Kelty Trail Bivy Experience???

I.N.F.K

I.N.F.K

Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
1,896
So I've been searching the web for a good solo tent or bivy since I'm stuck sitting around the house due to snow. Right now I'm actually without a shelter unless I count a tarp. So I came across a bivy by Kelty which seems to be my size. My current sleeping bag right now is the Teton XXL 20 degree sleeping bag and I like it a lot because of the leg room. I sleep almost exactly the same way I would shoot a rifle from prone, right leg straight, left bent, and on my stomach. During the warmer months I usually just turn my Teton inside out and lay on top of that with a blanket. But as I sit right now I will probably be doing some overnight camping in mid to late March. I would like to know what is your opinion on this particular bivy? If you have other suggestions I would like to keep it under $100

Link to bivy

http://www.kelty.com/p-795-trail-bivy.aspx?category=tents-shelters
 
Looks to narrow at 34". I have sought a similar set up for years and finally decided on a two man tent as it provides enough room to roll over in and will hold my pack out of the rain. The extra pound of weight is worth it for the space and it allows for a more comfortable night sleep. Just my opinion.
 
RWT said:
I have sought a similar set up for years and finally decided on a two man tent as it provides enough room to roll over in and will hold my pack out of the rain. The extra pound of weight is worth it for the space and it allows for a more comfortable night sleep. Just my opinion.
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Hey INFK -

Outta the gate I want to say I'm *not* trying to dissuade you from a bivy purchase. Many of my friends have successfully used them in mountaineering applications when (albeit slightly - ie ounces) heavier/larger shelter options just didn't make sense.

Have you slept in a bivy before? If you have and can stand it, kudos to you.

I don't have experience with this particular bivy, but have used others in the past. I eventually bought an Integral Designs "Uni-Shelter" hooped bivy (much larger than the standard sleeping-bag cover bivy sacks) and while it was superb gear, I sold it after only a handful of uses. I just couldn't manage the cramped quarters and lack of covered space (particularly when the skies were spittin' and/or snowing on me).

So, in your search, you could search Sierra Trading Post for clearance items as things like this turn up on occasion for great prices. Alternatively, trawl the boards of mountaineering/climbing websites and you may well find something there. Finally, *B*y also is a reasonable source for gear.
 
RWT said:
Looks to narrow at 34". I have sought a similar set up for years and finally decided on a two man tent as it provides enough room to roll over in and will hold my pack out of the rain. The extra pound of weight is worth it for the space and it allows for a more comfortable night sleep. Just my opinion.
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I had a one man tent thinking it would suit me well but quickly found that it precluded keeping my gear pack out of the rain, dressing and undressing because there was not room to sit up. Barely room to prop up on an elbow on my side to read. And no way to keep my sleeping bag from contacting the tent sides because it was so narrow. So in rain or condensation the bag always got wet or damp spots overnight, even though the tent didn't leak. This was a Eureka Solitaire two-hoop bivy style tent.

I wound up going back to my three man Mountainsmith Sanctuary which had room for me to sit up, room for my dog and my pack. Plus a small vestibule which has proven handy. In a pinch and without the dog I can fit another person and their gear. Dog gets to sleep in the vestibule.
 
I'm with the others, a bivy didn't work for me. I prefer a tarp or 2-man tent. An online search brought up many quality options for a 2-man backpacking tent near your price. I saw an ALPS Mountaineering 2-man, 3-season for $95 plus shipping and a Big Agnes for $20 more. Both of those would give you good service based on my experience.
 
I.N.F.K said:
almost makes my head hurt with all the choices
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Maybe you can go to a sporting goods store that has some tents/biveys set up inside and crawl in to try them on for size. If not, you aren't gambling a lot of money, even less if bought used, to try one and see if it works for you. You can always sell it on if not and get half or more of your money back.
 
Codger_64 said:
Maybe you can go to a sporting goods store that has some tents/biveys set up inside and crawl in to try them on for size. If not, you aren't gambling a lot of money, even less if bought used, to try one and see if it works for you. You can always sell it on if not and get half or more of your money back.
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Went to my local store, saw only one bivy and it was one of those harsh winter weather ones that cost like $300. Something I do not need here in the Blue Ridge mountains. I did see an ALPS Lynx 1 that I liked and it was a decent size, but they were out of stock. They also had a Lynx 1.5, which would be perfect if was stand alone. Plus side, they had an Emberlit so I picked up one of those :D
 
I.N.F.K said:
Went to my local store, saw only one bivy and it was one of those harsh winter weather ones that cost like $300. Something I do not need here in the Blue Ridge mountains. I did see an ALPS Lynx 1 that I liked and it was a decent size, but they were out of stock. They also had a Lynx 1.5, which would be perfect if was stand alone. Plus side, they had an Emberlit so I picked up one of those :D
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SCORE! Oh... watch the bivys they have because this is the time of year manufactures are introducing new models and they may mark down their floor displays substantially. Sometimes gear that seems just outside your price range gets a lot more attractive when discounted. That is exactly how I came by my TNF Cat's Meow sleeping bag. Online retailers do the same. I think REI has a "bargain cave" and Campmor has discount specials running constantly. I believe my sleeping bag came from Gander Mountain.
 
