Product Description  
Lightweight waterproof bivy
Features (per manufacturer)
- Season: 4-season
- Weight: regular 15 oz (0.43 kg), long 17 oz (0.48 kg)
- Dimensions: regular 82" x 31" (208 x 79 cm), long (223 x 79 cm)
- Fabric: REI Elements ripstop nylon laminate (waterproof breathable)
- Packed size: 6" x 10"
- Six zippers for configuring various arm/head openings
- Sleeping bag clip to prevent your bag from scooting around
Pros/ConsAdvantages
- Lightweight
- Waterproof breathable
- Mesh bug panel
- Price (<$100)
Disadvantages
- As with many waterproof breathable fabrics, condensation may be an issue (some REI reviewers noted lack of breathability)
- No waterproof flap option for the mesh bug panel area
- No tent pole for your head area
Fossana's Biased ViewThis was a last minute purchase for me for a Whitney E Buttress trip and I was limited to instock items at the Santa Monica REI. It was the lightest weight bivy they had. I thought that I would feel claustrophobic, but it was fine. I tend to be on the cold side when I sleep and if it's warm enough (and relatively mosquito free) I wouldn't bother to sleep in the bivy, so I'm not overly worried about the condensation issue. So far no complaints. Images |
Reviews
| Rob Ricks | It is what it is.... | | 
Voted 3/5 | This is about as basic as it gets. I bought this because of the price and my expectation for use on Summer climbs in the NW. It works just fine. A flap for the head aperture would be a great addition for foul weather. I use this with a BetaMid tarp, so that's not too much of an issue. As a stand-alone bivy I would prefer a little more protection from precipitation. | | Posted Apr 8, 2008 4:52 pm |
| Tsuyoshi | agreed... it is what it is... | | 
Voted 4/5 | if you end up getting this bivy, you can't expect it to live up to sacks that are three times the price. but at the same time, i find it to be worth much more than the price i paid ($14 at the REI garage sale).
like the review above, it would be nice to have something to cover the face opening, but i've found my rain shell to work just fine. i've endured hard cascade rainstorms in this thing and not a drop got in. since the whole face area is open, i've never had a problem with condensation unless used in the winter with my rain shell sealing off any opening... and the condensation then was minimal. one night i didn't have my rain shell (it was a bad trip to forget it) to cover my face so i rolled onto my stomach to sleep, again, not a drop got in.
at 15 ounces it's not the lightest bivy but it's definitely not the heaviest.
i use it mostly as an emergency shelter during summer. if i think weather is going to come in i usually lug around my OR alpine bivy which is bombproof but heavy.
if you're on a budget and want to get something that will keep you dry enough, this is a great deal! or, if you tear up your gear quickly, this is cheap and sturdy! | | Posted Mar 4, 2009 6:23 am |
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