Wow, that's small!
My aching back really appreciates the Recon Bivvy. It packs tiny and weighs less than the tarp that's hoisted above it. I hope the Recon will help this old-timer keep up with the boy scouts on the AP this April.
I bought the tall/wide custom version, and I'm completely satisfied with its roominess. The fabric is thin and strong. But, I've decided to use a footprint, just in case.
I like the mesh on top that controls condensation and gives me a closer connection to the outdoors. But, it was a little too chilly in November in NH.
Like the quilts, the quality and craftsmanship from Enlighten is superb. They underpromise and over deliver... especially on shipping custom products.
Best Bivy
Recon review
I’ve only managed a few nights in the Recon Bivy but it has become a game changer for my tarp setup’s.
Ventilation. I haven’t had any condensation in the bivy, (welcome change from less well ventilated bivy sacks).
1. Interior liveability. Yes, it's a small bivy, but there's plenty of room for me, my sleeping pad, clothing and any other equipment you want to keep from the elements. It can be tucked in the foot or along the sides of your pad in the bivy. Mind you, I use a thicker pad and pillow, so I only have about an inch or two of headroom when the bivy was zipped up. You'd have more if you used a thinner pad and pillow.
2. Packed size and weight! The Recon packs to the size of an orange, and the reg/reg weighs 7oz with the stuff sack.
3. Easy to get in and out! More bivvies’ need a long central zipper. It's easy to get in and out and load my pad and Revelation APEX quilt in through the opening. The zipper doesn't snag the way a bivy with a U-shaped zipper can and opens and closes with ease.
4. The solid panels help keep the wind out. There were some cool breezes where I was using it, and I barely noticed them when I was in the Recon. It's obviously not going to be as warm as a dedicated winter bivy, but they are prone to condensation.
Cons:
1. The floor is slippery. This is a given with silnylon. If you're using it on an incline or decline, your pad will slide. I was on a bit of an incline, and I had to reposition my pad a few times throughout the night. You'll want to select your site carefully and ensure its flat enough.
2. If you can call this a con, the floor is very thin, and you'll want a groundsheet. I've gotten a lot of flak for this, but I always use one.
In Conclusion:
I really, really like this bivy. It's an excellent addition to my setup. This is what I would consider to be the perfect ultralight bivy. If you like solo tarp camping, and this may very well be the bivy for you. It'd also be great as a standalone shelter on a clear night and gives you a great view of the stars and wildlife.
Awsome
I'm normally a tent guy. This bivy has all the pluses of a tent and no negative. Packs as small as my first. But im totally enclosed. Used my handle bars to lash it up in front. Enough space to put my clothes next to me when i slept. And Im 6'3" 230lbs . No moisture build up. Highly recommend. Worth the price. My first trip with this was the stagecoach 400. So it had a good test
I like it.
The biggest appeal for me for this product is the zipper. I had another bivy that required you to shimmy into an opening messing up your sleeping pad and bag. The second biggest appeal was the mesh upper. I've found the full on water proof bivy's keep moisture out but also keep it in. The open design allows the system to breath and kept me comfortable. My first use was in the snow with a low around 15F and a hi around 40. With a tarp over top similar to the video on the website and some other gear I was more than comfortable. If you're a big guy or gal ibr commend the larger size. A little more comfortable with no size different in terms of packing it up. That's the other great part. There is no folding, finicking, or fussing getting this to pack. It could fit in a jacket pocket if you wanted. The reason I gave it four stars is just because it's not water proof. Otherwise it's absolutely fantastic.
great for quick overnighters, but thats it.
I love trying out new shelter systems and decided to give this Bivy a try. The Recon packs super small (about the size of a tennis ball). I find that there's no good way to get rid of condensation, and Bivies are notorious for creating a lot of it. The Recon is better than most, but cant escape it. I woke up on an early fall morning with a really damp bag. And 4 stakes for a bivy is a lot when you consider stakes for the tarp aswell.
I do like it for a quick overnighter by the river to keep the bugs out on a clear night where no tarp is needed. (I attach tieouts to branches).
XLong Review for PNW Climate
Just received my "custom" XLong XWide Recon Bivy in Navy. It came in about 2 weeks from order date. I set it up after several days of heavy rain in 48'F day north of Seattle (February) for a test. I use a 8x10' flat tarp, 32'F bag, Xframe pad with a 1/8" closed cell underpad (instead of ground sheet), and a bug head net. My challenges in the past are shifting while sleeping, such that my sleeping bag is 8" outside of the tarp by morning, and there is often drizzle, rain or heavy fog that wets the bag. I also find that my sleeping system is only good to 45'F due to the lack of tent, sleeping cold, and I worry about condensation inside over my down bag, if I reduce tarp venting because of heavier rains.
Challenges I needed to address: I am 5'10" woman and I roll around a lot. I imagined a bag for splash protection, cut drafts and increase my sleep temp rating as 45'F is fairly common in summer here. I dislike sleeping with a little bug head net that touches my face. I have had a small animal charge at my head at 2am while sleeping (not fun). Originally I was thinking about buying an overbag and mosquito netting. This bivy is so much lighter and cheaper.
This bivy seems great during my 2 hour test, with tarp, in rain. I will try it with the raccoons in my yard tonight. Still need to try it on a trip.