This is something that really depends on where and when you camp.

For the places I go, relying on just a bivy is a pretty rough way to go and honestly, impractical if there is rain.

I use a bivy (more of a bag cover) for under a tarp or tarp tent. But then, you're starting to get into weight range of an ultra light tent.

Can you describe where you camp, what kinf of weather you see?
 
How about a Tarptent? They are light weight, A few people I talked to online seem to love them. I also seen one being used, It looked very well build.
For now I use an REI bivi that is just a little larger then the sleeping bag. I don't mind the size and it keeps the wind off me and everything nice and clean.
 
pinnah said:
This is something that really depends on where and when you camp.

For the places I go, relying on just a bivy is a pretty rough way to go and honestly, impractical if there is rain.

I use a bivy (more of a bag cover) for under a tarp or tarp tent. But then, you're starting to get into weight range of an ultra light tent.

Can you describe where you camp, what kinf of weather you see?
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I experience a variety of weather, a third of year it rains getting a total of 40 inches of rain annually. The summers for the most part are quite mild, but I've seen nights get down to 45 degrees. Our winters are also quite mild and dry as well, we've only just gotten our first snow a week ago.
 
sasha said:
How about a Tarptent? They are light weight, A few people I talked to online seem to love them. I also seen one being used, It looked very well build.
For now I use an REI bivi that is just a little larger then the sleeping bag. I don't mind the size and it keeps the wind off me and everything nice and clean.
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That's a thought, the setup configurations will make it diverse in use. A tarp and a bug tent/bivy may very well be an option. It takes me awhile to get use to bugs before I can stand them. It took me about a week of working and sleeping outside before bugs crawling on me would go unoticed.

fmajor007 said:
After looking around a bit, given you requirements (well, stretching the budget a little....), I'd recommend the ALPS Mountaineering Mystique 2.0 Tent

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J53WM7M/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=1944687442&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00BMKCZ14&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0DAJVZP4Q618QN6JQ837

If I was in the market for shelter given your environment/conditions, this tent would be high on my list.
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I like ALPS products, as mentionend earlier would've picked up their Lynx 1 if they had any in stock.
 
I just spent 2 non consecutive nights in -10 saturday and tuesday with the military sleep system and a snow shelter. Worth the cash. The bivy alone is under 100 with the intermediate black bag bag rated for -10 you be in the hole about 125 maybe if you bought both new. The bivy on its own can pack up about the size of a football but I would buy the whole system at some point inexpensive and durable. I used both bags and stay warm. Foam pad makes huge difference I found out 2 and night started off half off mine.... Big difference lol but that would be the same with any bivyvand bag I would imagine.
 
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Its heavy with both sleeping bags I think 12 lbs with all three pieces but the bivy prolly weighs 1 or 2 pounds specs should be easy to find.g
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Check out Snugpak (my spelling may be off ) they got some biviys and warm weather jungle bags with bug nets ! Nice gear and affordable!
 
Backpacking is always a trade off. Lightweight vs. luxury. I always tended to go for luxury when I could, even if it meant carrying a few more ounces.
 
I like Bivy's but the problem I find with them is that due to the small space, you get a lot of condensation inside them from your body.

If you are sleeping with no rain and can leave them open pretty much that helps a lot. However I find that my sleeping bag, the inside of the bivy etc is very moist and it's very hard to get out of them and not get my back, sleeping bag and other stuff wet.

I have a Golite Hex 3 I backpack with a lot. I think it runs about 2 lbs. You can buy full guts for them with a screen and floor. You can buy just the floor, or I often use mine with no floor and just a sheet of 3' Tyvek to put my trail pad on for extreme lightness.

Being a single wall it also gets condensation. If it is cold yu can almost get snow made from your body moisture condensing on the walls if it is really cold and you have it staked down tight.

However it's a good size. You can get 2 people, packs and even set up inside it. Without the floor and with the door a little open you could even cook in it.

Being so large yet light while you do get condensation just like the Bivy, but you have less of a tendency to get your shoulders or sleeping bag in it moving around in the tent.

Just some thoughts.....
 
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