MC2 Mount Bivy Tent Version 2 Review: A Packable Three-Season Shelter

Introduction

MC2 Mount has introduced two new bivy tents, and the Bivy Tent version 2 is the second of the pair. It shares a family resemblance with its sibling but takes a different route: the earlier of the two uses a single-wall build and a rounded foot box, while this version is double wall and squares off both the head and the foot ends. The shape reads more like a large bivy than a small tent, and the first impressions are genuinely positive.

Packed for travel, the shelter measures about 16 inches by 5 inches and weighs 3.1 lb. That puts it in the range where it can be strapped to a bike frame, slipped into a motorcycle pannier, or pushed into the bottom of a pack without much thought. The supplied stuff sack carries two grab handles, two compression straps, and a zipper across the top.

Who This Bivy Tent Is For

This is a one-person, three-season shelter, which means it is aimed at the warmer months rather than deep winter. The interior is longer than most shelters in this class at 85 inches, just over 7 ft, so it will suit taller campers as long as they are under 7 ft. Peak height is roughly 34 inches and maximum width is about 40.5 inches, tapering toward both the head and the foot. In practice there is enough room for an extra wide sleeping pad plus a reasonable amount of gear. Bikepackers, motorcycle campers, and backpackers who count pack volume will get the most from it.

Main Strengths

Materials are a clear high point. The fly is made from 15 denier silicone treated nylon with a 3,000 mm hydrostatic head rating, a very high waterproof figure for a shelter at this level, and the pole and stakes are aluminium. Setup is simple: one pole, a straightforward pitch, and nothing that tends to trip people up.

The double-wall arrangement is the design feature that matters most. The inner is largely mesh for airflow and sits on a bathtub floor that pulls away from the fly, so moisture collecting on the inside of the fly stays away from the sleeping area. The pitch is also fly first, which means the inner can stay dry when the shelter goes up in the rain.

Practical details are well covered too. There are two vents, one on each side, a door with a storm flap over the zipper and two-way zippers, and the door rolls up to reveal useful vestibule space for a backpack or a stove. Inside, there is a mesh pocket, a second mesh pocket near the feet, and a hook at the top for hanging a headlamp or a small lantern.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Airflow is the main question. The fly reaches all the way to the ground, so once the shelter is sealed against weather, ventilation comes down to the two vents. Experienced campers know that vents alone move limited air, so condensation will build on the fly in some conditions. The separated inner is the mitigation here, and how well it works in the field is still to be confirmed.

Pitching takes a fair number of stakes. A minimum of eight is needed to get the shelter standing, and two more if the guy lines are used. The kit includes 13 stakes, a repair kit, one aluminium pole, and six lines in total, of which two are true guy lines and four are corner lines that attach to the shelter. The entrance is on the small side, and the tent comes in a single colour, a dark green.

Buying Advice

At around $110, this shelter sits well below what the specification would normally suggest. The closest familiar comparison is the Snugpak Ionosphere, which sells for roughly $300, uses materials that are not as good, and offers a much smaller interior. MC2 Mount’s previous bivy design was discontinued after a poor reception, and these two new shelters are a substantial step forward from it, both in construction and in usable space.

Waterproofing has not yet been verified in a full storm test, though the same brand’s tents have historically held up well in wet weather, and the 3,000 mm rating on this fly supports that expectation. For anyone who wants a compact, light, three-season shelter with a long interior and a modest price, this one deserves a close look.

Conclusion

The MC2 Mount Bivy Tent version 2 is a well-built, packable, one-person shelter that mixes double-wall protection with a footprint small enough to carry almost anywhere. Condensation management and real-world waterproofing are the two things worth watching, and both are reasonable questions rather than obvious weaknesses. At this price, the value case is strong.