnt have a full face covering, and water resistant.
Mld make exceedingly good gear, but, also make the wait for it exceedingly long. Aou subscriptions autorenew, but you may always optout through your membership profileaccessed by clicking. The zipper goes across the chest just like on the standard, but then takes a turn down the left side for. We here at outdoorline have many borah gear in the stock ready for dispatch. This is the same as our standard bivy with one exception. I also do more day hikes in winter than overnight backpacking trips, and i wanted a lightweight shelter to bring along for emergency use, in case i. I have been looking at picking a bivy up for my son and saw the kestrel. I use a borah gear bivy which weighs 200graks and has been very good. While ive only had one night in it so far, it performed perfectly during a weekend trip in october in northern pennsylvania. For fast packing trips where i am camping lower, where i want minimal weight, and where i am looking for minimal size, i picked up the borah gear cuben bivy.
The dampness on my sleeping bag when i came home was minimal, and it was completely dry after hanging it for about 45. Thats why i gave up on the tarp tents also had a contrail, no option for just a bug screen. I will say that the tit goat bivy was a nice piece of gear for the money spent. I also considered the mld bivy bag but was not happy with the costs and the delivery times. I dont like carrying more than 25 lbs, and would prefer to carry only 20 lbs.
I could have gone a little lighter but i wanted to bring the things i did and i was fine with that. Gear stores and tagged backpacking, bivy, borah bivy, borah gear, hiking, side zip bivy. You can string a line from a trekking pole or axe or bit of gear to keep the bivy. I was able to take my borah bivy and tarp out last week for the first time. It is one versatile piece of ultralight gear that can be used in a. I have the borah gear back when he was using m90 and have liked it.
Borah gear bivy m90 topsilnylon bottom long lengthregular width 8. I have the mld sl bivy in a large late 20 with cuben floor. Borah gear ultralight bivy side zipper argon90 183g eu retailer. You gotta love a company that makes quality gear at reasonable prices and manufactures in the us.
Subscriptions are monthly, with an option for an annual subscription at a discount. Cuben fiber for the floor and m50 for the top but the cuben was more than i wanted to spend and john recommended the m90 for the uk climate due to its breathability. Im talking with john from borah gear and he said that he thinks the m90 is his favorite material for breathability and water repellant. My borah bivy is one of those i have the side zip extra wide bivy made out of very breathable argon90. I was hesitant to go with m50, and john actually did recommend the m90 i spend most of my time in the sierra nevada so i went with a side zip cuben floor, m90 top and i am happy to report no condensation. I typically use it in combination with a thermarest xtherm or xlite and a borah gear ul bivy or a ti goat kestrel bivy. We look at actual fit, and sizing of the bivy, along with. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. John from borah gear had emailed a week earlier to confirm it had been dispatched and i was pleased it had taken less than the 10 days john had estimated to arrive. Im going to pick up a side zip with what im calling a 34 net hood.
The dampness on my sleeping bag when i came home was minimal. Fs smd deschutes plus, bearpaw tarp, borah bivy, and more. Integral designs event micro bivy sack section hikers. Enlightened equipment offers ultralight camping quilts for backpacking, bikepacking, and paddling adventures. Then there was some questions and answers on twitter.
Then i saw matts comments on the borah gear side zip bivy. I have been scouring decent online trekking and hiking shops in europe, and sadly all of. Bivy sacks are excellent compliments to tarp camping or cowboy camping where an extra layer against bugs, moisture. I recently got a bivy sack from borah gear, the snowyside 2. Figure a tarp bivy combo might hit the sweetspot for quick and light trips overnight. Gear wise i made one bad choice and several choices that i was really happy with. I had wanted one of these for awhile, just for the reason that i could toss this on the ground and climb in it. Browse borah gear s toprated tents and shelters and more. What kind of gear are you looking for this offseason. I pair it with a thermarest xlite and a borah gear m90 bivy.