Bivy and poncho tarp?

[Hunter mike]

Does anyone have any experience with a bivy and poncho tarp sleep system?  I have an Integral Designs bivy with e-vent fabric that I haven't used much except during very dry weather.  I've been using a single-wall floorless tent (Mark III Appy Trails) and I feel like it's kind of a pain to get a good pitch.  I want to hunt more bivy-style (with new camp every night wherever I happen to be) so I don't want to have to deal with the full tent setup.  I can pitch a tarp quick and the system seems more flexible for different conditions.  I'm hunting sun-up to sun-down, so I don't need much of a space to hang out in. 

I'm thinking I could carry 2 poncho tarps for extra shelter space when whether is bad.  I've been wanting to add a cooking/eating area tarp to my setup anyways.  Sucks to eat sitting out in the open in the rain because I can't sit up in my tent...

[JackOfAllTrades]

I've hunted, hiked with bivy on the ground. Sometimes no tarp. Sometimes with, and/or with a mesh hammock and the bivy.  It depends on where I'm at, how light I want to go, what weather I'm expecting.

I use a tent most often now though.

-Steve

[Tim in Wa.]

I use a shaped tarp(Kifaru Super Tarp) it pitches fast-and easy.And I've found that because of the shape I don't need to worry about rain blowing in so I don't use a bivy sack.I think it weighs 18 oz.Its kept me dry in some hellish weather.
Do a search  for "jimmy tarps" he is making some very nice stuff for a very good price
Tim

[Special T]

I used an OR bivy and 2 small tarps for a long time back country hiking. IMO its the only way to go... heavy condensation on the bivy is eliminated if you put the tarp over the bivy with a small air space between the  bivy and  tarp. 3 stakes/rocks and one stick is enough to make the system fool proof. I think the tarp size i used was 7x5 or something like that, but  a bigger one could sandwich the bivy. Mine had a head enclosure so that a second tarp want really necessary. It was more of a one man tent.  http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/accessories/bivy-sacks.html

[Hunter mike]

I think I'm gonna try it out.  I already have the bivy.  My goal is about 8oz tarp or poncho/tarp.  I may bring 2 in bad weather for extra options.

What kind of lines/stakes does everyone use?

[Fl0und3rz]

These are lightweight and strong.

http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=726

[coachcw]

The Bivins systems are neat but it's so nice to have a two man tent to store your gear in. Trekking poles make good stakes but if your using them in your tent then there not in  your hunting pack ?...

[Hunter mike]

Coach-

I'm mostly planning on trying this system for "keep your camp on your back" type of outings.  In this situation, you have to take down and stow your tent before moving on in the morning, so I wouldn't miss it for gear storage.  Same with the trekking poles.  Those are two reasons I may or may not like the setup for trips where I'm hunting out of a base camp.

[Special T]

A bivy and tarp are as light as it gets and still weather proof IMO. I tested my OR and tarp for nearly 2 months of use while guiding for the Boy Scouts. We had a saying... An ounce in the morning is a LB at night. If you want ot be light and fast a bivy and tarp are the only way to go....

[jtw]

I started using a bivy and tarp last elk season. I prefer sleeping under the stars and this setup gave me more of that feel.
It's super light and not a pain to carry around all day so I can setup whereever I find myself.
I have an OR advanced bivy but thinking about getting a lighter one since with the tarp goretex isn't quite necessary.

[Hunter mike]

I use a shaped tarp(Kifaru Super Tarp) it pitches fast-and easy.And I've found that because of the shape I don't need to worry about rain blowing in so I don't use a bivy sack.I think it weighs 18 oz.Its kept me dry in some hellish weather.
Do a search  for "jimmy tarps" he is making some very nice stuff for a very good price
Tim

Do you have the annex for the Super Tarp?  I like that setup - a bit pricy, but seem to have a reputation for being bomb-proof.  I worry about the open end with no bivy - sometimes it seems like we get a lot of swirling weather in some of my spots where there's not really a dominant wind direction (or hard to tell if there is).  Most of the time I suppose one could point the open end into some type of barrier, but I like to be able to setup wherever I want without worry...

[Shawn Ryan]

I've used Kifaru's para-tarp (about 18 oz with stakes and sticks for poles) for several seasons along with Ti-Goat's Raven Omni bivy (9 oz with full bug net).  I've pitched it above tree line with good, swirling wind and found that as soon as I got into the tarp, my heat loss was amazingly minimal. I've used it in a torrential thunderstorm high in the Goat Rocks and the tarp performed great (my initial choice of camp site, not so much).  Sometimes, I'll set up my floorless SL4 as a base camp (backpacked in) and then use the para-tarp to head out for a few days.

The advantage of the Kifaru shaped tarps is the ease of pitch and the "cup" used to protect the silnylon from the stick/poles. If I were buying again, I might buy the super-tarp instead of the para-tarp. Or maybe a Jimmy-tarp thanks to Tim.

[Shawn Ryan]

Mike, you asked about lines and stakes. I use 90# test sturgeon leader for line with a taught-line knot for adjustment (except for the orange line at the entry for visibility). The sturgeon leader is super thin and light; never had an issue with it.  I use aluminum ground hog and aluminum shepards hooks for stakes. I will be reducing the number of stakes by using one stake for two lines. I also use rocks and trees in place of stakes at times, but don't rely on them to always be available.

[Tim in Wa.]

I use a shaped tarp(Kifaru Super Tarp) it pitches fast-and easy.And I've found that because of the shape I don't need to worry about rain blowing in so I don't use a bivy sack.I think it weighs 18 oz.Its kept me dry in some hellish weather.
Do a search  for "jimmy tarps" he is making some very nice stuff for a very good price
Tim

Do you have the annex for the Super Tarp?  I like that setup - a bit pricy, but seem to have a reputation for being bomb-proof.  I worry about the open end with no bivy - sometimes it seems like we get a lot of swirling weather in some of my spots where there's not really a dominant wind direction (or hard to tell if there is).  Most of the time I suppose one could point the open end into some type of barrier, but I like to be able to setup wherever I want without worry...

I have the annex and have used it,in fact I usually carry it because it takes almost no space but I hardly ever use it regardless of the weather(only when I know I'm using a wood stove)
 For the little extra weight  over the para tarp you get allot more room with a super tarp .The tarp is long enough that even if the wind shifts you can scoot all the way down to the closed end and stay dry.I've used bivy bags but always end up wet due to condensation while I've never gotten wet without a bivy.
 They are pricey but they pop up used pretty often .If I had it to do over again I would not get the annex.If you want to use a stove you can rig the pipe without the annex.
 I'm in Poulsbo if you are ever in the area you are welcome to come by and check it out
Tim

[ridgefire]

I run the same setup as Shawn Ryan.  Works great and is really lightweight.