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DUSTY OLIVE

REI Minimalist Bivy - Long

$109.00

(19)

Item # 794291

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Leave the heavy tent behind! With its waterproof, breathable design and meticulous details, the long-length REI Minimalist Bivy sack is perfect for use in snow caves and as an ultralight shelter .

Breathable REI Elements® laminate adds waterproof, windproof qualities to the tough ripstop nylon shell; features a durable nylon taffeta floor and factory-sealed seams
6 zipper sliders let you configure mesh panel and arm openings a variety of ways
Differentiated zipper pulls (1 round and 1 flat) let you easily adjust hood and arm openings in the dark without confusion
Mesh bug panel extends from shoulders to top of head; can be rolled up and secured via toggle and loop when not in use
Internal sleeping bag attachment clips to the hang loop at the head of your sleeping bag to keep it from shifting around
Built-in rain-gutter flap below shoulders keeps dew and rain from rolling over mesh panel
Roomy configuration provides 64 in. girth at shoulders
Includes stuff sack

Imported.

Item 794291

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REI Minimalist Bivy - Long Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI Minimalist Bivy - Long

3.8

(based on 19 reviews)

76%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Lightweight (16)
Packs small (15)
Easy to set up (11)
Waterproof (10)
Comfortable (9)

Cons

Condensation (4)

Best Uses

Backpacking (13)
Hiking (7)
Mountaineering (6)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (13), Military/law enforcement (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (11)

Reviewed by 19 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Jun

2010

(115 of 126 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

works as advertised

By frustration incarnate

from western Oregon

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Packs Small
Sturdy
Waterproof

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

It takes a certain kind of person to enjoy sleeping in what is essentially a fancy plastic bag. However, if you're one of those kinds of people, then the REI Minimalist Bivy is pretty awesome. It kept me dry throughout a night of total rain, and was roomy enough to let me stash stuff like some extra warmth layers between the bivy and my sleeping bag. I'd buy the extra long one if they were the same price just so I could have some room at my feet to store stuff I didn't want to get wet.

The only thing I didn't like about it was the claustrophobic feeling that persisted for the first couple hours of use. If you get this then try to sleep on your porch in it for a night before you take it backpacking so you can get used to sleeping in it. After the first night using it I slept like a baby.

A word of caution: if you happen to fall asleep in it drunk while camping with your buddies, try to wake up before them: the mesh panel just begs to be farted into.

Jan

2010

(14 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Awesome

By Tangible Tyler

from San Diego, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Waterproof

Cons

Collects Condensation

Best Uses

Backpacking
Backyard

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

I must admit this is the first Bivy I've owned but I still love it.

Originally when looking into this product, I was concerned about the mesh cover and how useful it would be in the rain. I've yet to use it in heavy rain, but several times it's rained lightly and it's not been an issue. I usually just roll over so the mesh is face down (onto either a pad or rain jacket to avoid mud). I've also draped a rain jacket over the mesh, but I like to move around a lot while sleeping and it's hard for me to keep it covering the opening.

It does collect condensation although I've noticed significantly less condensation when I keep my face right next to the mesh or the flap open. It's usually not a problem though, I've used it for four nights straight and although my sleeping bag did get wet on the outside, I never felt it inside the sleeping bag.

I love going to sleep at night looking at the stars and waking up to the rising sun. This bivy keeps me as close to nature as possible, while still keeping me dry in the rain and protected from insects. I would have given it 5 stars, but I don't know how it stacks up compared to other bivy sacs.

Oct

2010

(11 of 18 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Like sleeping in a sauna

By sh1

from California, USA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Packs Small

Cons

Collects Condensation
Tight for tall people

Best Uses

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

The Minimalist Bivy is exactly the sort of simple sleeping bag cover that I like. I got it to replace a 30 year old Gore Tex product that finally delaminated. I took the Minimalist around the world, using it in conditions from tropical to subalpine. In all cases, it failed miserably - I woke up every morning with my sleeping bag soaked with condensation (frozen in some cases) that had accumulated inside the bivy. I used it in the tropics without a bag, and sweated profusely inside of it. Had to keep zipped up because of the bugs! I do not recommend this product at all.

Apr

2010

(8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great cover for your sleeping bag

By firedude13

from Charlotte, NC

About Me Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Packs Small

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

I was required to have a bivy sack for a sideline project. Most others have the military style 4 layer sleep system. With this, my Lumen, and a liner, I have the whole sleep system for a fraction of the size and weight. I leave all three together in a compression sack when hiking. Adds some warmth on those cold winter nights, mesh great for mosquitos. Can even be used without sleeping bag.

