Thinking about the Cabelas Outback Lodge 8x8 tent paired with a Kifaru paratarp for shorter/bivy trips.

Just cant afford the Kifaru Sawtooth as much as I would like to.

Never used a bivy setup, any help would be greatly appreciated!

The lodge tent would be in a hunt close to the trailhead (where I could drive) situation.

I used an 8x8 lodge last time I hunted Nevada for 6 days, it worked well, no problems at all. Stood up well to the little bit of wind and rain we got. Since then I bought a pop-up so if you are interested, I would sell it to you a lot less than a new one costs.

Pm sent.

Any pictures of the tent by chance?

no, no pics unless you want to see the bag its stored in?

If your going to do a bivy type shelter I much prefer a TarpTent.  Weight gain is minimal but you get the floor and bug netting. I adore my contrail for such situations.

Afraid I don't know anything about the outback lodge.

The Out Back is hard to beat, I have had the 8X8, and the 12X12, up in some of the best wind, rain, and snow, Ennis, and Livingston, Montana have to offer with no problems!
Once in Livingston, got the tent staked out, unzipped the door to put up the center pole, and the wind stood the tent up for me, inflated it like a balloon!  
Thanks,

The paratarp is not only good when you spike out, it is so light and packs so small that you could take it with you all the time just in case you get caught up  in some bad weather, you'll always have protection from the elements. The next size up I am considering is a Super tarp with the anex, little bit bigger, can fit two with gear, I already have a Sawtooth but it's a little to big for one person packing in, but for two, it's the cats meow !

Sorry can't help with any advice on the other tent.

I would love to get one of those Sawtooth tipis, just well out of my budget at this point, and I would rather have something to use rather than wait for another year or so and have to keep camping out of my truck!

How does the paratarp work as a bivy?

I've never used one before, and I would just use my trekking poles to keep it up, just wondering if it offers any protection from the rain/wind if I were to stay in it overnight?

As far as if it can go all the way down to the ground?

Sorry, I meant to write, if spiking out, corrected !