Today Winona, Minnesota based Enlightened Equipment released an interesting new ultralight and highly compressible bug bivy bag called the Recon Bivy…

Posted by Logan Watts

The all new Enlightened Equipments Recon Bivy is a particularly interesting shelter solution designed to protect you from splashes, ground moisture, and things that crawl around in the night. It stood out to us as an excellent addition to a simple tarp for solo bikepacking or ultra racing… especially when you want to keep mosquitos and other insects at bay. The Recon Bivy has a bathtub floor made with 15D waterproof silnylon in order to keep the interior dry when sleeping on wet ground. The shell is constructed of 10D nylon and mesh, which keeps it breathable and allows you to still see the world around you. The design of the door seems simple and smart; a center zipper runs the length of the mesh window, which allows you to sit up to exit the bivy. A shock cord suspends the mesh, to give you more headroom too.

  • Enlightened Equipment Recon Bivy
  • Enlightened Equipment Recon Bivy

Enlightened Equipment Recon Bivy

  • Enlightened Equipment Recon Bivy
  • Enlightened Equipment Recon Bivy

The Enlightened Equipment Recon Bivy is made at their facility in Minnesota and is available in a rainbow of color options. It packs down to around 6″ x 4″ x 4″ in the included stuff sack, according to their website. The Recon Bivy comes in two sizes: Regular, which fits users up to 6’ tall with a girth up to 56”; and Long/Wide, which fits folks up to 6’6″ tall with a girth up to 62”. Both sizes can fit a sleeping pad up to 77″ x 25″ x 2.5″. Find Recon Bivy specs and link below.

  • Weight: 6.35oz (180 grams)
  • Packed size: 6″ x 4″ x 4″ (15x10x10cm)
  • Price: $140
  • Place of manufacture: Minnesota, USA
  • Contact: EnlightenedEquipment.com

Enlightened Equipment Recon Bivy

  • wingo

    Looks pretty cool, well worth a look. I would like to see you look at the As Tucas Millaris Bivy Sack which is a similar weight and price but offers a bit more weather protection. Love those Schoeller fabrics. Actually I would like to see a number of the As Tucas products reviewed……… But I know, so many products, so little time!

  • Interesting, I’ll check it out. I’ve never been a fan of bivys (or tarps). The thing that attracted me to the Recon was the fact that it could make a simple pole-less tarp possible for folks who don’t like to be exposed to bugs and such; and when the weather’s nice, it’s kind of like sleeping outside with just a bug net. But I’ll give the As Tucas products a look…

  • Matthew Liggett

    This is an interesting product. It makes me wonder how much more I can stretch my existing 1p tent. Right now, I take it (Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1) sans fly when I only want bug protection. What if I also left the pole at home and tried to string it to a tree? I’m not going to hit 6½ oz, but for $0 I can get to 15 oz without the pole.

    Thanks!

  • Tim Jessop

    Seems like a rain fly of some sort would come in handy as most of the top is mesh only.. It rains at times you don’t expect.. I think I’ll keep my tent..

  • Greg Hardy

    I like this idea. i have a fly creek from BA and Im going to give this a try…

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