These are very well built shelters and are IMO a great shelter option for solo use- although doable for 2. Made by a great company that is really producing some nice structures.
I used one last fall on a couple weekend bivy hunts. Here is a couple pics shown set up for solo use. I just used sticks for the front and rear set up points. ( as shown in pic- no shortage of sticks where I was hunting). I am not much of a trekking pole type of guy. Not opposed to them- but never have used them really. I have used some cut on site sticks for packing meat on steep grades though.
Shown in pick is a Terra Nova Bivi Tarp Nest inside the shelter. For reference it is 30" wide. Brought it because I thought the 'skeeters would be bad, and I was sure glad to have it, because they were.
Wanted to try out this shelter and I liked the shelter quite a bit. But in the end, I made the decision to sell it and keep using my Integral Design George tarp that I have used for 12+ years. The "George Tarp" is real similar is shape and size to the BCS, and I believe was some of the inspiration for it (the BCS).
So, I am in agreement with the statement in this quote:
I asked Kevin about this a while back. I've already got a BCS, and he told me if it were him he'd just take the BCS for the extra room instead of buying the breakaway as well.
I thought the same thing before I put my BAT (as Big W called it above) up for sale. I really mulled over the pros and cons of each, and although there are not many cons for each- there are some differences. Not shown in my pics above is a 5 oz. "fly" type sheet (Actually a BA Fly Creek ground sheet) that I was going to use as a front vestibule if the projected thunderstorms came in, and started blowing in sideways on me on my trip. They did not, but I still carried that weight for some added protection and very possibly would have been happy to have had it if they had.
I thought about my future shelter options after the fall trips and thought if I am going to carry an extra 5 oz protection, or even get a S.O. BAT vestibule ( which weighs 5-6 oz) then I am then up to the weight of my ID George tarp. My George tarp weighs in and 21-22 oz. for just the fly sheet weight- about what the BAT and some sort of vestibule weigh.
I set up both in my yard and really compared the ease of set up, the usable space, and other factors. For me the tipi type set up of the George tarp won out. It is about 7' ft tall and very easy to move around in- compared to the BAT. It is a palace for 1 and very comfy for 2 and the weight would be a wash for the 2 structures. Plus I really like the stand up and head room of the tipi type structures. And for me the set up of them is much easier and more intuitive. Although the BAT was very nice structure- I decided to keep what I was use to and more comfortable and secure in. But if I did not have what I had I would buy one of the BAT shelters again.
Also for another reference in size-and another tipi type set up that I like a lot is my Golite 3 SL that weighs in at 24 oz. and has 60 sg. ft. of space. It does not feel quite as roomy as the George Tarp and it weighs 2 oz. more; but I felt that it too has a lot more usable room compared to the BAT.
With all that said, I too am anxiously waiting to see final specs and info for the little Bug out shelter. That little bad boy may just be too tempting to pass up for me. Plus it weighs less and would do away of me needing to carry a separate nest inside my tipi structures when the conditions call for it.
Just my 2 cents and possibly what it is worth.