User Review: Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy

Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy
Above: The current Advanced Bivy, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed July 23, 1999 by Bob

Rating:
Design: Bivvy Bag
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: 9 on a scale of 1 to 10
Weight: 2 lbs.
Price Paid: $220

I borrowed an OR Advanced Bivy from a friend for two separate trips. The first trip was an eye opener. I thought the bag was not so easy to set up: the poles are not shock corded, I didn't know which pole went where, and the bug screen wasn't zipped in.

After I figured out the poles and bug screen, I shimmied into the bag, and spent the night waking up to find the "clamshell" opening had fully closed, leaving me without some fresh air getting in the bag.

The second use was easier as far as set up, but again, the opening kept closing up, leaving me with no fresh air.

In short-I don't like the design because the top keeps closing up on me, and I didn't care to shimmy down into the sack every time I had to get up after drinking too much tea before going to sleep.

I'm glad I didn't buy the OR. I like the design of the Integral Designs bivy bags--zipper on the side, opening above the head instead of at the end of the bag.