Outdoor Research  Bug Bivy

I would like to comment on the pole design, in reply to the criticism in an previous review. The pole "slides inside" a tape tube and has a 4" velcro flap closure on the insertion end. There is no way, even in extreme winds that the pole will free itself. In fact it takes a minute to extract the pole from it's home. There is also three loops around the base (which I never bother to use) to stake out the bivy. There is two loops to string up the mesh instead/aswell as using the pole (one at feet one at head). This is good if you are sleeping in the tropics only your underwear, as mosquito bite through mesh that is touching your skin.

Fit my long sleeping bag and rectangular 78" pad just fine. I used a thick 4.25" Big Agnes Q core SLX long sleeping pad and found that the bivy was long enough and had plenty of volume. My face and feet had plenty of room without the mesh pressed firmly against me. I should note that I don't sleep with a pillow and I'm not sure how much that would change the room above my head/face. The bivy is a little challenging getting into, but I'm just 6 weeks out of back surgery and I was able to get in and out if that tells you anything. I usually cowboy camp to save weight, but invariably a mosquito or other flying insect will buzz into my ear or land on my face at some point (or multiple points) in the night and sometimes a bug will try to crawl into my bag. The bivy sovled this. I will say that the mesh really obscures the view of the night sky so don't expect to be staring at the stars with it zipped closed. I like this so much, I just ordered the OR Alpine bivy for when there is a decent chance of rain or dew. Hoping it will be long enough.

I've had mine for several years, took it out once as packaged, didn't care for it. Since then I've put a shock cord line and adjuster on all 5 of the loops that you'll find on it, 3 for stakes and the 2 tie-outs on top. I use it on a groundsheet which somewhat eliminates the need for a proper bathtub floor which it lacks and with the lines I can run the stakes beyond the groundsheet and keep the bivy centered under the tarp. The tie-outs are best used by pulling them in opposite directions from each other. Staked-out and tied-out it's pretty nice inside, but bare skin is going to touch the mesh at some point, Permethrin might be a good investment if that's an issue. I am usually not vulnerable to flying biting insects in the mountains, but I prefer to not share sleeping space with critters such as the big spider that bit my neck or the katydid that perched on my forehead. Besides keeping the bugs out it keeps my sleeping gear in, organized, and clean. By staking it out it keeps me and my sleeping gear dry underneath the tarp. The pole is a bit of a pain to get out, but the way I do it now is keep it bent and continually work the sleeve back exposing the pole little by little and resisting the urge to just yank the pole out. I've tried it without the pole but I prefer it with the pole. I'd recommend this for those that like to "play" with and spend time learning their gear.

This does exactly what it says it will do. It keeps the bugs off. It does not claim to be spacious, warm or weather proof. You can not find lighter more compact packing bug protection. I use it in hot Arizona riparian areas that attract every bug from miles around. The solid bottom and mesh top keeps the mosquitos, kissing bugs (cone nosed beetles), scorpions, etc at bay. One night I watched a scorpion crawl on the OUTSIDE of the netting between me and a full moon rising over the canyon rim of West Clear Creek. It was fun to see the silhouette against the moon and know I did not have anything to worry about! I recommend the OR Bug Bivy to all my backpacking friends.

I have been using this for about 3 months homeless. The netting will tear regularly but is easy to stitch up with dental floss or fishing line. Be careful not to unzip it all the way as the zipper slides right off and is a pain to get back on. Sleep with your sleeping pad underneath it, as the bottom WILL allow water to seep through and wear out if set on the bare ground. As someone else mentioned mosquitos will bite through it if your bare skin is touching the net. All around this is a decent product and a much better choice than a hanging bug net. On one of the nights I didn't use this I had to go to the ER because a spider had crawled into my ear. This product serves as a more versatile alternative to ear plugs.

This bivy works great for spring, summer, and fall. Disregard any reviews mentioning bug bites. There's a loop on the foot end meant to suspend the end of the bivy off you - run a loop of thin cord through the loop, over a forked stick, and down to a stake (I use another stick). Bam! The bivy is off my legs - no bug bites. I'm a side sleeper, and even with a thicker BA pad, I have just enough room above my shoulders to clear the pole. I only wish the sides came up a little to form a bathtub floor, and, that OR used a lighter PU coated material for the floor. They could easily shave 6 ounces off this bivy. With the bivy, a polycro groundcloth, and three stakes, my stuff sack weighs 19.2 ounces.

Purchased this bivy for my son who was headed out to Boy Scout Camp. It is very easy to set up and has enough room to be comfortable. He placed his seeping pad, bag, and pillow inside. This camp had spiders and scorpions everywhere. This unit was a must in order for him to get any sleep. It kept everything out without exception. You do have to tie it off to make sure it stands properly, but that was not an issue. Make sure to take some rope and stakes . My son used this is his open tent and on top of a cot. Great product!!!

This bivy works awesome. I also have the alpine shelter which is top notch. Others are complaining about how it needs the feet part to not be touching your feet and are correct. But for about 34 cents I solved that. I put a binder clip on the feet part and attach some paracord to it and to a tree/pole/bag/anything that is higher than 20 in. It lifts the net up off of me. It's not complicated.

I recently used this on a 4 day Grand Canyon River Trip. Kept the insects away, easy to set up; and at 6'2" had plenty of room to move around. The first night we had a monsoon storm, rained all night. I had simply strung a plastic sheet between my hiking poles; and stayed nice and dry- compared to some folks with tents. I got it to keep the 'things that move in the dark' away; and I'll use this for 3 seasons in the Grand Canyon- winter I'll use my MSR Tarp Tent.

I bought this at a local sports store just v hours before sending my daughter off to camp. Spent a fortune on it! Brought it home just to realize it's nothing like the "drawing" and my daughter said it's like sleeping in a prison. She asked why she couldn't have a nice mosquito cover like all the other kids. Those covers are half the price but that store didn't have any left.