Backseat Bivy Original Backseat Bivy
Make the most of your vehicle's space with the Original Backseat Bivy—it spans the width of your car and bridges the gap between the front seats and folded-down rear seats so you can sleep easy.
- 48 in. wide hammock spans the width of your car and bridges the awkward gap between the seats to maximize sleeping space
- Constructed from 600-denier polyester and collapsible tent poles
- Secures to the front seat headrests via length-adjustable straps
- Securely clicks onto the rear-seat safety hooks to keep you in the same position all night long—gone are the times when you wake up with your face lower than your feet
- Works in a wide variety of SUVs, cars and wagons by attaching to front headrests and rear-seat child safety hooks or equivalent hook-in points
- Daisy chain of loops across the base allows you to move the rear straps according to your vehicle layout
- Includes carry bag and easily stows in your vehicle glove box
- Carry bag dimensions: 3 x 10.5 in. when compressed
- Backed by a manufacturer's 2-year warranty; see the Backseat Bivy website for details
Imported.
View all Backseat Bivy Pad Accessories| Best Use | Camping |
|---|---|
| Material(s) | 600-denier 72T recycled polyester fabric/high-grade nylon webbing |
| Dimensions | 48 x 24 inches |
| Weight | 2 lbs. 3.2 oz. |
| Sustainability | Contains recycled materials |
Review this Product
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Most Helpful Critical Review
Customer Images
The car camping essential that I knew I needed!
Previously I have used a blanket, or used my docks car seat cover to block the dreaded pillow eating crevasse, or I have resorted to stuffing my gear down. Neither are very practical. This is the perfect solution, keeps pillows and other sleep items from falling between driver seat and the back platform. Allows me to still put gear underneath. I was a little worried about the second pole support digging in, but I don't notice it at all. The two poles are super sturdy and add lots of support. The hooks are adjustable in width so if you switch from vehicle to vehicle or had a car with weird child seat attachments you can line the straps up. This feels like excellent workmanship. Subtle branding and great stitching and seams. I think this wis last me many years to come. Overall great quality genius idea to replace my previously Macgyvered car camping sleep system.
Solid addition to car camping gear!
This was an interesting addition to my car camping gear. I usually sleep in my car when I'm too lazy to set up a tent, and the Backseat Bivy let me have a little more leg room when doing that. Set up was pretty straight forward, though I didn't fully realize that the proper way to set it up was to loop around the front headrests and loosen the straps so that the bivy is flush with the folded-down seat backs (so don't refer to these photos as reference!). I have a Subaru Forester and the size was perfect. Break down was also straightforward. The bivy comes with a stuff sack so that if you, like me, treat the back of your car as a storage shed, you can pack it up and throw it in the back for the next camping adventure.
Easy to use, comfortable, and convenient
I used the backseat bivy to camp overnight with my dog in June. The bivy was easy to set up and store away, takes up very little space in it's bag. The poles used to give the bivy structure are great quality and the straps and clips used for securing the bivy to the seats also feel like good quality as there was no slipping or loosening once I set it up. It's more comfortable to use the bivy than to just arrange things in the back seat + trunk area because I get the full length of the back seat+trunk area. It solves the issues I've had arranging my pillow around the folded down headrests, losing the pillow in between the folded down seats and the front seats, and gives me room to scoot all the way up so I can avoid having to arrange myself around the wheel well of the trunk. I will definitely use this again; it's unlikely I'll ever not bring it for any trip. I spent the afternoon reading on it, which was really comfortable and then had no problems sleeping on it overnight. Usually the aforementioned arranging and rearranging wakes me up in the middle of the night. My dog also liked laying on it long-ways when I wasn't using it. Very happy overall.
