8 Best Bivy Sacks In 2020

The Ionosphere is one of the best bivy sacks for a very good reason. It gives you all you would expect from an ultralight bivy, and comes with a smart design. When packed, it’s very small and compact, but when you set it up it’s fairly spacious (for a single-person shelter). This waterproof bivy has a low profile, which in combination with solid build quality gives get excellent protection in rough conditions – no matter if it’s heavy rain or strong wind.

It’s somewhat specific for this ultralight bivy that it needs to be assembled (using poles and stakes) because it’s not freestanding. Luckily, it doesn’t take long to do this, and you get an exceptionally stable shelter afterward. The package includes 16 tent stakes for securing it to the ground. You also get SnugPack’s patented anodized poles with press fit connectors, which create a spacious canopy over your body.

It has two layers which give you protection and breathability at the same time. The outer layer (rainfly) is made of ripstop polyester and coated with PU (polyurethane) to give it a 5000mm waterproof rating. On the other hand, the groundsheet is made of nylon, while the inner layer mesh is made of 50D polyester. This gives you good air circulation when it’s hot outside because you can open up the tent a bit while retaining protection from insects.

As for size, it’s a bit larger than other bivy sacks. When you fully set it up, you get a length of 94 inches, with a width of 39 and 28 inches in shoulder and foot area respectively. This gives even tall people enough room to sleep in, without feeling cramped. When you pack it up, it measures 17x5.25 and easily fits in your backpack. While it’s not the lightest, at 2.6lbs it’s still very light to carry around.

This is an ultralight bivy that prides itself on great portability. It’s also sure to give you a comfortable rest, so it’s an excellent choice for those always on the move.  It’s constructed as a standard bag, but with a very useful addition. The Helium bivy features Delrin single-pole system, so you get a shock-corded pole in the package. This pole is used to pitch the upper part of the sack and keep the material away from your head. It greatly reduces the claustrophobic feeling bivies create, and also increases comfort.

The sack is very lightweight but at the same time durable and waterproof. All seams are taped, and you get a hydroseal floor which guarantees that no water will come in from under you. The product also has a mesh panel that allows you to open it up without worrying about bugs.

Outdoor Research makes this product from 100% nylon. However, not the same nylon is used all the way around. The top is made of 30D ripstop nylon for nice water and wind protection, and also good durability. The floor, on the other hand, is made of tougher 70D nylon, with additional TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) lamination.

As we mentioned, it’s very light – the whole package weighs only 18 ounces. The package size goes well to accompany the weight. With 15x4-inch dimensions, it will certainly find it’s placed in your bag even if you don’t have much space to spare. When opened, it has a length of 84 inches, and a shoulder width of 26 inches. While it’s not the largest option, it fits an average adult quite nicely.

The inside of this sack has straps for your sleeping pad, making the setup easier. You will also find a mesh pocket inside, which can be useful to store anything you need close at hand, like a flashlight or a multi-tool. The outside features five stake loops and one guyline loop, which you can use to add stability if you need it. It’s marketed as a 3-season tent, but you should be smart and think about some extra protection in case of heavy rainfall. Even still, it’s probably the best bivy tent that you can take anywhere and be certain you have a reliable shelter.

This backcountry bivy from Winterial is another great choice for you to take on your hiking and backpacking adventures. It’s very high quality, guaranteed to keep you dry. It’s certified for three seasons, so you can rely on it even when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Like the first product we talked about, this one also has two layers. The inside is made of breathable mesh, while the outer layer is removable and serves as weather protection, giving it versatility. In addition to this reinforced rainfly, all seams are sealed making sure your sack won’t have unexpected leaks. All parts are made of nylon, with a rainfly having a 3000mm rating, and the floor a 5000mm HH rating.

The assembly is very simple – you roll it out, stake it to the ground, and attach the two aluminum poles (hoops) which hold the sack in position. The door is zippered, and also very large – giving you easy access. When it comes to size, this one leans a bit more towards comfort. When you open it up, you get a spacious waterproof bivy, measuring 90x38x28 inches. The size even allows you to put some of your gear inside. However, this does take a toll on weight, because it weighs 3lbs 3oz. When wrapped up, it will consume 18x4.5x4 inches in your backpack.

Like we mentioned, you need to stake this backcountry bivy to the ground. Luckily, the manufacturer includes 14 stakes in the package, as well as 3 bundles of rope so you can secure your shelter properly. You can choose between three colors – green, lime and orange. If you get this one you can be sure you won’t get wet overnight. You can make it even better if you decide to combine it with a camping tarp.

