Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy Sack
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The Outdoor Research Advanced bivy sack offers full-on weather protection and has a commodious design featuring a generous footprint for those who prefer a little more wiggle room .
Shop similar products- 2 shockcorded Delrin® poles allow the bivy to open in several different positions from wide open to awning style
- 3-layer Gore-Tex® Respiration Positive™ laminate fabric was created just for sleep systems—it's both vapor- and gas-permeable
- Durable and waterproof Hydroseal® coated nylon floor; fully taped seams ensure waterproof protection
- Removable, tightly woven no-see-um mesh provides lightweight, chemical-free bug protection that doesn't interfere with visibility; height is 20 in.
- End-opening zipper with a wide storm flap allows easy entry and exit without sacrificing waterproofness
- High-volume foot section with zippered vent allows sleeping bag to maintain full loft for optimal warmth around feet; height is 14.5 in.
- Footprint is sized to fit thick sleeping pads for increased comfort
- Straps keep your sleeping pad in place, preventing the bivy from rolling over during sleep
- Small mesh pocket holds nighttime essentials
- 5 stake loops and 3 guyline loops provide ample anchor points
- Includes Delrin poles and stuff sack
- Shoulder girth is 52 in.
Imported.
View all Outdoor Research Bivy Sacks| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 4-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
| Weight | 2 lbs. 7 oz. |
| Packed Size | 4 x 15.5 inches |
| Bivy Length | 87 inches |
| Shoulder Width | 26 inches |
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I've used this bivy for 15 years.
I've slept in this bivy on the beach in GA through gale force wind and rain and stayed dry in a down bag. Because I have it I can bring a down bag in a high moisture environment. The two together weigh less and pack smaller than any synthetic bag of comparable thermal rating. I've used it in AK as an emergency shelter when the big tent is in someone else's kayak, and in the low mountains with a tarp in winter when I just can't carry a tent. It even gets me by when the bugs are really bad, and when bugs and rain are not an issue, it lets me see the stars like no tent ever does.
Cozy
I used the previous version of this product for aprox 8 years and it is just now showing signs of needing replacement. It has really been a great way to go for me. Added a layer of warmth and allowed me to carry light sleeping bag above treeline where I prowl, and made a great skeeter and ant free good night's sleep when down in the forest. Has kept the rain out and for me, breathes nicely and has never been too clammy even when warm out. Just throw the bag off part way and dream on. The poles do a nice job keeping the bug screen or flap off my face. It does however require a little patience to set up, but I really feel it worked well for me everytime I used it, and I can lay back and read comfortably or rollover and write in my journal.
Reliable and "everything-proof."
This bivy holds up to everything. Keeps out rain, snow, cold, and bugs perfectly. It's really good at keeping in heat, but the tent-like arch gives enough space to breath comfortably while inside. I use a pretty small pack (38L) which fits into the top of this bivy perfectly, so I can keep my gear dry inside. Only issue is the hood. The solid layer supposed to kind of "lock" into position so that the net allows for maximum ventilation, but the hood constantly slips off and falls over the netting. In hot summer nights with high humidity you'll get probably get a little sweaty. Aside from that, this is excellent for any type of weather. If you don't mind not being able to sit up, I highly recommend trading in your tent for one of these.
Lifetime Investment
I sleep outside 365 days a year, and half the year in some pretty rugged conditions. Let me tell you this bivvy was the greatest investment in gear I have ever made. I have slept in it 600-700 nights since buying it in every situation from Florida to Alaska. After going through many bivvys, this one has the least problems with condensation. The quality put into outdoor research products is astounding. The zippers have worked flawlessly the entire time, and the floor has never developed holes. However, after abusing it for almost 3 years, the fabric has begun to absorb and leak water. I called outdoor research asking to buy fabric to repair mine, and they SENT ME A BRAND NEW advanced bivy free of charge! That's right: anything you buy from them is guaranteed for LIFE. No joke. This is a company that really cares about brand loyalty. From now on when given the option I will only be buying outdoor research stuff.
I love it
I love this bivy. I used it throughout 5 years in the army (and 4 since I got out) in the field (no pup tents these days, they issue bivy bags that are okay, a lot of guys buy their own if their units allow using non standard stuff.) I have used it all over the east coast, Sierras, Rockies, Afghanistan, Nepal, and many other places and really love it. What surprises me is that after so many years of using the 2000 version, it still looks pretty new, thats after probably 1000 nights in it. Granted I take really good care of it but seriously, it should be worn out by now. I have used a lot of Outdoor Research gear over the years and I have found that the stuff may not be the most advertised gear on the market, but if you base value on durability and quality they cannot be beat. They redirect what they would spend on marketing towards the product R&D, the product price, and quality control and as a buyer you get more for your money. I am not connected to the company in any way, just a long time satisfied customer. This bag rocks, but the one drawback is condensation and lack of ventilation. You have to leave the zipper an inch or two open to get good ventilation when you have the bag otherwise all sealed up in bad weather. You won't get any leaks thanks to a good storm flap, and no creepy crawleys will get in since you have a bug net, but I do like feeling all sealed in. I am a big fan of bivy bags and have looked at everything on the market, and for the things I like (durability, weatherproofness, durability, lightness, durability, ease of setting up, and again, durability) this is the best I have seen. There are a few (Integral Designs and Black Diamond) that have some interesting bivys but they are more like tents than bivys. If you like using bivys, in my opinion this is the best you can get.
