Paria Outdoor Products Breeze Mesh Bivy - Ultralight One Person Mesh Shelter - Perfect for Backpacking and Thru-Hikes

Only got to use this once so far but really liked it. I've been looking for something bivy-like for bug protection that still had plenty of room, and this is the perfect form-factor for me. Plenty long and wide enough for me at a broad 6'2" 220lbs, laying on a 26"x76"x2" mat comfortably with some extra gear space at the head, feet and sides. Tossed and turned fine without hitting the walls at all, even when stomach sleeping. I didn't feel claustrophobic and the top netting was far enough away from the face or shoulders when side sleeping.Setup was quick, and got a perfectly taught ridgeline after adjusting my poles' height. I didn't bother to stake out the loops at the top of the bathtub floor, so the sides sagged a little, but I wanted more breeze anyway. I did have trouble with the linelocs slipping (the line seems a bit thin for the locs, possibly user error) but I just wound up using a taughtline hitch on the stake side instead. Getting in through the opening was a little tight with a taught pitch but it worked fine. It was actually nicer to just step in and sit down as opposed to crawling in and turning around as I'm used to in other tents.I used it without a tarp, though; I am curious how difficult it would be to get in it under a low A-frame tarp pitch. I was worried the bathtub would be too high and block the all the breeze (since I bought this for NE USA summers), but that was not the case and it seems like it would be plenty high enough to prevent rain splashing in. It's not ultra-light but for the price it's hard to beat and seems well made. I used it without a footprint and will likely continue to do so without concern. It was very nice to be able to see pretty much all around me without tent walls obscuring the scenery. I'm very happy about the purchase and I really look forward to using it again. It will be taking the place of my 1 man tent (an older REI Quarter Dome 1 which was neither long or wide enough for me) for most 3 season backpacking; this bivy has much more floorspace inside, and aside from not being able to sit up it was overall more comfortable and versatile.My only gripes are the linelocs, and lack of any kind of mesh pocket inside. I wished before I got it that there was an option to get the head and foot as all mesh instead of a full closed material panel, and still kind of do, tho the panels may prove useful.

It weighs nearly nothing and packs down to almost nothing.In warm weather I can fit my tarp, bivy, ground tarp, static v pad, top quilt, 3.0 liter reservoir, cook kit, food, and some extra clothes in a 24 liter day pack.That is awesome.I'm small so it has plenty of room for my pack and I like how you access it.I usually camp where there are trees so needing poles isn't an issue. I haven't tried that setup but I like the idea of having this if camping some balds or open area.

I cannot say I am impressed with this product because there was an improper stitch on one of the corner guy outs and a big mess of thread in the mesh part of the bivy. Additionally the line-loks at the ridgeline are not sized properly for the line they include. They will slip during the night dropping the mesh on your face and allowing you to be bitten unless you throw a half hitch on there prior to bunking for the night.For the price though it is difficult to complain. Paria wants less than half the asking price of higher end products like those from Enlightened Equiptment and MLD. I have used this a couple of times now and the set up is nice and simple. It breathes very well and I never had any condensation inside and I was not bitten once while using it. Paring it with a good tarp will make sure that you are able to handle almost all 3 season weather. This Bivy plus a tarp will make for an inexpensive and versatile lightish weight backpacking shelter.

I already have 2 Paria products (Breeze Tent and 8X10 tarp) both products are first class. I wanted to add a Bivy to my gear. After some research I decided the Breeze Bivy was the way to go. I did not want to slide into a bivy and the ridge line entry of the Breeze looked like an easy way to enter, and it is! Getting in and out is snap, even under a tarp. I like that if you want to sit up you just unzip the zipper on the ridge line, which goes about 3/4 the way of the bivy, and take care of business. The bivy weighed in at just under a pound on my scale. And it packs down very small. This bivy definitely works for me and I'm sure it will for you too. Another quality product from Paria!

The only problem with this bivvy is getting in while under a tarp. This is easily overcome by raising the tarp up a little higher or setting the tarp as a bit of a lean to or putting a bit of slack on the tarp lines.But just like stepping in to a canoe, it's easy to learn and is only problematic in the beginning.The bathtub is nice and deep. Extra tie outs that I rarely use but are nice to have. All in all a great little lightweight tent.(almost too large to be called a bivvy)

i really like the extra space in this bivy. granted you gain a little weight due to the size, but its a worthy tradeoff compared with most other comparable bivys on the market, and half the price. i would consider this a 1 man mesh tent more than a bivy. once you go top entry, you will never go front entry ever again. this just makes so much more sence than trying to worm your way into a small space. drop the front, unzip and jump in. its that simple. i guess side zip could work good as well, but front? no way.do yourself a favor and forego the provided lines for the ridgeline linelocs. 1.5mm is just too small and they will slip unless you taught line hitch them. instead, go with some 2mm line instead, and they wont slip at all.i have paired this with a hammock tarp with doors, and its surprisingly roomy. the top loading slit allows you to sit fully upright if the bugs arent out in full rage. didnt know if i would like a bivy type tent, but i was pleasantly surprised that i really liked this style of camping. does exactly what it was designed to do.