Lightest bivy sack

sivart

WKR
Joined
Sep 5, 2012
Messages
676
I had an old OR bivy sack (advanced bivy i think?) that I've used for years. Got lost somehow. In the market for a new one. Would like one that will fit my marmot helium and thermorest pad in it.

Any recommendations?
 

92xj

WKR
Joined
Apr 22, 2016
Messages
1,275
Location
E.Wa
I have a Bearpaw wilderness Cuben fiber that I had him make custom. Some don’t like the guy, but he made exactly what I sent and his zipper layout is the best I’ve seen. CF bathtub bottom 3/4 breathable lower and 1/4 mesh upper over face. 6.5oz if I remember correctly. That fits my xtherm 25” x77” perfectly. I have no regrets going this custom route with Bearpaw. He made it years ago for me and it’s still going strong.
 
Joined
Apr 5, 2015
Messages
5,950
Another vote for borah. I had 2# GI goretex, OR and SOL. None have been out of the gear box since borah arrived. They speced to my size and it arrived in 4-5 weeks. 7oz for long extra wide. I could shave a couple oz with Dyneema but didn’t bother.
 

turley

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 20, 2019
Messages
265
It depends:
1. MLD eVent Bivy: stand alone no tarp required, fully waterproof (I believe the OR Advance Bivy fit this category)
2. Borah Bivy or MLD SL Bivy: water resistant top, tarp required in inclement weather
 
Joined
May 27, 2022
Messages
24
Location
California
I have a Borah and a OR bivy. The Borah is significantly lighter than the OR. I have the 90 weight one and it’s pretty solid. Packs down tiny and weighs almost nothing. Only recommendation is to use it with a drop cloth. Either a tent footprint or a sheet of tyvek.
 

Bmarcks31

FNG
Joined
Apr 7, 2021
Messages
45
I had an old OR bivy sack (advanced bivy i think?) that I've used for years. Got lost somehow. In the market for a new one. Would like one that will fit my marmot helium and thermorest pad in it.

Any recommendations?
Two somewhat related things I ran into with my OR helium, both related to poor breathability-
The first night I used it, I woke up at 2 AM hyperventilating, thinking I was dying of high altitude pulmonary edema. Unzipped the sac and immediately felt fine. Basically the CO2 I was exhaling in my sleep wasn’t adequately exiting the bag while fully zipped up. The rest of the trip I made sure to keep it at least partially unzipped (there’s also a mesh liner that you can keep zipped so at least the bugs dont get to you).
Additionally, did have some issues with condensation- not awful but definitely significant.
I imagine this might be an issue for most bivys- I’ve used on the OR helium and figured I share my experience. I figure it’s next to impossible to make something breathable from the inside but fully waterproof against rain. Most of my future hunts will be with an ultralight 1 person tent which weighs only a few ounces more.
 
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