Outdoor Research

Helium Bivy

Super Lightweight

Good to have in emergencies and it is super light weight. Great addition for a bugout bag

Great lightweight bivy!

I use this for backcountry hunts. I appreciate that it is lightweight and compact. I also like that there is a tie up point that can be used if you wan to cut even more weight by leavi g the pole at home. Steakout points are also great especially when sleeping on uneven or sloped grassy ground as it keeps the bivy in place and helps keep the material out of your face while sleeping. The only real downside as is true with all bivies is the condensation which can be managed somewhat by sleeping head out or with just the bug net up.

Quality so far…

All in all, it’s a bivy. It’s hard to get in and out of, clammy, has condensation issues etc. that being said it has allowed me to camp in places I wasn’t able to before. For example I Ridgeline camped on Mount Timpanogos as well as white baldy in an emergency. Still haven’t had the opportunity to use it in snow which I’m excited for. Overall is definitely great for overnighters, anything longer and the downsides might start to outweigh the bivy’s light weight.

Hard entry, rain fly on your face at night No air flow

Hard to get in to, not impossible and needs some kind of ventilation every morning my sleeping bag and bivi is wet. Also there no good way to stop the rain fly from resting on your face at night. I still cary it tho it’s my backup for when I can’t find a spot to hand my hammock. Until I get the big agnus bug bivy then thats my upgrade

keeps you dry

Bought this to keep warm.in and wet out. wasn't disappointed. small enough to wrap up with my sleeping mat to save packing room and very easy to set up in the light or the dark

Not for me

-Quick to setup and light? Yes -Easy to get in and out of? No -Comfortable? Not at all -Breathable? Only if using the mesh door (i.e. it’s not raining) -Good visibility of the night sky using the mesh? No (the design makes the flap hang on your face) -Doesn’t let in condensation? Nope -Waterproof? Hell no! Just used this for four nights on the West Coast Trail. Each night without rain, the entire inside ceiling was wet with condensation. To the point I had to dry out my sleeping bag each day. The one night it rained, I got soaked. My sleeping bag was drenched through and through. It was easily the most miserable night of camping I’ve ever had. Maybe if I go camping in a very dry environment, I might try it again but I doubt it. Back to lightweight tents for me. It’s worth the extra few pounds.

Good, lightweight. Excited to try in colder weather

Lightweight and easy to set up

This was a really nice alternative to carrying a tent for solo camping. It takes a few seconds to set up and barely added any weight to my pack. The only downside is it gets a little cramped with a thick inflatable pad, but was fine with just a foam pad. Like other people have said, the condensation ends up being pretty close to you if you fully seal the bivy, but that's to be expected in such a small shelter.

Havent used it yet but its small, light and fits in my bag without taking up much space!

It's definitely small but worth the weight savings over the 2 person tent I was using previously. A little condensation accumulated overnight despite only the mesh being used.