Bivy Sacks

Recent Bivy Sack Reviews

DIY: 6'x9’ Footprint Tarp Bivy

Figured out how to rig a 6x9' footprint into a water resistant, ventilated, and flying insect-resistant tarp bivy using hiking pole, tent pegs, a little para cord, and a light mesh. 6x9’ Tarp Bivy I used this groundcloth for bivouacking on nights before me and my buddies hiked the next morning. First time there was a lonely fly that kept buzzing around my head unless I pulled it over me reducing ventilation. The second time no fly buzzing, but I was soaked from the condensation, including my sleeping… Full review

Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy

Why this bivy? I wanted to replace my three-season, two-man tent with something smaller and lighter, without sacrificing what I need to enjoy my trips. If you want rugged, solid performance in a bivy, this one is awesome. If you want ultralight minimalism, at the expense of strength, quality, and features, grab a plastic garbage sack and hit the trail. Important to consider if/why you'd want a bivy sack. These are not tents, with vestibules and room to organize and ample headroom to sit up and change… Full review

Outdoor Research Helium Bivy

Great for dry conditions, not great when it rains. I recently took up bikepacking and due to space limitations purchased the Helium bivy. This bivy checked all of the boxes—lightweight, compact, hoop to keep it off of my face. What this bivy lacks is waterproofness. The first time I used it a friend joined me with her brand new Helium bivy on a bikepack. It rained on and off for about an hour and I had little puddles of water up by my head. I thought it was just from water leaking in because I… Full review

MSR E-Bivy

Very light and compact, easy to pack all the time for unexpected overnight stays in the boonies. Well made, durable, watertight—too watertight, actually; the top is not breathable, which means potentially lots of condensation inside the bag. I have always used a tent, a hammock, or slept directly under the stars in pleasant weather. I recently experimented with a tarp, complemented with this light e-bivy by MSR, and enjoy that combo for summer and shoulder seasons, even here in the Pacific NorthWet. Full review

Outdoor Research Interstellar Bivy

The Outdoor Research Interstellar Bivy is a four-season packable, lightweight bivy that utilizes OR’s highly successful AscentShell to boast incredible breathability, even in the clammiest of situations, while remaining waterproof. At only 23 ounces (with the option to leave the pole at home and go even lighter, around 19 ounces for the bivy alone), and packing to roughly the same size as your one-litre Nalgene it is a great option for fast and light, UL, or trips where camp space may be minimal. Full review

Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy

This is my first bivy sac. I wanted to try one for its compact size and as a backcountry shelter. After much research I settled on the OR Alpine Bivy. I used it recently for a two-night outing and so far I’m very pleased. I would recommend taking the time to stake it down. Earlier this fall I slept in the Alpine Bivy for two consecutive nights on the Atlantic Coast in Newfoundland. The first evening was beautiful, about 5deg Celsius. I slept with the cover open and watched the stars through the… Full review

Outdoor Research Helium Bivy

Needing to minimize backpack weight is no reason to miss out on overnight winter adventures. A quality bivy will do the job nicely, without adding significantly to a backpack burden. Shelter can be important, especially in winter. The breathable, water-resistant OR Helium Bivy includes a bug net for summer, generous headroom (secured by a nested carbon-fiber hoop), and five points of suspension to secure it against high winds if you need to exit during the night. Accumulating outside snow can be… Full review

Outdoor Research Helium Bivy

Spacious lightweight bivy, waterproof, and breathable with minimal condensation issues. I have spent almost two weeks in the Outdoor Research Helium Bivy and found it to be pretty acceptable for my use. I bought it from Massdrop for $148.07, and when received, tried it out on my back lawn without turning off the early morning sprinklers. I slept comfortably all night and did not get wet from the sprinklers, which were on for 20 minutes.  More recently, I took the bivy on an almost two-week trip… Full review

Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy

Great bivy sack! I own the OR Advanced Bivy, which I purchased at REI in 2003. I LOVE it!  It came with me on a four-week backpack of the Hotsprings Trail in Central Idaho (Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness). On this trip, I used it inside the REI Quarter Dome for a few more degrees of temperature warmth, and rolled the whole shebang up (plain blue foam sleep pad, 0 degree bag, bivy), and strapped it to the bottom of the pack inside a black plastic bag. It really helped keep this girl… Full review