Awhile back, I ordered the 2.5lb. Bivy Tent from Sportsman's Guide, for $25. I needed a smaller and lighter tent for hiking, as my 6 pound 3-man dome tent is too large for that use. For the price, I didn't expect extreme quality, but it is actually pretty decent! A medium green that shows up a little too well even in the forest, it is a medium weight nylon, with large mesh windows/door. A separate clip-on rainfly is included. I took a ride into the woods on my KLR bike, then slipped into the bush when I reached a certain 'borrow pit'. Actually, I set up camp when I accidentally dumped the bike - it stalled and laid itself down. "Okay, beast!" says I. "We'll camp here." I got the bike back onto it's feet, then set up camp. The tent goes up quickly, though when setting it up for a 'yard test', I found, as expected, the original steel pin stakes were useless in the sandy Florida dirt. I had replaced them with the 'glow-in-the-dark' plastic pegs from Wally's. In the dark, they outline the tent nicely up cloes, and cannot be seen at a distance. Ingress/egress take a little practice, especially for us Big Guys! I found it best to go down to my knees, slip one leg through the door, thenslide in backwards. Inside is bigger than one would think. Later I managed to slip into my sweatpants when it got cool. The mesh was nice, and the breeze was appreciated after the day's heat. Turning in about tenish, I could see the stars and rising moon. I was awakened soon though, as the local Coyote pack tuned up for the night's chorus. Weird sound, indeed! I kept my CZ52 pistol handy . . . About 3:30AM, I got up to answer 'nature's call' - the sky was very overcast and muggy. Felt like rain coming. So I put the rainfly on. Turning the door flap up, I still could breath okay. Lots of room in this bivy tent! Low but wide enough to suit me. Used an inflatable matress (50 year old back), and a wool GI blanket. I was cozy. Next morning, all outside was wet with dew and condensation - inside I was dry. I broke camp and returned home. The mission accomplished, the tent passed.
Nice kit love the klr! been a fan of dualsports fore a long timebeen through "several xl500's and will probabvly be back on a dualsport fairly soon.
check this out for a multipupose bivvy/poncho http://www.hilleberg.com/2006%20Products/NewBivanorak.htm
Have you guys heard of the Hennessy Hammock? Best investment I have ever made. Plus they give discounts to Boy Scouts (which I am guessing most of you were)
I have the newer Woodland Camo Bivytent now, also by SG - same as the first one, but blends into the scenery better. On the first field test, I walked away from camp. looked back, and it had virtually disappeared into the underbrush at 50 yards. I was camped 100 yards into the trees from the access road, and a few trucks passing by never knew I was there! "Stealth camping" at it's best! I did have the rear hoop pole split on me during a bike roadtrip. A little steel wire and JB Weld soon had it working fine again.
Jones'in bad for ahennessy, perfect solution for up here( more trees than you cab" shake a stick at")...