Good for Mission-Oriented Overnights
The initial set up for the Backseat Bivy was super easy; I was happy to see the poles were made of aluminum and not fiberglass, and it took just a couple seconds to get the bivy ready to get set up in the car. The velcro closures over the poles were also a good addition that I would not have thought of. The actual set up on the car took some time, but at the same time the adjust-ability means that it should work for a wide range of vehicle types. After set up, I realized that the Bivy isn't good just for sleeping, but it also acts as a convenient organizer for stashing things like boots and extra clothes in the space behind the front seats (organization has always been a major issue for me when sleeping in the car). All in all, I don't think that this would ever be a substitute on a camping trip where a tent would be preferred, but it's great for something like getting to a trailhead the night before a backpacking trip or getting to a trail race the night before. My Crosstrek was on the smaller side of what vehicle this would work for, but there was still plenty of space to stash a camp chair and cooler in the back and a duffel bag under the Bivy. I have a mountain bike race a couple hours away from me in a few weeks, and this will be a really good option for a simple overnight at the trail the night before the race.
Get a few more inches of space car camping
This is essentially a hammock for your head and shoulders to allow you to camp in the back of your suv without being too cramped. Took a little trial and error to get set up the first time, but then super easy after that. Used in my 2018 Toyota RAV4 and extended the usable sleeping space enough for me to fit comfortably (I'm 5'11" for reference). Would recommend a sleeping pad/air mattress, otherwise the cross pole will be digging into your back.
Great for car camping!
I'm really glad I tried out this product because it worked great! Fits well inside of my Saturn Vue and made it so there wasn't huge gaps between where I was sleeping and the front seats of my car, which was always one of my issues camping in this specific vehicle. I would highly recommend this product for anyone who goes car camping and wants some extra space in their car for sleeping.
A great backup option!
I think that this is a great option to keep in your vehicle for a backup sleeping situation or even to really help long road trips far more comfortable. I would absolutely prefer a tent or hammock. But having a backup, weatherproof option that lets you fully utilize your vehicle, this is worth considering. I’ve used it in vehicles it’s intended for which is SUV seats, but I also have it set up in my trucks backseat to increase the comfort level of sleeping in the backseat and it definitely improves the situation. Will this ever be my first option? No Am I going to keep it in my truck for a backup? Absolutely Bottom line, it takes up very little space and gives a great last minute sleeping situation better.
Built well, but does it work for you?
The Pros: The product itself seems well made, using seemingly durable materials, with a well-thought-out design. The tent poles are slim but feel sturdy relative to their size. The same is true for the hook and loop closures and fabric. The clip for the anchor points in the car is also quite nice. Strong, metal but with a flexible closure. The Cons: It’s a niche product. You’ve got to make sure this suites your car and makes sense for your travel plans. Depending on the price, this seems like too specialized a product for most campers. Theoretically, you could think of other ways to use this if needs arise, but the versatility for this product isn’t there either. It has one intended use — and while it nails it — that’s it. Who’s it for?: This is for someone who regularly sleeps in their car for camping (or otherwise) and loathes that awkward space when your seats are folded. Again, you’ve got to make sure your car has that awkward space before purchasing, otherwise this product does very little to help you stay comfortable while packing it in. The breakdown: 5/5 for material and build 1/5 for versatility 4/5 for intended application It’s nice, but buyer beware.
Makes car camping comfortable!
My partner got me a Backseat Bivy for Christmas. I've been car camping for years, stuffing bags between the seats, jimmying other contractions together to fill the void between the front and rear seat on many climbing trips. All those makeshift solutions work but I was always uncomfortable. The bivy works seamlessly in my 2010 Subaru Forester, and I was surprised how easy it was to set up and attach to the back of the rear folded seat. The tent poles easily slide into the fabric and really create a solid platform, and the straps easily adjust so I can lay completely flat. Great common sense car camping solution that is well made!
Trail head hotel room
I love my backseat bivy. I use it for trail head camping quite a bit. It's also nice to use when you are chilling at the Crag parking lot waiting for your partner to arrive. It's a great way to save money on hotels on weekend trips. Just bring a foamy, your favorite pillow and a cozy blanket and you'll sleep great. I highly recommend getting some eye covers and earplugs to throw in with your bivy. It's way easier than trying to cover all your windows.