OR Advanced Bivy
I do not want to be too critical of this equipment but there are two major problems from my perspective. First, the zipper does not close all the way unless one of the poles becomes disengaged. Once this happens, the height of the bivy is decreased 3-4 inches. Second, a considerable amount of condensation collects on the ceiling. Granted, I was camping in 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 C) but a film of ice would form on the entire ceiling which began to drop on my face and sleeping bag throughout the night. This happened with the bivy completely closed on one night and partially open on another night. The company claims this does not happen but they may be referring to higher temps. I have decided to return this product and purchase a one-person tent for this type of camping.
Dependable shelter
I'm on my second Advanced Bivy. The first one lasted for 6 years and is still in good condition but I like to keep things in top shape so I use it as a loaner. This bivy has served me well for many offtrail above treeline multiple day expeditions in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Always dry inside in rainy conditions. I have stayed dry in multiple soaking storms and survived -5F degree windy winter conditions. It has the typical minor condensation issues in certain conditions but proper setup and the zippered vent at the foot help to minimize the problem. It is obviously cramped quarters for getting dressed, and getting in and out takes some practice and in certain situations (rain) it is virtually out of the question. Paired with a tarp to cover the entryway it is actually borderline luxurious but I rarely add the tarp due to weight. Plenty of room for me and my essentials for the night on a thick comfy pad. It can be setup virtually anywhere and is freestanding which is nice with fast changing conditions and uncertain terrain when above timberline. Its nice to know I can throw it down quickly if needed.
Great Shelter
I bought it a couple of weeks ago and brought it backpacking. It's very light, and easy to set up. I'd recommend bringing 5 stakes to secure it to the ground while you're sleeping. It's very warm inside, but you can use the bug net near your head and toes to vent it during warmer weather. I kept the head mostly zipped up and didn't have any issues with condensation inside. It rained for a couple of hours and it stayed dry inside, it was easy to wipe off the rain water with a towel in the morning before I packed it up. The zippers are a little cumbersome due to the location of the poles, but that's the only area for improvement I've come across. Overall I'd certainly recommend it.
Excellent Bivy!!!
I own the Advanced Bivy for two years and I've used it in several occasions, including a 5-day Survival Course in England and the Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland). During the latter, the bivy has been able to withstand a long and heavy alpine storm at an altitude of 2.500m (8,200 ft). Beside some minimal condensation, the inside of the bivy has been 100% water proofed. It has enough space for a large, self-inflating mattress as well as for a rather large down sleeping-bag. I'm 1.85m tall and feel comfortable in it. It is very lightweight and when folded takes minimum space in the rucksack. All in all a highly reliable, heavy-duty bivy.
Great product - nearly perfect
I do virtually all of my backpacking in the Sierra and purchased this bivy 14 years ago in order to lighten my load on long trips. It was one of the best gear decisions I have ever made. Originally, I viewed it as an "emergency shelter" to use only in inclement weather. However, I now use it every night. As a sleeping bag shell, it adds warmth to my bag, and any dew that falls ends up on the bivy (which dries quickly once the sun comes up), rather than on my down bag (which is slower to dry). As a shelter from the elements, this bivy is rock solid. I have endured several nights of heavy rain and stayed bone dry with virtually no condensation. On one trip, four inches of snow fell on me overnight in the bivy and temperatures dropped into the teens. Again, I remained warm and dry inside. On that occasion, a small amount of condensation did occur in the hood area from my breath, but that was due to the fact that I had to zip the bivy completely closed to keep snow from blowing laterally into the bivy. Fortunately, it was cold enough that the condensation froze on the hood, so I remained quite dry and simply flaked the ice off in the morning. My only complaint with the bivy (remember this is the 1999 version) is that the hood design is not quite perfect. There are nights when I use the bivy for mosquito protection. In its natural configuration, when the bivy is unzipped and the mosquito net deployed, the bivy is not open enough to allow as much circulation as I would like. I get around this by tying the bivy poles in a more open position using a cord threaded through some loops that are provided. It is workable, but not ideal. The bivy does have a finite lifetime. After 14 years of use, the floor in the head area has developed some tiny holes that, during a recent heavy downpour, did allow water to seep through the bottom. That was mostly my fault, as I chose to sleep in a slight depression on a slab of granite (there were no clouds when I went to sleep...the storm came up suddenly in the middle of the night), and I was literally sleeping in a puddle. For that reason, I have retired the bivy and ordered a new "OR advanced bivy." I did notice that the specs on the new model indicate it weighs 2 lbs 7 oz, and so is a little heavier than my 1999 model, which weighed slightly under 2 lbs. I am curious to see if the added weght has to do with a change in floor materials. All in all, I highly recommend this product. Indeed three friends have all purchased this bivy based on my recommendations, and all are happy with the outcome.