Aug

2010

(7 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Good...But dont get caught in a squall

By Chester Alan Arthur

from Hartford, CT

About Me Environmentalist, Outdoor Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Packs Small
Waterproof-ish

Cons

Mesh Window
Zipper Snags

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

I recently purchased this bivy for a 4 day Hike through CT. During the trip, rain was a common feature. We did not see an evening without rain, in fact. This created a problem for me because of the big, honkin' mesh window on the front of the bivy. A problem that was solved on the first few nights by carefully covering the face of the bivy with a rain jacket or other waterproof cover. On the last night though, things were different. Because it had gone the entire day without rain, and the clouds were appearing to move off, I neglected to cover the face of the bivy with any object and left it to go eat dinner with my sleeping bag, pad and "pillow" (it was a sweatshirt)already inside. The clouds then opened up and in the fifteen seconds it took to cover the bivy, a small lake had formed inside. Making for a very cold, wet, and uncomfortable night for me. So if you plan on buying this product, be aware that the mesh window means one has to be extra careful in your planning. Always assume that rain will come at some point in the night and always be ready to cover yourself if you dont want to deal with the wetness. Other than that issue though, the bivy is fine. What isn't made of mesh on it is definitely waterproof and it is brilliantly small and inexpensive. The zipper can be testy but I have never met a zipper that isn't at least some of the time.

Apr

2010

(5 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Twenty five year survivalist!

By Rubicon

from San Jose, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer, Guide fly fishteach kids

See all my reviews

Pros

Blends in with the woods
Comfortable
Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Packs Small
Sturdy
Waterproof

Cons

Too bad it's not camo

Best Uses

Backpacking
Fly Fishing
Hiking
Mountaineering

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

I have been a survivalist/outdoorsman for over 25years. As a kid I had a U.S Army canvas bivy, that I used everywhere! I am now passing down the knowledge. I have been searching for such a bivy for at least 10 years! The ability to snow camp or get caught in the rain due to fishing just a bit too long, and not have to pack the tent everywhere is worth it's weight in gold! So awesome! This is a very valuable piece of equipment to add to your survival bag!

Mar

2010

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Delivers as promised

By Geoff in Germany

from Stuttgart, Germany

About Me Avid Adventurer, Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Packs Small
Sturdy
Waterproof

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Mountaineering

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

Ordered this in February 2010. Its first use came while snow shelter camping in Kandersteg, Switzerland. I can honestly say it worked as intended. Kept my sleeping bag dry and me comfortable in -14C weather.

Looking forward to using this summer with my lightweight sleeping bag.

Mar

2011

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Pretty nice

By stubborn burro

from San Jose, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Setup
Lightweight
Packs Small
Sturdy
Waterproof

Cons

Too Cramped

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

I'm 6'4" 220 lbs. and find the girth a bit constrictive.

The net piece separated from the body at my forehead in the backcountry once. REI repaired it for free and I have used it probably three dozen nights with no issues.

I carry a cheapo blue tarp which I support with trekking poles and guy lines.

My feet stick out from under the tarp but I have never had a hint of moisture getting through. One night on the south approach to Muir Pass it got so windy and rainy I was half expecting to lift-off. All sorts of water blew-in under my tarp and smacked the bivy from all angles but I was snug as that bug you read about.

Another time I slept in a hard freeze, waking to a nice crust of frost on the bivy from my sweat migrating through the material. I think it works perfectly.

My sleeping bag's hood holds the screen off my face-invaluable when Sierra Nevada mosquitoes swarm. They have no chance.

Important to select a bed site with good drainage.

Worth every nickel to me. It's a fraction of the weight of any tent.

Nov

2010

(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Good Bivy

By BryanC

from Modesto. CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Set Up
Lightweight
Packs Small
Waterproof

Cons

Too Cramped
Zipper Snags

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking
Mountaineering

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

Used this Bivy on my first trip out backpacking with a group of myself and three friends. Went to Kennedy Lake, CA in the middle of October where It rained on us pretty good on the second night but this Bivvy remained waterproof during the whole ordeal. We had stretched out a little tarp between some trees and put our heads under it so that the rain didn't go thru the mesh, If we hadnt im certain that my nice dry bivy would have become a cold wet water balloon due to the mesh face panel. In a pinch I suppose you could just roll over and face down though. Im a pretty big guy at about 6'5" 260lbs and even though this is a large bivvy It was a little on the cramped side and was hard to maneuvor my arms around inside to work the zippers on it and my bag but I managed

Feb

2011

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Awesome!!!

By Snow Bum Ski Patroller

from Middle of Nowhere, NY

About Me Avid Adventurer, Military/Law Enforcement, Professional/Guide, Search and Rescue Tech, Ski Patroller

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Setup
Lightweight
Packs Small
Sturdy
Waterproof

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking
Mountaineering
Search And Rescue

Comments about REI Minimalist Bivy - Long:

Recently used this bivy at a Ski Patrol event, slept up top woke up in the morning and was warm dry, packed and ready to teach my classes and travel about the mountain. Right up there with the high-priced bivys, after reading some review I have to say Folks: BIVYS GET WET ITS CONDENSATION!!! Get up open it and let it air out in the morning theres not a reason to bash this. Personally I would prefer a small stuff sack however I have to carry a lot of excess gear, for a normal trip it wouldn't even be a problem.