There are three different types of ultralight bug shelters suitable for cowboy camping, sleeping in a lean-to, or underneath a flat tarp: bivy sacks, bug bivies, and net tents. They all have their pros and cons, but that’s true of all ultralight backpacking gear. While bivy sacks are confining, they provide excellent insect protection. Bug bivies usually offer more living space, but are generally harder to get in and out of and must be used with a tarp or trekking poles. Net tents offer the most living space, but also tend to be the heaviest option. For a deeper discussion of these considerations and tradeoff, see our Ultralight Bug Shelter Selection Guide below.
With these factors in mind, here are our top 10 recommended bug shelters for ultralight backpacking:
Make / Model | Type | Weight | Opening |
---|---|---|---|
Borah Ultralight Bivy | Bivy Sack | 5.0 oz / 142 g | Chest |
Mountain Laurel Designs Superlight Bivy | Bivy Sack | 5.5 oz / 156 g | Side |
Paria Outdoor Breeze Bivy | Bug Bivy | 13 oz / 369g | Top |
Six Moon Designs Haven Nettent | Net Tent | 17.2 oz / 488g | Sides |
Mountain Laurel Designs Bug Bivy | Bug Bivy | 6.5 oz / 184g | Top |
Katabatic Gear Pinon Bivy | Bivy Sack | 7.3 oz / 207g | Top |
Six Moon Designs Serenity Net Tent | Net Tent | 11 oz / 312g | Side |
Outdoor Research Bug Bivy | Bug Bivy | 16 oz / 454g | Front |
SlingFin SplitWing Mesh Body | Bug Bivy | 11.2 oz / 318g | Front |
Yama Mountain Gear 1P Bug Shelter | Net Tent | 9.6 oz / 272g | Front |
1. Borah Gear Ultralight Bivy
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Borah Gear
2. Mountain Laurel Designs Superlight Bivy Sack
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Mountain Laurel Designs
3. Paria Outdoor Breeze Mesh Bivy
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Paria Outdoor
4. Six Moon Designs Haven Net Tent
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Six Moon Designs
5. Mountain Laurel Designs Bug Bivy
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Mountain Laurel Designs
6. Katabatic Gear Pinon Bivy
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Katabatic Gear
7. Six Moon Designs Serenity Net Tent
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Six Moon Designs
8. Outdoor Research Bug Bivy
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Outdoor Research | REI
9. SlingFin SplitWing Mesh Body
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SlingFin
10. Yama Mountain Gear 1P Bug Shelter
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Yama Mountain Gear
Ultralight Bug Shelter Selection Guide
Bug Shelter Types: Pros, and Cons
Ultralight bug shelters can be bivy sacks (intended for warm weather use), bug bivies, or net tents. You can also repurpose the inner tent of a double-wall tent although it will be much heavier and awkward to use in more constrained spaces.
Bivy Sacks
Ultralight bivy sacks do not have waterproof tops because they intended to be used in dry conditions under a separate waterproof shelter in non-winter conditions. Most have mesh hoods for insect protection and comfort with a solid, highly breathable fabric, covering the torso and legs. A waterproof floor is often included as convenience along with a zipper or drawstring closure. Grosgrain loops are usually included to suspend the mesh overhead with cord and to stake out the bivy sack corners. Bivy sacks made entirely with mesh tops can be problematic because insects can bite through the mesh if you are sleeping on top of your quilt or sleeping bag in hot weather instead of inside or under them.
- Advantages
- Provide wind and splashback protection under tarps. (Splashback is when water bounces off the ground near a tarp and back at you.)
- Good for insect and dew protection when cowboy camping under the stars.
- Easy to use in a lean-to because they can be suspended from rafters and take no additional room.
- Provide inflatable sleeping bag protection when a pad is used inside bivy sack.
- They can be used like a sheet for insect protection in hot weather.
- Disadvantages
- More claustrophobic than alternatives
- Low to the ground so less waterproof against pooling water
Bug Bivies
Bug bivies (not to be confused by all mesh bivy sacks that some manufacturers call bug bivies) are similar to bivy sacks but have sidewalls and must be suspended overhead using trekking poles or an overhead shelter. They’re usually offered with a waterproof floor. Many come with top zippers on the ridgeline which can be a little difficult to get in and out of depending on your stand and ability to balance while stepping out of them.
- Advantages
- More living space
- Must be suspended at the ends using trekking poles or covering tarp
- Higher sidewalls provide better insect and water protection.
- Disadvantages
- Top door access can be awkward.
- Heavier than a bivy sack.
- More difficult to use in a crowded lean-to.
Net Tents
Net tents are the equivalent of an inner tent from a double-wall tent but are usually designed to be set up using trekking poles and staked out at the corners. instead. Net tents have waterproof floors and a zippered entrance. If you are planning to combine a net tent with a tarp, it’s important to make sure that the door locations align properly for ease of access.
- Advantages
- Lots of headroom so you can sit up inside and change clothing.
- Disadvantages
- Heavier than bivy sacks or bug bivies.
- More difficult to use in a crowded lean-to, especially if they have a side door.
Zipper Location
On bivy shelters with zippers, it’s often more convenient to have a side zipper or one at the head end than a zipper that runs lengthwise down the center. If you’re sleeping under a tarp, there’s going to be limited headroom underneath it, particularly in inclement weather when it’s pitched low to the ground for more wind and rain protection. Bivy sacks with side zippers and big bivies with end doors are easier to get out of compared to bivy sacks with center zippers or bug bivies with top zippers in the ridgeline.
Bathtub Floor and Sidewall Depth
If you have to sleep on top of your sleep insulation on hot nights, insects can still bite you through the mesh if you come in contact with it. If you sleep on a 2″, 3″, or 4″ high inflatable pad, you might consider choosing a shelter with higher sidewalls made with solid insect-proof fabric instead of mesh,
Breathable fabrics
When choosing a bivy sack, try to get one with a highly breathable top fabric to help reduce the chance of internal condensation inside the bivy back. Avoid buying a bivy sack with a waterproof/breathable top fabric for warm weather use because they’re much more prone to internal condensation.
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Another good timing, I looked in the past but didn’t pull the trigger. It looks like Katabatic updated their bivies and these look even better, I can envision just deflating the pad and rolling everything (bivy, pad and quilt) together, granted, if they are dry and you have the space for some extra bulk.
I’m a little puzzled about the bivy tents that have a ridgeline entry. If you put them under a tarp, how do you have the space to get in through the top? A side or front entry would be much easier, I think.
I purchased the Paria Mesh Bivy and was also concerned with the fact that it was top entry. I am just a few months shy of 70 yrs old and as about as flexible as piece of re-rod. However after using it many times even with my tarp pitched pretty low due to rain, I found that getting on my knees next to it and getting one leg in first, the rest just come naturally. Reverse at night for nature calls. Even with a front entry bivy tent, I would still have to crawl in. Without a tarp on nice nights there is no issue.
I like the amount of room this bivy provides and the fact that with the mesh I do not feel closed in, like with my OR Ascent bivy. Can’t beat the price either.
I’ve got a Borah Gear bivy. He put in a full length U-shaped zipper so that I have the best of both worlds, top entry and side entry. He was very personable and helpful and the mods I ordered were most reasonable in price.
If you are a side sleeper, active sleeper or have a thicker pad and are interested in the Borah bivy, I would highly recommend getting it in wide.
The Yama Mtn 1P Bug shelter you show is a little out of date FYI. I own the newest version and it’s fantastic!
It’s always out of stock anyways.