We’ve been using Huntech fly’s. Huntech calls them “Two Man Bivvy” but as I mentioned it’s usually easy enough to get three people under them, unless they’re extra big people I guess. There’s a helpful trick which involves clipping the tension strap between the two ends of the pole to a different place from what’s suggested, and that makes it a little wider at the expense of a small amount of height.

They’re a fairly basic open-ended tent fly, which weighs about 1.2 kg (from memory) so it’s not overkill if you’re just after shelter for below the bush-line. The tramping club loans them out to members but a lot of us have our own ones. If you have a walking pole you can use it to prop up one end, but it’s not really necessary if there’s a handy tree-branch to tie it to.

Specifications are available on Huntech’s website.

Huntech is based in Upper Hutt and they sell them for $275 each, but there’s a place in Carterton that’ll post you one via mail order for $252.

It’s probably not worth bothering with the Bivvy Floor. I bought one for an extra $32 to see what it was like, but I’ve never used it because it’s quite heavy and I think you’re usually better off with your own groundsheet.

You’ll probably also want to buy at least 5 decent pegs if you don’t already have some. The pegs they supply with the fly are hopeless. I think I destroyed or lost 3 of mine the first time I put it up in the wind, but I didn’t really buy it for the pegs so that was okay.

If you want to take a look at one then flick me an email and I’ll loan you mine. I don’t think I’m going to need it for at least a couple of weeks.