Yeah, thatÂ’s a good point. Three-season tents such as the otherwise excellent Marmot EOS 1 ($225; marmot.com) often have too much mesh to be good winter tents. But it does have a full-coverage fly, so that should help quite a bit. If youÂ’re camped on snow, for instance, you can heap some snow around the perimeter of the fly to form a better seal. That will prevent wind from blowing up between the fly and the tent body, bringing snow with it.
Outdoor Research MicroNight Bivy
MicroNight BivyCertainly, taking some sort of bivy bag or sleeping bag cover wouldnÂ’t hurt. But I wouldnÂ’t get a fully bivy bag; itÂ’s too heavy and expensive. Outdoor Research (outdoorresearch.com) makes just the right thing: the MicroNight Bivy. ItÂ’s made with Pertex Endurance fabric, which is very light, breathable, and water repellent. ItÂ’ll nicely shake off any snowflakes that find their way into your tent. Cost is $119, and weight is less than 20 ounces. REI (rei.com) also makes a no-frills bivy, called the Minimalist Bivy. ItÂ’s made from REI Elements, a proprietary waterproof-breathable material, so it would offer a lot of moisture protection. Price is $89.
Myself, IÂ’d worry a bit more about temperature than moisture. ItÂ’s gonna be chilly in that well-ventilated EOS 1, particularly seeing as itÂ’s a solo tent so thereÂ’s no one else generating any body heat. IÂ’d pack an extra sleeping pad (a lightweight foam pad such as Cascade DesignÂ’s $35 Z-Lite is perfect). And certainly, use a sleeping bag with a rating that matches your anticipated low temperatures.
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