Are there any Bivy hunters left?

[JBR]

Honestly haven't had the chance to use in the field yet, but for still water, yes I plan to filter with a clean bandana or similar.  The plan is try to always go for clear/running water sources, but that's not always an option.  The new Backpacker issue covered all the Editor Choice awards gear and the Steri-Pen was actually one of the winners.  I had already purchased mine, but they said that of all their testers had used just about EVERY purification option out there and the new UPGRADED Adventure Steri-Pen won big time.  Cool.  Hope it lives up to it.

[PacificNWhunter]

Sno-peak ti stove, titanium pot. 90% Of the time mountain house, depending on the trip I might take some type of MRE.

[swanny]

Yeah i wont knock the Mre route because i havent tried it but i personally go with my stove. I like my stove but its about time to upgrade. Are those jetboils and good?

They keep getting better and better. The new "Sol" is only 10.5oz and there is a titanium version coming out too that weighs even less. I've got the Flash and it's a great little stove to boil some water in. The Pocket Rocket does win for compactness though. The Jetbolil does do a better job at boiling more water in a quicker amount of time.

http://www.rei.com/product/813622

[oldleclercrd]

Yeah i like going through all the new gear every year. I wonder if anyone has tried those green optimus (i think thats what their called) stoves?

[Ridgerunner]

I use a steri-pen, works very good, but the water I have access to is clear and cold and good flowing.  Sure beats the heck out of using a pump as well as the tablets. 

[saylean]

I camped out for a few nights last year, during deer modern...loved it. Doing it again this year.

About the steripen...my dad goes to Panama for missions to help get clean water to villiages. While he is there, he uses his steripen...never had any problem. In addition, he gave one to a guy who goes all over the world for the WHO (world health org) and now swears by that pen. I plan on buying one as soon as I can.

[oldleclercrd]

I camped out for a few nights last year, during deer modern...loved it. Doing it again this year.

About the steripen...my dad goes to Panama for missions to help get clean water to villiages. While he is there, he uses his steripen...never had any problem. In addition, he gave one to a guy who goes all over the world for the WHO (world health org) and now swears by that pen. I plan on buying one as soon as I can.

yeah ive heard good things about the steripen. I personally use the water tablets and drop a single pill into one of those 1 liter platypus water batters and then add some of that emergenC to make it taste better (thank you Cameron Haynes). The only thing about those pills that i dont like is that they dont kill cyriptosporidyium (im positive thats spelled wrong).

[Alan K]

I've just about got all my gear regular hunting gear.  Once I get all that I'll be putting my free money towards light weight backpacking gear.  This will be my camp of choice! 

[oldleclercrd]

Yeah its amazing how expensive the lightweight gear is these days, but once you have it you will be happy you do!

[HoofsandWings]

I have a bivy sack from outdoor reseach and it seems to hold its own. I just think the bivouac style of hunting maximizes efficiency and in turn success (my opinion). Just wasn't sure how many people try it...

Ah, reminds me of the old days, when sleeping on a rock was no big deal.  Unfortunately with arthritis bivy is not as comfortable as it once was. Of course, bad back, bad knees, bad feet, bad shoulders, bad elbows, bad neck and bad hands certainly doesnt help.

[JBR]

Tried to fit into several different bivy brands, as being mobile is my plan this year as well, however, none of them seemed to work for me.  Inclement weather makes life in a bivy a bit too miserable for me, even when trying to find a hidy hold tucked away that's semi protected.  Last year's archery elk hunt had be soaked and when I returned to my 1-man Mountain Hardware tent, there wasn't room to change clothes, cook and get out of the weather very well, with only enough room inside the tent for my sleeping bag and pad.  I put a sil nylon tarp 5' x 8' over my pack to keep it dry and kept my boots in the vestibule, but overall it was insufficient and I ended up pulling stakes and hiking back to my truck where I set up my 6-man Kifaru tipi and med stove at a base camp. 

This year, I dropped the coin and got this...http://www.kifaru.net/paratipi2009.html and got the small stove with it.  For the weight, it's HUGE!  I set it up at home and it was 13' long and 8' wide, and about 56" tall at the front pole.  Compared to a bivy or even a 1-man tent, it's a mansion and holds me, (possible a hunting parnter and all our gear).  I'll probably be selfish and use it just for myself however, and if I want to pack the small stove, it's heated luxury that I can cook with, relax in heat and dry wet clothes in!  Ahhhh...

It's my "bivy" on steriods and it's what will be my primary mobile archery, pack on my back, camp.

The paratipi itself is about 32 oz.  Throw in a handful of lightweight stakes and cut sticks on site for the two poles and I'm set.  If I wanna bring the lightweight portable stove as well, add a little more than 3 lbs. Done.  It does come with two adjustable poles (broken down to 6 pieces) which I may use, but I have the option of using sticks on site if I want the additional weight savings.

I'm looking forward to several scouting trips beginning in May or June to put it to use.  It's spendy, but after dialing in what I want, this is what works for me and it's worth the cost.  I got mine used for a decent discount and the thing is bombproof.

[fair-chase]

That is a sweet setup JBR.

How much does the stove alone wheigh, and does it compact enough to reasonably fit in a pack?

[halflife65]

fair-chase beat me to it - but that's a really nice setup JBR.  Looking forward to a review when you get a chance to use it.

[Tim]

JBR good choice,I sure like my Super tarp when I'm alone and its not bad with one more person either
Tim

[JBR]

I'll try to take some pics this weekend to show you its packed up size and weight on the scale, both of the paratipi and the stove.  The stove weighs about 3 lbs, 4 oz I believe and packs up to roughly 10" x 7" x 1".  It disassembles without tools and collapses down to around 1" thick.  The stove pipe rolls down to about the size of a small roll of tin foil.  The paratipi and stove total package is very small and easily packs down into your pack, but its hard to describe, compared to what pictures will show.