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REI Minimalist Bivy Sack - Regular

Leave the heavy tent behind! With its waterproof, breathable design and meticulous details, the REI Minimalist Bivy sack is perfect for use in snow caves and as an ultralight shelter .
  • $99.50

Item # 794292

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  • 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

REI Minimalist Bivy Sack - Regular

Specification Description
Best use Backpacking
Seasons 4-season
Sleeping capacity 1-person
Weight 15 ounces
Weight - metric 0.43 kilograms
Packed size 6 x 10 inches
Bivy length 82 inches
Shoulder width 32 inches
Ultralight Yes
Trademarked terms REI Elements
Design type Bivy

REI Minimalist Bivy Sack - Regular

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Rated 3.4643/5 based on 56 reviews
Rated 1out of5
by fromnot breathable at all Just got back from a winter camping trip. Slept in a snow shelter. this thing doesn't breath at all. AT ALL. my sleepng bag was soaked in the morning. frost and ice on top. no way would I be able to sleep another night. total waste of money and false advertising.
Date published: 2011-02-12
Rated 1out of5
by frombad bivy i hate this sack of it is not waterproof if it is a tent it should be waterproof and plus the zipper snags
Date published: 2012-08-15
Rated 1out of5
by fromNot worth it Not all Gore-Tex is created equally. The fabric used in this product is NOT WATERPROOF. The material used is a cheap form of Gore-Tex that absorbs water like a paper towel and doesn't breathe well at all. I have used many bivy sacks before and this is far and away the worst one. I used this in rain, humid conditions, and bone dry desert conditions. Every time I have ever used it, I woke up with a soaking wet sleeping bag that needed to be dried in the sun to avoid mold issues. Do yourself a favor and spend the extra one or two hundred dollars for a Bivy sack made out of a quality breathable Gore-Tex. I recommend the Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy instead, but REI no longer carries it. Minor condensation is occasionally an issue with all bivy sacks, but the REI Minimalist bivy will always let you down with major condensation problems and will allow rain to soak into your sleeping bag. I threw my Minimalist Bivy away.
Date published: 2012-01-31
Rated 2out of5
by fromBuy the larger one First of all, buy the larger one. I bought this online and the specs said it had an 82in length. I haven't measured it but when I lay down in it, I fill the bag.. I'm 69 inches tall and 145lbs with a 30 inch waist.. And there's no hood btw, so if you're in the rain, you have to fold over the hood (one "clasp" included, should have had at least two or three). Then when you do that, you're really fitting in snug and you don't have any room. I've found that if you encounter rain, the best thing to do is clasp the "hood" and then roll the bivy on it's side, that way rain won't come in and you can breathe through the vent. It's actually pretty comfortable. There is some extra space on the sides of the bivy, maybe for your boots, a change of clothes for the morning, not much else. You're going to have to find something else for your bag/gear. Waterproofing is good, didn't notice any leaks. About the condensation thing, if you lay like I do, mouth facing the bug vent, the moisture from your breath will escape. To the people saying that their bags are soaked.. I'd wager your sleeping bag is rated too low for your conditions (remember the bivy adds extra warmth too) and you are probably sweating in your sleep. Try picking up a "woobie" aka wet weather poncho liner from your local military store and use it while laying on top of your opened bag). You'll sleep much better in warmer weather and you can use it to line your sleeping bag in colder weather. All in all the bivy is good for the money, but I would highly recommend going for the larger sack even if you're average or shorter height than me. The extra space/room will be worth it, believe me. if you have more money, invest in something better, but if you don't want to spend too much, get this one, it's worth it.
Date published: 2011-05-30
Rated 2out of5
by fromSoggy Sleeper I bought this specifically for use on small boat trips to the Channel Islands and some inaccessible coastal areas. It's wet out on the ocean primarily due to fog and overcast. I used it for one night and woke up covered in condensation on the outside (expected) and inside as well (hoped it wouldn't happen but it did). This is not the right product for the job.
Date published: 2011-07-18
Rated 2out of5
by fromWet Bag I bought this on a whim for my John Muir Trail trip. I was using a down bag and poncho/tarp setup so I wanted something in case a storm came and to add a little warmth in the mountains. The price of the bivy was good so I picked it up. This is the first bivy I've had and didn't know much about them. I figure the six zippers are for ventilation but seems a little excessive and they are quite large and heavy zippers. The bivy worked alright if I left it unzipped and only had my lower body covered. I didn't get quite as much condensation and it added some warmth. If I was very conscious and woke up to shed layers I could usually keep the condensation at bay. This was a pain to do though. the one time I zipped it up all the way because of bugs I woke up with a soaked bag and cold morning. Pretty bummed about this. Most of the time it was just a glorified ground tarp. Not sure how other bivys perform with condensation. Maybe this would be a good bivy with a synthetic bag. I will return the bivy though.
Date published: 2012-06-26
Rated 3out of5
by fromGood Bivy But Mesh Screen is a Pain If you are anything like me then your biggest concern about this bivy is the mesh hood. before I get into that, I want to say that otherwise it is a good bivy. I used this bivy on one night and it kept me dry except for a small amount of condensation on the top of my bag (which is expected when bivying) which I just let dry out while eating breakfast. The only problem with this bivy is the mesh hood. I covered it with a rain jacket when I got in and thought I would be fine. The problem was that the rain jacket kept slipping off when I moved in my sleep which exposed my head/bag to rain. For me, it is worth going and spending 50 or 60 dollars more on a bivy that can completely seal you off from the rain so your head and bag wont get wet. This was a good bivy but it is going back to REI. If you want to hassle with a rain coat in the middle of the night and don't want to spend the extra 50 or 60 dollars then know that besides this the bivy worked fine.
Date published: 2010-08-09
Rated 3out of5
by fromCheap but not great The minimalist is cheap, lightweight, waterproof, has a very nice netting and is very easy to open and close. HOWEVER, the material does not breathe well, every morning, you wake up all wet from the condensation of your body which makes it very uncomfortable since the droplets are freezing cold and your sleeping bag also gets wet as a result. Used it thrice, including a week long trip. I am deciding to return this item.
Date published: 2010-08-16

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