However, in an emergency situation, especially one that is wet and windy, a bivvy bag (or basic survival bag) can offer enough protection to save your life. For this reason, it is advisable that all trail runners carry a survival bag when running in high or remote areas – even if you’re not expecting to be out for long. Is a bivvy bag worth it? Adventure Medical Kit's SOL Escape Lite bivy is an emergency bivy that is breathable - it can be used as a sleeping bag liner to uprate your bag when not required in an emergency situation. Some one-man tents are now so small and light, it’s hard to imagine that it’s even possible to take a more minimalist approach. But it is: enter the bivvy bag. What is a bivvy bag? The material showed extremely promising waterproof capabilities, but on the others side, it does not breathe all that well. For the short naps it was not an issue, but after a full nights sleep, I woke up with moisture that was trapped inside the bivvy. A bivvy bag is essentially a lightweight sleeping bag cover that protects you from the worst of the elements but offers little in the way of shelter. It is usually composed of a waterproof bottom fabric (groundsheet) and a lighter upper fabric that is waterproof but also breathable. What is the difference between a bivvy and a sleeping bag?

With my 40 degree Marmot Atom and the SOL Escape Bivvy, I would say I had an extra 5 degrees to work with. Pretty much when it hit 35 or below, I was shivering. I would say if you plan to use this bivvy in colder conditions, you should consider a sleeping bag with a lower temperature rating. Note: I don’t have much meat on my bones.

Windproof & Water Resistant

Barely tipping the scales at a half of a pound, the SOL Escape was one of the more impressive models we tested. Made from SOL's proprietary fabric (which feels similar to a DuPont Tyvec Lab suit) and an inner reflective coating, the SOL excelled at keeping us warm while also relatively dry on the inside. Before we go any further, it's important to note that this bivy isn't in the same ballpark as the much heavier, or even the mid-range adventure models. The Escape isn't suited for long expeditions or sleeping in snow caves unless you have tigers blood flowing through your veins; instead, it fills a niche for lightweight, durable warmth for ultralight endeavors.

The escape bivvy, in my opinion, is a bivvy like no other. It’s durable, warm, and comfortable. It does have its downsides though like the fact that you can’t move your arms very easily while inside, especially when using a sleeping bag inside of it. As a liner, it does add warmth, but it also removes all of the coziness of slipping into a comfy, fluffy sleeping bag. Adventure Medical Kit's Escape Lite bivy is constructed from a breathable water resistant fabric that's silvered on the inside. The 'feel' of the fabric is like paper that's been continually scrunched so that its flexible - and of course its much tougher than paper - so sleeping in it is different but not unpleasant! Although not waterproof its highly water resistant so as an emergency bivy shelter it does its job, preserving heat and protecting your sleeping bag from the elements. Being tough it can be used over and again, especially if you are using it as a sleeping bag liner to enhance the rating of your bag.

Click & Collect

Over the last two years I have spent probably 300 nights in it. Did half a 2018 PCT in it, only adding my quilt for maybe two days a week. I finally tore a fist-sized hole in it by snagging on a branch, though a cuben patch stopped the tearing. Still operational, but I bought the new version w/o the zipper, which I like even more. As a product its really dual use - if you decide that you need an emergency bivy option this one would allow you to uprate your sleeping bag by using it as a liner which will offset some of its weight (since you don't need to carry a silk liner), then if its not needed as an emergency bivy then carrying it has still brought some benefit.

We have a 60-day return policy, which means you have 60 days after receiving your item to request a return. Excellent product. Part of my kit ALWAYS. Even use it at home in cool weather, under blankets or blankets inside. The SOL Escape Bivvy is categorized as an emergency bivvy, with the usability for an ultra light sleep system. The bag is made out of a thin water resistant fabric with microporous to give it its breathable capabilities. It comes with a reflective interior that helps retain 70% of your body heat, and the seams are waterproof, ensuring heat stays in and the elements stay out. A bivvy that BREATHES, keeping you dry from the inside out. Highly weather resistant so you stay dry in any conditions. Waterproof seams plus a drawstring hood closure and side zip mean you can seal out the elements entirely or use the bivvy like a traditional sleeping bag, and the high-visibility orange exterior makes it easy for rescuers to spot you even in areas with high tree cover.Overall, would I recommend this bivvy for a month long tour in rugged terrain? No. It is bound to fall apart. Is it that much of an improvement over the SOL Emergency Bivvy to justify costing almost 10 times more?

Features a 43g per sqm proprietary spunbonded olefin fabric with a metalized coating designed to keep you warm and dry in any conditions.

Bivvy Design and Construction

A sleeping bag is an insulated bag that is designed to keep you warm. This warmth is provided by either a down or synthetic filling that traps air around your body as you sleep. In contrast, the single-skin fabric of a bivyy bag provides negligible warmth. It is designed to keep out moisture (from rain, dew or snow) while having sufficient breathability to minimise moisture build up on the inside. A sleeping bag will often cover the head but doesn’t cover the face, where most bivvy bags allow for the whole person to be sealed inside (i.e. the bag is closed fully over both the head and face). Do I need a sleeping bag with a bivvy? THERMAREST & MSR: Sale! 30% Off all MSR Tents and Thermarest Sleeping Bags including the award-winning Parsec 0! Low weight and a compact shape are the most important factors for runners, since a bulky or heavy bag makes running feel awkward and also more strenuous. Is a bivvy better than a tent? I only used it for a night, but in a multi-day survival situation the amount of condensation could be dangerous or even life threatening, if there was no way to get the sleeping bag and bivy dry every day. I only tested it in the -10 to -15 range, and it is possible with the right bag and outside temperature there would be less condensation, but as this is meant to be a survival bag, it should work in relatively mild winter conditions such as this. No idea why others have reviewed this negatively. Maybe they are really big...? Not used to UL gear? I'm 5'6" and 160. This bivy is small.