Whereas there are numerous methods to hunt shelter within the nice outdoor, a bivy sack (extra formally referred to as a “bivouac sack”) is among the most sensible choices. Light-weight, compact and straightforward to arrange and pack away, bivies are the last word place to sleep on fast out of doors overnights. You’ll be extremely cozy within the mummy like physique whereas being shielded from rain and snow in addition to any creepy crawlies on the bottom subsequent to you.
Preserve studying to find why you completely want a bivy sack and 5 of the perfect bivy sacks obtainable as we speak!
Our Picks for Greatest Bivy Sacks 2025
Bivy Sacks: Comparability Desk
What’s a Bivy Sack and Why Do You Want One?
A bivy sack is a light-weight tent various you could carry with you on hikes, backpacking journeys, or any type of out of doors in a single day the place you’ll want shelter. If you’re prepared for relaxation, merely pull out the bivy sack, stick your sleeping bag in it, and voila! You’re now shielded from pests, chilly and Mom Nature’s wrath.
Tents are superior, however bivies are even higher, particularly for solo vacationers trying to shed as a lot weight from their pack as doable. They’re nice for adventuring within the backcountry by your self or taking lengthy distance bike journeys with undetermined returns.
Bivies are nice in case of emergency as they’ll defend you from the weather and chilly, and ideally suited for minimalists who don’t want all of the bells and whistles that include a tent. Bivies have probably the best arrange on the planet. Overlook the times of fumbling with poles and latches, attempting to get your tent to face when all you need is sleep!
Lastly, bivies are the perfect for all of the star lovers like me, as you may go to sleep trying to find constellations as a substitute of observing a material roof.
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Sorts of Bivy Sacks
There are three essential varieties of bivy sacks that you just’ll come throughout in your seek for one which’s good for you. Right here’s a fast lowdown on every kind.
4-Season Bivy Sacks
4-season bivies can be utilized year-round and are extra much like tents than simply a typical sack.
This type of bivy typically comes with poles or stakes to create extra room round your head, and is manufactured from robust and sturdy supplies. 4-season bivies are typically essentially the most weatherproof by design and can be utilized in a variety of circumstances.
The one draw back to four-season bivy sacks is that they are typically a lot heavier than minimalist choices.
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, you’ve acquired your ultralight bivies that are designed with minimalism in thoughts. These bivies don’t have any poles however are as a substitute ultralight and packable. They’re nice to have with you in case you want an emergency shelter.
Bug Web Bivy Sacks
Lastly, you’ve acquired your bivies to guard you from bugs.
Any such sack additionally tends to be light-weight and is sweet for utilizing throughout honest, dry climate. These bivies will hold the bugs out with the built-in internet, however don’t defend a lot in relation to climate.
Tips on how to Select a Bivy Sack
As a result of a bivy qualifies as a wilderness shelter, there are some prime concerns to remember when selecting a bivy sack that’s best for you.
Climate Resistance
With regards to bivies, climate resistance is a should. Even should you’re planning to make use of it in dry circumstances, Mom Nature is notoriously unpredictable and also you by no means know when a midnight downpour will strike.
Even when it’s not raining or snowing for the time being, you might discover that the bottom you determine to sleep on is moist. With out weatherproofing, you’ve acquired a soggy sleeping bag from the moisture seeping via.
Weatherproofing additionally helps insulate a sleeping bag which will be nice for winter tenting, but additionally detrimental in relation to condensation. As a result of the weatherproofing retains water out, the material additionally has a tough time letting the air that’s contained in the bag out. This results in moisture forming within the sack.
Bivies which have excessive breathability are higher in relation to condensation however they gained’t defend you from the weather as properly. That is the trade-off in relation to extremely weatherproof baggage and is one thing to remember when weighing your choices.
Weight
Apart from defending you from the weather, bivy sacks are perfect for shedding weight in your pack. Like all different out of doors gear, bivies are available all completely different weights. Your selection will rely on what you’ll be utilizing them for.
Should you go for a four-season bivy, you may anticipate that it’s going to be a bit heavier than should you go for an ultralight shell. You must also understand that bivy sacks with poles add extra weight than these which merely unroll.
Air flow
Some of the necessary elements of a bivy is that it’s well-ventilated. It might already be a bit uncomfortable to be restricted in motion whereas inside your bivy sack so the very last thing you need is condensation inside as properly.
Select a bivy you could unzip with ease whenever you want air. It must also have correct air flow in direction of your head in order that air can escape as simply as new air will be let in.
