Outdoor Research

Helium Bivy

Super Lightweight

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

Not made for larger people, hard to get in/out!

I purchased this for ultralite backpacking paired with a Seek Outside DST tarp, also used was a Thermarest neo air wide pad and their parsec 20d bag. First the bivi was very lightweight and easy to setup BUT a pain in the you know what to get in and out of. I am 5'9" 200# athletic build (think jacked crossfit dude) and although I did fit inside the sleep system I was extremely constricted. I toss and turn while I sleep and mostly sleep on my side, that was near impossible due to my broad shoulders. Also the mesh is pretty good at staying off your face but the nylon attaches inside the head liner and swishes all over your face all night LOL. If I were a small very skinny man using a quilt and 1/2" thick pad I would have slept much better but apparently I need a much roomier bivi.

An excellent, lightweight bivy for solo camping or bikepacking. The packable size made it a very easy fit in my bikepacking kit without excessive bulk. I would recommend taking some rope to provide a little more structure to the overhead space as it can be a bit of a claustrophobic fit. Can definitely be a little humid depending on conditions, but I found it did a good job at keeping out overnight moisture

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.

Great feachers.

I bought this in july and love it for my ultrilight backpacking trips.

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