Black Diamond Lightsabre bivy (NSR)

[Dr. Crash]

Has anybody tried it? It looks like a killer bivy for the price and weight (1 lb 4 oz, $179). I'm looking for a bivy mostly for snow camping but that I could also use outside a shelter, which is where the poles and other things look handy on that guy.

drC

[Viva]

Have you looked at Integral Designs? Suppose to be bomber gear. I think the Feathered Friends (across street and down a little from downtown Seattle REI) carries their stuff.

[cj001f]

Buy a Bibler Winter Bivy instead.

If you really need poles, and that much winter protection - bring a tent!

[Mountain Junkie]

Just got the girlfriend an Integral Design bivy. Nice for the price.

Regarding the lightsabre, I was intrigued by the price and weight as well. Same design as the Bibler, but $100 cheaper. However, after checking it out in person, if you're looking to use it for snow, this isn't the bivy for you. The reason is the material is paper thin nylon. Doesn't seem like it would be very waterproof or robust.

[Dr. Crash]

Yeah, saw the Bibler winter bivy on their Web site. Not a huge fan of fabric all over my face (and not willing to pay $250 for an Integral Design eVent Bugaboo), but probably the best bet for weight/price/use-in-a-snow-shelter. Note that if I got the Lightsabre, I'd use it w/o poles in a snow shelter (except maybe in spring). Would the Bibler winter bivy be better than the REI minimalist bivy (the latter has more venting options / many zippers)?

The Epic fabric is paper thin, but there are a number of reports from people who spent nights under big rains and had no issues (in the Lighthouse tents). So who knows. I called Black Diamond and they say the bivy should stand out a full night of big rain, but then get wet after a few days of such treatment. I suspect that the water repellency is better if kept taut tightly with poles.

REI has sold out and they can't special order any of the BD Epic tents, which makes me think someone at BD may be worried about massive returns at some point in time... Though these could be from people having the wrong expectations for the tents.

drC