You’ll discover that bug internet bivies are likely to have the perfect air flow as there’s a mesh panel over your face, whereas four-season bivies can get slightly bit stuffy.
It additionally helps in case your bivy has a pole or will be staked out to provide you extra space round your head which will increase airflow. Plus, nobody likes to sleep with a chunk of cloth on their face.
Measurement (Unrolled and Packed)
With regards to bivy sacks, dimension can imply two issues.
For starters, it may be the scale of the sack when it’s unrolled. Is it lengthy sufficient to suit your physique? Extensive sufficient in your sleeping bag to suit inside as properly? Is there a foot field or does it taper out on the finish? These are all issues to search for in relation to the scale of the sack.
However, dimension may also discuss with how huge the bivy is when it’s packed up. That is an especially necessary consideration as a result of the packed dimension will decide how a lot house it should take up in your backpack.
Should you’re attempting to make extra room in your bag, you’re going to wish to have a look at the pack dimension to be sure that it’s certainly as compact as you want it to be.
Poles
As talked about, bivies are available many sizes and shapes. In some instances, they’re primarily a sheet of waterproof materials that will get wrapped round your sleeping bag so you may sleep with out the worry of rain. However, much less minimalist designs create extra of a cocoon for tenting in chilly climate and harsher circumstances.
The latter kind of bivy sack typically makes use of poles or hoops which create a mini tent-like ambiance contained in the sack. They offer you some extra cupboard space and room to maneuver round, in addition to the power to shed water and snow with ease.
The draw back? They’re a lot heavier and costlier as properly.
This determination completely is determined by what you propose to make use of your bivy sack for. Should you’re on the lookout for a extra everlasting tent various, you might wish to go for one thing with poles. However in order for you a bivy that’s for fast, rare journeys, a poleless one will most likely serve you simply wonderful.
Consolation
Lastly, you’re going to wish to choose a bivy sack that’s as comfy as doable. Whereas it will not be the Ritz, the correct bivy can certain really feel plush and comfortable, particularly after an extended day of adventuring.
Consolation can imply just a few various things, however the important thing issues to remember are safety from bugs, an honest quantity of wiggle room as soon as inside, ease of arrange and packability, and at last something additional that makes the bivy particular like pockets, straps or hidden compartments.
Greatest Bivy Sacks 2025
Listed below are evaluations of finest 5 bivy sacks in the marketplace proper now. Every has some loopy cool upsides, with some difficult downsides as properly. Preserve studying to search out one which’s finest for you!
Out of doors Analysis Alpine
Greatest Bivy Sack for Chilly Climate Tenting
Professionals: Nice for intense climate | Weatherproof however breathable | Hooped pole | Mosquito internet | Sleeping bag straps & mesh pockets
Cons: Heavy | Could also be too heat for milder climate
Probably the greatest bivy sacks for excessive climate circumstances, the Out of doors Analysis Alpine will hold you heat and dry it doesn’t matter what’s happening exterior.
This bivy comes full with 3-layer GORE-TEX respiration-positive material. Which means it retains the rain and snow out with out trapping condensation inside — complete win! The ground can be crafted from hydroseal-coated waterproof material to make sure nothing seeps inside, irrespective of how moist the bottom is.
The seams on this bivy are absolutely taped so nothing can be getting inside with out your information. The overhead hooped pole makes for a roomy and cozy evening’s sleep.
This bivy is superior as a result of it’s spacious, comes with a mosquito internet and storm flap, and even has straps in your sleeping pad and mesh pockets inside in your valuables! Coming in at 30 ounces, that is ideally suited for carrying on any journey.
Simply take into accout, that it could be slightly heat for milder climates.
Out of doors Analysis Bug
Greatest Bivy Sack for Heat Climate Tenting
Professionals: Hooped pole at head for additional room | Waterproof ground | Light-weight
Cons: Can solely be utilized in heat, dry climate
Should you like the concept of the Alpine however are on the lookout for one thing for heat, dry climate, the Bug Bivy actually does the trick.
Primarily a large mosquito internet to place your sleeping bag inside, you’ll actually get a superb evening’s sleep figuring out all of the creepy crawlies are staying far-off from you. The ground of this bivy remains to be hydroseal-coated waterproof nylon so that you gained’t have to fret about getting moist from the bottom up. However understand that this bivy ought to solely be utilized in dry circumstances!
