10 Finest Bug Shelters for Ultralight Backpacking of 2022

There are three several types of ultralight bug shelters appropriate for cowboy tenting, sleeping in a lean-to, or beneath a flat tarp: bivy sacks, bug bivies, and web tents. All of them have their execs and cons, however that’s true of all ultralight backpacking gear. Whereas bivy sacks are confining, they supply wonderful insect safety. Bug bivies often provide extra residing area, however are typically tougher to get out and in of and have to be used with a tarp or trekking poles. Web tents provide essentially the most residing area, but in addition are typically the heaviest choice. For a deeper dialogue of those issues and tradeoff, see our Ultralight Bug Shelter Choice Information under.

With these components in thoughts, listed here are our prime 10 really useful bug shelters for ultralight backpacking:

1. Borah Gear Ultralight Bivy

2. Mountain Laurel Designs Superlight Bivy Sack

3. Paria Out of doors Breeze Mesh Bivy

4. Six Moon Designs Haven Web Tent

5. Mountain Laurel Designs Bug Bivy

6. Katabatic Gear Pinon Bivy

7. Six Moon Designs Serenity Web Tent

8. Out of doors Analysis Bug Bivy

9. SlingFin SplitWing Mesh Physique

10. Yama Mountain Gear 1P Bug Shelter

Ultralight Bug Shelter Choice Information

Bug Shelter Sorts: Execs, and Cons

Ultralight bug shelters might be bivy sacks (supposed for heat climate use), bug bivies, or web tents. You can even repurpose the interior tent of a double-wall tent though will probably be a lot heavier and awkward to make use of in additional constrained areas.

Bivy Sacks

Ultralight bivy sacks do not need waterproof tops as a result of they supposed for use in dry circumstances below a separate waterproof shelter in non-winter circumstances. Most have mesh hoods for insect safety and luxury with a stable, extremely breathable material, overlaying the torso and legs. A water-resistant ground is commonly included as comfort together with a zipper or drawstring closure. Grosgrain loops are often included to droop the mesh overhead with twine and to stake out the bivy sack corners.  Bivy sacks made totally with mesh tops might be problematic as a result of bugs can chunk via the mesh in case you are sleeping on prime of your quilt or sleeping bag in sizzling climate as an alternative of inside or below them.

• Benefits
  • Present wind and splashback safety below tarps. (Splashback is when water bounces off the bottom close to a tarp and again at you.)
  • Good for insect and dew safety when cowboy tenting below the celebrities.
  • Simple to make use of in a lean-to as a result of they are often suspended from rafters and take no further room.
  • Present inflatable sleeping bag safety when a pad is used inside bivy sack.
  • They can be utilized like a sheet for insect safety in sizzling climate.
• Disadvantages
  • Extra claustrophobic than alternate options
  • Low to the bottom so much less waterproof towards pooling water

Bug Bivies

Bug bivies (to not be confused by all mesh bivy sacks that some producers name bug bivies) are much like bivy sacks however have sidewalls and have to be suspended overhead utilizing trekking poles or an overhead shelter. They’re often provided with a water-proof ground. Many include prime zippers on the ridgeline which generally is a little troublesome to get out and in of relying in your stand and skill to stability whereas stepping out of them.

• Benefits
  • Extra residing area
  • Have to be suspended on the ends utilizing trekking poles or overlaying tarp
  • Greater sidewalls present higher insect and water safety.
• Disadvantages
  • High door entry might be awkward.
  • Heavier than a bivy sack.
  • Harder to make use of in a crowded lean-to.

Web Tents

Web tents are the equal of an interior tent from a double-wall tent however are often designed to be arrange utilizing trekking poles and staked out on the corners. as an alternative. Web tents have waterproof flooring and a zippered entrance. If you’re planning to mix a web tent with a tarp, it’s necessary to make it possible for the door places align correctly for ease of entry.

• Benefits
  • A number of headroom so you possibly can sit up inside and alter clothes.
• Disadvantages
  • Heavier than bivy sacks or bug bivies.
  • Harder to make use of in a crowded lean-to, particularly if they’ve a facet door.

Zipper Location

On bivy shelters with zippers, it’s typically extra handy to have a facet zipper or one on the head finish than a zipper that runs lengthwise down the middle. Should you’re sleeping below a tarp, there’s going to be restricted headroom beneath it, significantly in inclement climate when it’s pitched low to the bottom for extra wind and rain safety. Bivy sacks with facet zippers and large bivies with finish doorways are simpler to get out of in comparison with bivy sacks with middle zippers or bug bivies with prime zippers within the ridgeline.

Bathtub Flooring and Sidewall Depth

If it’s a must to sleep on prime of your sleep insulation on sizzling nights, bugs can nonetheless chunk you thru the mesh if you happen to are available in contact with it. Should you sleep on a 2″, 3″, or 4″ excessive inflatable pad, you may take into account selecting a shelter with larger sidewalls made with stable insect-proof material as an alternative of mesh,

Breathable materials

When selecting a bivy sack, attempt to get one with a extremely breathable prime material to assist cut back the possibility of inside condensation contained in the bivy again. Keep away from shopping for a bivy sack with a water-proof/breathable prime material for heat climate use as a result of they’re way more vulnerable to inside condensation.

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