12 Best Bivy Sacks in 2018

How We Chose Our Selection of Bivy Sacks

Culling the right bivy sack can puzzle even the most experienced mountaineers. It’s not  a backpacking tent but needs to have some of the tent’s features. It’s not a sleeping bag but needs to be as comfortable as one. Luckily, we did the hard work for you and chose according to the following criteria.

Quality

Only the highest quality bivy sack can provide a reliable sleeping arrangement in all conditions. Among the objective criteria that define the quality of this shelter, there is the integrity of the construction and durability of the material, its breathability and impermeability, comfort to use and portability.

Price

Assessing what is a fair price for a bivy sack is a tricky thing. A low-budget shelter may compromise on some features but still be great to use in dry weather. Likewise, an expensive bag can promise the moon but still fail to provide adequate protection. All bivy sacks that have made it to this list hold out an excellent value for money balance.

Features To Look For In Bivy Sacks

Material

A bivy sack’s material is perhaps the most important feature to look for unless you don’t want to wake up all soaked in condensation. The most popular fabrics are:

• GORE-TEX - the most popular material used in the manufacture of camping gear and equipment. It consists of multiple layers of laminate fabric with droplet-sized pores that ward off condensation while waterproofing the outer membrane. The material is also windproofed and breathable.
• ToddTex - is a proprietary fabric very similar to GORE-TEX but better. This material developed by Bibler tents is also fireproofed and perfect to use near a bonfire in a cooler night.
• Pertex - an innovative fabric that uses capillary action to keep your shelter dry. The fabric consists of a layer of larger filaments that absorb moisture and push it towards the exterior where smaller fibers promote evaporation.

Besides these three popular options, the market offers a host of bivy sacks made of other high-quality materials including Silnylon, eVent, and Sympatex.

Size

A compact bivy sack can make you feel like a pioneer ready to conquer the world on a calm, blissful night but if the storm happens to strike, that feeling of awe can easily vanish into the wind. In such circumstances, the protection of a domed roof over your head may provide a better sensory separation between yourself and the elements even if you’re sleeping in an extremely confined shelter.

Consider your hiking habits before deciding on a mummy-style design or a roomier domed bivy.

Weight

Portability is a vague concept to define. Ten pounds are featherweight when you don’t have to carry them on your shoulders but they can easily transform into a burden when packed into your hiking bag. Luckily, bivy sacks have been created for minimalism. There are plenty of quality options that weigh 15 ounces or under. Heavy-duty models designed for extreme weather may reach hefts up to 40 ounces, but only a few bivy sacks exceed this threshold.

Compressibility

Alongside weight and size, you must also consider how compact the bivy compresses. If you’re the adventurer type who hikes with nothing but his backpack, a mummy style bivy could be your best bet. Compressing more or less as a lightweight sleeping bag, it occupies a very little space in your baggage.

Domed bivies also compress compactly but the ground pegs, guy ropes, and various accessories add up to the bulk.

Warmth

If you’re setting the bonfire before getting off to sleep on the warm summer months, your bivy’s heat management system may be of no concern. Yet, if you’re aiming for year-round protection, you should choose a shelter designed for all conditions and weathers. Heavy-duty all-year models act as a protective membrane that can boost your sleeping sack’s temperature resistance with up to 10°F.

Comfort

The comfort of a bivy sack is a questionable matter. Are you a military accustomed to sleeping in swamps and under the clear sky? Then a bivy will feel like a 5-star luxury quarter. Do you need a thick air mattress, a cushioned pad, and fluffy blankets to feel some degree of enjoyment when sleeping outdoors? Maybe you’re better off with a tent.

Now, you needn’t despair. Most bivies are roomy enough to accommodate you in a sleeping bag plus a camping pad but don’t expect square-feet of space to wiggle around.

Waterproofness

While the material of your bivy has to be breathable to promote condensation, it must also prevent outside moisture from getting in. DuraShield-coated floors are the contenders but you should also make sure all seams and zipper areas are fabric-sealed against leaks.

Weatherproofness

A galeproof shelter can keep you sleeping happily no matter what the weather throws at you. Besides waterproofness, make sure the material is windproof and breathable. Ventilation panels are a must in the warmer months.

Durability

The best bivy sacks are those that last years’ worth of camping. The quality of the material assesses the durability but you should also check the sturdiness of the stitches, zippers, and seams.

Features

Besides the aforementioned factors, a great bivy sack should also have:

• Insect protection: keeps crawling creatures away from your sleeping area and lets you enjoy the breeze on the warmer nights without tasting a bug or two.
• Interior pocket: bivy sacks are typically too minimalist to accommodate anything else than the occupant. But if you want to keep your valuables close, an interior pocket may come in handy.
• Compression sack: to keep your bivy contained when not in use.
• Factory-sealed seams: because they are 100% waterproof. DIYers, you might want to hold back on this unless you’re eager to sleep in a flooded bivy.
• Straps: let you secure your sleeping pad in place, improving the camping experience.

Bivy Sack FAQs

Q: What Is A Bivy Sack?

A: A bivy - or bivouac sack on its full name - is a one-person minimalist tent replacement. It was invented to serve climbers as a sleeping bag weatherproof shell despite the first models being only a little more than waterproof.

Today’s bivies are evolved versions of the primordial concept that incorporate multiple features designed to increase comfort and to provide all-weather protection.

A modern bivy consists of a 2-tier construction with a durable, waterproof and breathable top usually made of laminate materials like GORE-TEX and a bottom tier made of ripstop nylon coated with an impermeable layer of urethane - the same material used for the tent floors.

The mummy style bivies bring few changes to the original design but are equipped with zippers and mesh ventilation systems that allow mountaineers to camp comfortably all year round. If you’re happy with carrying an extra pound but crave for wiggling space, a bivy shelter comes with an expanded headspace and roomier  shoulder and leg areas.

Q: When Do I Choose A Bivy Sack Instead Of A Tent?

A: Bivy bags are less comfortable than a full-size tent, so why in the name of the Lord should you invest in one? Well, if you’re a passionate climber looking to conquer the highest summits, a lightweight and compact bivy takes off some of the burdens and helps you climb faster. It’s also faster to set up, faster to dismantle and pairs well with all-terrain instances, even when you want to camp on the Grand Canyon’s rockiest plateau.

A bivy bag can also be your best companion on longer outings that last several days by providing a minimalist shelter that can effectively protect you from weather and elements.

Q: How Do I Prevent Condensation Inside My Bivy Sack?

A: The best bivy sacks on the market come with mesh ventilation panels designed to reduce condensation while breathable fabrics help disperse any retained moisture. The best way to reduce condensation inside your sleeping area is by keeping the ventilation panels open. In instances when it rains, manually venting a zipper or flap also helps reduce condensation.

Q: How Do I Wash My Bivy Sack?

A: Outdoor expeditions are fun and exciting but they won’t make you smell of roses. Sweat and stinky feet odors are, in fact, much more associated with the adventurers than the fresh smell of the blooms. When your bivy gets soaked into emanations and dirt, it’s time to wash it.

Most bivies are made of machine washable fabrics. Just unzip the bag and bring the slider halfway up to prevent it from coming off during the cycle. Wash with mild detergent and warm water, following the indications on the product’s label. Double rinse to remove all traces of detergent.

Line dry or tumble dry your sleeping gear on a gentle cycle to prevent damaging the fabric or the shelter’s structure.