The hooped pole close to the highest of the bivy sack is nice for offering some additional house whereas inside. The sleeping pad straps be sure that nothing wiggles round whilst you attempt to catch some shuteye.
This bivy is about half the load of the Alpine however remains to be crafted from the identical sturdy supplies so that you’ll positively be capable to stash it in your pack with ease. You’ll discover this bivy is exceptionally straightforward to arrange and pack away, however you might find yourself being fairly chilly should you use it in chilly, moist climate.
Black Diamond Highlight Bivy
Most Comfy Bivy Sack
Professionals: Roomy | Mesh and material cowl | Single pole
Cons: Costly | Heavy
A high-tech bivy that may really feel (and look) very similar to a tent whenever you’re inside, the Black Diamond Highlight is nice for longer wilderness excursions. There are tons of added advantages to this bivy sack that make it outstandingly comfy and comfortable to make use of.
First, this bag is manufactured from waterproof, seam-taped ToddTex materials, aka it’s loopy waterproof and sturdy so that you gained’t have to fret about leaks or seepage whereas in use.
The bivy additionally makes use of a single pole to maximise headroom with out including a ton of additional weight. When inside, you’ll don’t have any downside respiratory comfortably as air flow is plentiful. Plus, there have been no sacrifices made between waterproofing and breathability.
Probably the greatest components about this bivy is that there’s a big mesh panel on the highest of the bag that you just’re capable of fully zip over you. When the outer layer of cloth is unzipped with the mesh nonetheless up, you’ll be shielded from mosquitoes whereas nonetheless having the ability to see the evening sky. Does it get any higher than that?
Nevertheless, understand that this sack is actually on the pricer aspect and is a bit heavy as properly.
Learn Extra: Final Information to the Greatest Light-weight Sleeping Luggage [UPDATED for 2025!]
Sierra Designs Backcountry
Greatest Funds Bivy Sack
Professionals: Good worth | Light-weight | Versatile | Mesh internet over face
Cons: Much less sturdy | No pole so material rests on face | Could run quick
An excellent fairly priced bivy that will get the job performed, this feature is light-weight and versatile, making it good for any type of journey you’re headed to.
Weighing solely 14 ounces and manufactured from ripstop nylon, this Sierra Designs bivy sack is the proper light-weight companion to slot in your pack. It packs right down to solely 3 x 10 inches however nonetheless has all the primary options of a top-of-the-line bivy.
This sack is totally waterproof whereas nonetheless being breathable sufficient to let condensation escape whilst you’re inside. There’s additionally a bug internet possibility that lets you pull mesh over your face (whereas sleeping on hotter nights) to let air in and hold mosquitoes out.
Nevertheless, there are just a few downsides that include this bivy sack.
First, there’s no pole on this bivy. That is nice for weight however signifies that there’s going to be material in your face whilst you sleep. It’s additionally much less sturdy than different bivy choices at a better worth. Lastly, it’s on the shorter aspect, so make sure you pay additional shut consideration to the measurements earlier than buying!
Rab Alpine
Greatest Minimalist Bivy Sack
Professionals: Extremely minimalist | Loopy sturdy | Tremendous heat
Cons: No pole | On the slim aspect | Solely actually good for winter
For all you minimalist campers, the Rab Alpine is a loopy strong possibility for top-notch shelter in chilly circumstances.
This mummy-looking bag is manufactured from light-weight 3-layer eVent material. This implies it’s nice for unpredictable climate like rain or snow, however will nonetheless permit condensation to flee.
The ground of the bivy sack is crafted from sturdy, waterproof supplies so that you gained’t have to fret about it snagging on a stray department or rock whereas in use. And whereas this bivy is exceptionally heat and nice for winter, it’s nonetheless light-weight, packable, and straightforward to tackle any journey.
The one draw back to this sack, in addition to the truth that it’s finest for chilly climate somewhat than all-year, is that interior house is critically restricted when inside. Since there’s no pole or hoop, there’s not a whole lot of room close to the pinnacle. Plus, the slim physique could make you’re feeling claustrophobic when you’re all zipped up.
Are you now satisfied that bivies are a necessary piece of drugs that each one out of doors lovers ought to personal? Significantly, having one in all these is a whole recreation changer. Mountain climbing and tenting with out the ache of lugging a heavy tent round? Rely me in.
What sort of bivy do you want finest? Extra high-tech or are you a complete minimalist? Drop a remark under to tell us and within the meantime, glad tenting!
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