My Outdoor Research Buy Bivy sure came in handy! |
About five minutes after I unpacked the minimal equipment I would
be using, sleeping bag and pillow, I came to the realization that I was WRONG.
Although the camp had cabins with all the amenities I could wish for (like an
electrical outlet to charge my phone) I forgot I was camping with a bunch of
kids. Before I had even arrived someone must have left the door and windows
wide open in my cabin because the interior was infested with mosquitoes!
Honestly mosquitoes hadn’t really crossed my mind as something I
would need to worry about while at Lions Camp Merrick. I hadn’t even realized,
because of all the rain and cold temperatures we had been having, that mosquitoes were even out. Luckily for me I had planning our upcoming trip for
summer camp and ordered Ryley and me some pretty awesome bug nets. I ended
up putting mine to the test a little earlier than expected!
Now to be fair my review of this product is limited to just one
night’s use, in a cabin. I plan on doing a more in depth review once I get back
from summer camp. A good 7 days being abused by scouts should give me enough
time to form an educated opinion.
A picture of the bivy laid out on the ground. |
A close up on the pole as well as the bathtub floor. |
Specifications: Features No-see-um mesh and Hydroseal bathtub floor. It weighs in at 16 ounces and comes with Outdoor Research's "Infinite Guarantee."
Hits: To say the bivy is light weight is an
understatement. Since the top part is made up of mesh it’s understandable as to
why this is so light. The mesh also makes it airy and lets all the light in.
Another positive is the bathtub floor. Not only does it keep the water and
wetness out, as a sealed system, it also keeps the bugs out! That was always my
one complaint about regular bug nets at summer camp. The insects would
inevitably find their way up under the net and into my sleeping area. With this
bivy that issue is completely eliminated.
Misses: Unless you are able to use guy-lines it
has a tendency to not stay off of your skin. This poses a problem because the
insects can then bite through the netting. However with two pieces of rope,
tied to the existing loops on the bivy, this issue is eliminated. The only
other thing that was an issue for me was getting in and out of the bivy. The
zipper it located at the top, or head, of the bivy. You literally have to slide
your way into it. To be fair I was not using it how it was designed. I was
using it on top of a mattress in a bunk bed. So getting into the bivy was very
difficult. I can see this also being an issue once we get to summer camp
because we sleep on Army cots.
Ideal for: Minimalist hikers/campers as well as
scouts. Works well in dry hot conditions but I can see how this would also work
very well while using a tarp.
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