What I like -- the xlong is great, I can tie it off a bit higher (because there is extra length) and have more water proofing of the base later come higher up my head area. Therefore, I can keep the opening higher on my tarp even when it rains as this protects my bag and me. There is approx 15" above my head when the bug net is zipped, but it touches my bag at mid chest (needs a third tether to keep it off my chest), so I would prefer to leave it open if bugs are low. The foot box is great protection and the drafts are gone, except where I have it open. Good ventilation, when zipped, though. Lots of room wide and tall for me, and I could flip over / side roll easily inside of it. Easy to get in / out with my right side bag zipper (lots of room).
Yep, recommended.... just note that there really isn't open space above your chest when zipped, the bug net "tent" area is over your shoulders and head area.. unless you rig up a means to lift the bivy in the middle, maybe if you have a very tall attachment point it would be better.
Great product
I love this product and it came exactly as was advertised but when using it I found there could be some adjustments for more usability. First, the corners did not stay up with the little piece that came with the product so I just found stick to keep it up every time but I think it would be better to take these off completely, maybe save weight. Next, the bungee that kept the mesh off of my face was very stretchy and could be better if it didn't stretch out so much. Lastly, I don't usually say this on reviews but this product does not seem to be worth $150 i think it should be $100 at most for what you are getting, which is basically a nylon and mesh bag. Overall this does what it is intended to do but I think it could be made better.
Does what it's intended to!
I recently purchased a Recon for a bikepacking and backpacking trip and overall it is high-quality and does the job at keeping the bugs away. I love the packed size and negligible weight as it disappears on into my pack. My one wish is that the peak was a bit higher to keep the mesh off your face.
Recon Bivy
I love this! I have been using it for 2 weeks now out on the PCT. I have been using it alone as well as with an MLD solomid. With the pyramid tarp, I did need to add a line which I attach to a zipper pull one end and the center of the tarp the other. This keeps the netting off my face - the clips on the solomid don't quite align the bivy netting correctly (I think with a flat or cat cut tarp, maybe even a bigger mid tarp, this wouldn't be an issues). Pitched without the solomid, 0 issues with net in face, tons of room for me and a few bed time items like water bottles, headlamps, etc. I am 5'4", and purchased size regular. Love the visibility, draft blocking, and easy in and out!
Recon Bivy
I've used the Recon bivy on several trips (~11 nights total) in the backcountry of Montana. I use a floorless pyramid style tent and I wanted some bug and moisture protection. Using a NeoAir pad, and EE Enigma quilt, I have plenty of wiggle room inside the Recon (size R). It keeps the bugs and moisture from below out. I use a polycro ground sheet underneath to protect the Recon's bottom from any sharp objects. Getting in and out of the bivy is at first a little awkward, but you get used to it quickly. The shock-cord overhead clip does not clip conveniently over my head, but it still works fine clipped off to the side. I really like the Recon bivy for UL bug and water protection.
RECON
What a great piece of gear, super light weight and very small. Easy to pitch and take down and pack. I use it on weekend trips where I'm going as light as possible. Small/light enough that I take it on multi-day trips with my tent and use when I don't want to be bothered with tent set-up.
The Recon Bivy
I just used my new Recon bivy on an 8-day backpack into the Sabrina Basin in the High Sierra. My tarp is an MLD Duomid, and I needed some bug protection for this late snow year. I slipped my Thermrest NeoAir Xlite pad, my Exped UL pillow and my EE Revelation quilt into the Recon and still had plenty of room in the regular sized Recon, with zero condensation issues. It kept the bugs at bay and protected my quilt from the condensation on the inside of the Duomid. I did add a polycro ground sheet under the Recon to protect the bottom from the sharp granite gravels we were camping on. The long centerline zipper was awesome, making getting in and out of the bivy a breeze. The overhead clip on my pryamid tarp wasn't in an ideal position for the shock cord (wrong angle), but it did keep the netting up off my face a bit. All in all, very pleased with this new piece of kit!
My First Bivy
I purchased the recon, trying to lighten my usual heavier net tent (+ tarp) shelter. I chose the wide one so I could have some kind of living space (imagine) or still have room to store things in it. I'm 5'9 and 160 pounds and It is perfect, I even feel that the regular would have been ok . Used it recently on 60 miles of the IAT. Didn't noticed any water on it (tarp) so cannot say for the waterproof, condensation was not an issue for me and it even kept really small bugs away (had hundreds of tiny tiny of them, no see ums or smaller on the Recon one night and none entered). I liked the elastic cord to keep the net out of my skin but added one the other side (feet) tied to the EE label so I could sleep naked and being sure no bug would get to my skin through the net... made myself the lightest net tent ever. It's no 3oz spartan bivy but it's either the roomiest comphy breathable bivy (still on the light side, 7oz) or the lightest net tent ever (for a shelter with tarp and guylines still under a pound). I like it.
Recon
I purchased the Regular/Regular size Recon in the color forest. I use a 5x9 flat tarp for hiking, and I was looking for something that would keep bugs off of me. I also wanted a bit of rain protection, so the bathtub floor was a large reason for my purchase. I tested the Recon out last night, and so far I think it's great! I really like the shock cord and cord lock. I attached the clip to one of the loops at the end of the tarp, and it was easy to tighten the cord while inside the bivy. Something to keep in mind: there is a nice amount of breathing room, but the bivy does add warmth. It was a hot night last night, and I ended up pushing my quilt to the bottom. I'm excited to use the Recon on my next camping trip!
