What do you do if you want to sleep under the stars, yet be protected from nature’s biting bugs that can ruin your night’s sleep? The answer is easy: just turn to Big Agnes’s Three Wire Mesh Bivy. This one-person shelter allows you to get a restful night’s sleep while enjoying a gentle breeze and no irritating insects. With masses of mosquitoes and ample woodlands down here in Florida, I had the perfect opportunity to test this bivy’s durability, protective properties, and ease-of-setup.
The Big Agnes Three Wire Mesh Bivy
Surprisingly Ultra-Compact
Upon opening the shipping box of the Bivy, I instantly said to myself, this can’t be right, it’s too small. I believed the wrong item was shipped, or that only part of the product was sent. But no, it was all there, but ultra-compact. The Three Wire Mesh Bivy contained a pull-string stuff sack, which is useful for easy carry. The unit’s dimensions were 14 by 4 inches in size, with a weight of only thirteen ounces.
I pulled out all the components to be sure nothing was missing. The polyester mesh, nylon floor coating, tent stakes, and flexible rods were all present. This bivy would definitely not be a burden to carry in a pack. If needed, it could even be stuffed inside a pocket.
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Materials and Construction
Lightweight and compact are good traits, but to stand up to the power of Mother Nature, it needs to be tough, and the Bivy doesn’t disappoint. Its floor base is constructed of Nylon ripstop material with 1200mm polyurethane coating. It offers waterproof seams thanks to solvent-free polyurethane tape.
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Polyester mesh creates the bivy’s canopy. With my hands into the material, I could feel the strength of both the seams and the fabrics. The Three Wire Mesh Bivy didn’t have any material frayed, offset, or that gave way under my steady tugging of the material.
I specifically made sure to test the mesh. The slightest tear or loosening at the seam can cause irritating insects to get inside. This would definitely make your attempt to sleep a true nightmare. The bivy exhibited no flaws in this area, and I was confident in its overall outdoor durability.
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Ease of Assembly
No matter how simple a bivy or tent may seem to set up, you should always practice before setting foot in the outdoors. After laying out all the components, I first assembled the support pole. Simple “locking” in of the rods to create the longer shaft was fast and easy.
Next, I fed the pole through the sleeve at the head section of the bivy. I easily bent the poles and inserted them into their assigned pole pockets. This created the headspace within the bivy. So far, so good.
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Finally, I used the included stakes to secure the head and lower foot area of the bivy, and thenthe assembly was complete. I would estimate the entire process took less than ten minutes. With practice, I could cut that time in half, and when you’re tired from the day, a quick set-up of shelter is an absolute must.
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Feelings When Inside
The key to any outdoor temporary shelter is that it has to give you a feeling of protection and comfort for a great night’s sleep. I was about to determine if the Three Wire Bivy accomplished this. A side-located zipper was the entry point into the bivy, and conveniently, it opened nearly half of the length of the unit. This made entering it simple and without any hangups.
At eighty-three inches in total length, I had ample space for my seventy-two-inch-long frame. Additionally, with twenty inches of headspace, there was no claustrophobic feeling for me. Fourteen inches of height at its base kept the lower half of my body snug without feeling constrained in any way.
The true joy of this bivy was the full mesh overhead material. The fine material kept insects out while allowing the nightly breeze to circulate within.
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This is a Must-Have for Minimalists
To be honest, this Bivy is not for everyone. Many people may enjoy a more protective, heavy-duty temporary shelter when outdoors. However, a bigger unit also entails a larger, heavier, and more cumbersome carry.
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The Three Wire Bivy is designed for the minimalist who wants a shelter a few stages above sleeping on the bare ground. This bivy keeps out creepy crawlies, allows excellent air circulation, and best of all, packs down to a very manageable size for easy carry.
A price tag of under two hundred dollars only adds to this item’s amazing amenities. The Three Wire Bivy is the perfect shelter for those wanting to rest comfortably while still staying well in tune with nature.
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