Bivy use questions - saggy bug netting and sleeping pad choices

[Iowagriz]

Just bought an Outdoor Research Highlands bivy.  It appears to be the predecessor of the OR Helium. http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/catalog/product/view/id/41093/category/2334/.

Only a backyard test so far, but I think this will serve my needs well. However, I would have thought that there is a way to secure the outer cover and netting over the hoop so the netting stays off your face (when in netting mode only).  I found that I could have the two netting zippers meet at the highest  point of the hoop and then leaving a small hole, use a bungee to hold the excess material up higher. I must be missing something more obvious. 

What do others do to keep the netting off their face in similar models?

Also, as I look for a pad for this setup, it appears that I should go shorter (48") or something tapered.  Should I size to place in my sleeping bag (which I've heard of others doing but never tried myself)? Or, buy to fit the bivy and place the bag on top.

[Racingguy04]

I've never used that bivy or even seen it in person, but are you staking it out? it looks like it needs to be staked out atleast at the head and foot, and maybe on either side of the hoop, to keep it taught and keep the netting out of your face. Maybe post pics of your setup so we can see just what you're doing?

[Gabriel Amadeus]

I've got its brother the Advanced Bivvy. Love it! The flexy pole system works incredibly well, no stakes needed, and it's kept me warm and dry many nights.

[Iowagriz]

Definitely have to stake this bivy down, without staking, the hoop just flops around and is not upright.

This first picture is of the bivy when open. The outline of the bug zippered portion is in lime green.  As you can see, you can drape the outermost/waterproof portion of the bivy over the hoop while you get in. Ideally, you could fold the excess material over the top of the hoop after zipping up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22166623@N08/14156333274##

However, this is the image after zipping up.  You can see how the outermost covering now droops down 10" or more and even can see some of the drooping of the bug netting.  I could probably live with the bug netting drop, but I would like to get the other fabric off my head.  Even in this pic, I have zippered to the middle and used the cords from the zippers to tie to the rope loop at the uppermost point of the hoop (hope that makes sense).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22166623@N08/14156331794

[Racingguy04]

I'm a bit confused still, but I think that the fabric is supposed to be like that, maybe you can roll it up to the hoop? I've looked at a few pictures and  you tube videos of this bivy and it seems like the netting is going to be in your face. and it looks like the fabric is supposed to drape like that over your bag/chest.

As far as your question with the pad, I'd buy to fit the bivy and sleep bag on top of pad. Putting your pad in your bag could potentially compress the insulation making your colder. I also like to have as much as possible between my bag and any possible water that might pool in the bottom of the bivy or come up through the bottom fabric.

[Iowagriz]

Good tip/point about the bag on top of the pad for water issues.

Thanks
Tom

[evdog]

I have the OR Alpine bivy, looks to be similar design.  I bought the big agnes air core insulated pad (standard length).  It is the square version not tapered, and it fits in pretty well. I think it is 25" width.  You can also get the tapered version which fits inside the BA sleeping bag - that bag is only insulated on one side so it saves weight.  I have a couple friends who use that setup and it works well too.

[offroute]

Google images that bivy and you'll see in pretty much every shot that it's a saggy design. It needs some good end-to-end staking to get it taught enough to loft, which it appears to lack. The bug net is in a weird place also, just asking for forehead bites.

Bivy style tents usually stake out pretty tight. Even my BD Bipod has actual room around the shoulders. If you're going to bother to have a pole, it's gotta stake out tight. Otherwise you might as well use a normal bivy bag with a wire or other minimalist lofting feature.

FWIW...

[Gabriel Amadeus]

Umm, it's a bivvy SACK. I've been using this model for 13 years now. You crawl in it and sleep. It's made out of a waterproof breathable material. Rain, snow, frost, mud, mosquitoes pile up on it over the course of the evening and when you wake up you shake em off. I can't imagine staking mine out and have configured the face hoops in a number of pleasing formations. If you're going to the trouble of staking and whatnot, I believe there are tarp/tent options out there that utilize fabric that's much lighter than the waterproof/breathy stuff.

[PeteStaehling]

I think that a bivy that you have to stake down isn't really a bivy, but is actually a tent.

Just my personal choice, but I figure that if going with a bivy you might as well go lighter than the hooped bivys are.  Without going to crazy expensive materials you can still get a nice roomy bivy at 7 oz or so or a bug bivy an ounce or two less.  Even if you add a tarp, stakes, and cords you can come in lighter that the hooped bivys that I am familiar with.

For buggy/hot weather I like the bug bivy tarp combo.  The majority of the time I don't pitch the tarp and I sleep on top of the bivy using it as a ground sheet when bug conditions allow.  If I expect rain I pitch the tarp when using the bug bivy, but usually I don't and if rain comes unexpectedly I just pull the tarp over me and my gear.

The tarp has the advantage of being able to be used for shade or to cook/eat under if it rains

A piece of 1/16" shock chord or a hat with a peak keeps the mesh off of my face well enough with a minimal bivy or bug bivy.

[Iowagriz]

Umm, it's a bivvy SACK.

Yep, this is what I expected. First time bivy user here and figured it might be the design, just wasn't sure of work arounds to help.  No problem, I'll learn through it, maybe invent a way to velcro it up and out of the way.

I would have liked the tarp tent version, but found this new for under $100; figured it was an easy way to get going (small pack size and relatively light).  Can't wait to give it the first real test.

Thanks everyone.

[bekologist]

i believe you 'pop' the netting/zipper thingie over the top of the hoop. to get a tauter netting. Push down on the hoop, (from the inside pull down) and feed the zipper up over top so the zipper holds the netting from slipping back down the hoop.

and yeah, some bivies are pretty small and light, i've got a ti goat one that weighs in at 5 ounces and was only about 100 bucks? and is an encapsulated EPIC fabric, the same type of fabric black diamond makes their firstlight tent series out of.... in conjunction with a 6x8 sil tarp, its a total of less than a pound with room to stretch out if it starts raining.

[Iowagriz]

First test was two nights ago.  Worked great, packs small, seemed to add a few degrees to the overall warmth.

I did tear one of the stake straps, so I need to resew.  Any suggestions?  I could sew it back to itself and not harm any waterproofing of the bivy.  On the other hand, i don't really expect it to be waterproof, so I could just sew back to the bivy itself.

I'll try (again) to get the cover to "pop" over the hoop, I couldn't get it to work from the inside.  I did come up with the idea of using a few of those large binder style paper clips. I could clip the fabric up and to the pole from the inside (still pretty light).

[Farawayvisions]

Use your mat under the bivy for best insulation. I use an Exped Synmat UL 7. This is my recent review. http://www.farawayvisions.com/exped-synmat-ul-7-review/