Here we have one more product from SnugPack, but with a slightly different design. This is a highly compact bivy shelter that can endure very harsh weather. It’s an excellent choice for hiking and survival in unforgiving circumstances. In addition to the protection you get, the choice of material and design give it very good breathability too. When you pick a spot where you want to put it, it takes about a minute to set it up.

This is a product that can work on its own (freestanding), but you will get much more out of it if you stake it down. The stakes come in the package. As for design, it comes with lightweight aluminum poles (8.5mm  in diameter), that create a canopy and give you greater comfort. These poles are very stable, and you attach them using screw-lock tips. You will find a full-length zipper on the side, for a much easier entry compared to most bivy sacks. There is also a nice mosquito net if you feel warm with the full setup but still need insect protection.

Excellent materials were used to give it the strength and durability it has. The outer fabric which serves as a fly is made of 50D ripstop nylon and gives you a 5000mm waterproof rating to go along with the excellent breathability of the material. Nylon was also used for the floor, but with a PU coating and a total of 8000mm hydrostatic head rating. Of course, all seams are taped for full protection.

While the pack is somewhat heavier than usual (39oz) the size is very appealing, measuring only 12x5 inches. When opened, you will get sufficient space inside for a good night’s rest. The length is 91”, while the shoulder width is 31” with the sack becoming slightly narrower in the head and foot area. You will find a small mesh pocket on the roof inside, which is handy. It’s a very good and versatile shelter for a decent amount of money.

This is a bivy tent that is used by the US military and made in the USA. What separates it from others we featured is that it comes with a Gore-Tex membrane. It prevents water from coming in but allows the vapor to go out, eliminating the condensation. This bivy bag is a part of the 4-piece MSS (modular sleep system). The design is very practical too. It features a side zipper with a storm flap, which gives you quick entry and exit.

In addition, you can fit most standard sleeping bags inside if you need to add warmth, making it great for winter camping too. However, it doesn’t have a mesh panel so you won’t get proper insect protection. It’s a bit shorter than some other products, with a length of 84 inches. This is still enough for decent comfort, especially given the shoulder width of 35 inches.

This military waterproof bivy is a very durable product, which is easy to maintain too. You can wash it in your machine without worries. We mentioned earlier that it doesn’t come with a mesh. However, it’s very easy to modify so you can add a mesh yourself or make some other changes to make it more useful. Finally, the price is quite nice and the camo print looks good.

The Alpine Bivy shelter is a versatile 4-season product. Thanks to the Gore-Tex membrane as well as the design, you can use it year-round. It’s fully waterproof but at the same time breathable which greatly increases your comfort. The mentioned Gore-Tex is responsible for such high performance.

It’s a membrane that completely prevents water from coming in on one side, while the other side has many small pores that allow water vapor to leave the sack. This way you avoid condensation inside the bivy and remain dry. The remainder of the sack is made of nylon. It’s rated 30D with the ripstop feature, so you get complete protection.

As for construction, it has a dual-pole system which holds the bivy and creates a nice space above your body. This allows you to put thicker sleeping pads and sleeping bags inside. The bivy has a hydroseal floor to keep the ground moisture from penetrating inside. As a plus, the floor has an anti-fungal coating which is very useful in preventing mold.

It’s certainly one of the larger bivies out there, with 84 inches in length and 26 inches in shoulder width. The whole package weighs 32 ounces – this includes the sack and also the two poles we mentioned. When packed, it takes up 15.5x4 inches of space in your backpack.

You will get some smart design solutions on this one. It has sleeping pad straps inside, as well as a nice mesh pocket for your belongings. The tent opening features a removable mesh screen, which can be very useful when it’s warm outside but you need insect protection. There is also an additional zippered vent which boosts air circulation.

When it comes to lightweight protection for summer nights, this is something that first comes to mind. The Bug Bivy was designed to give you protection from all the flying and crawling insects around you while allowing you to enjoy the breeze and the view of the night sky. Keep in mind that this bivy won’t offer you any rain protection, it was not designed for that. This being said, the floor is waterproof so you don’t have to worry you’ll get wet if the ground is moist.

The mesh is made of polyester, which has shown solid durability over time. The mentioned floor is made of nylon, with taped seams. Like the previous product from Outdoor Research, this one also comes with Delrin pole which lifts the net and keeps it away from your body. As for size, it’s very compact. When packed, it measures just 14x4 inches. Also, it’s the lightest product in our bivy tent reviews, weighing only 16 ounces. It still gives you enough space when you crawl inside, being 89 inches long and with a width of 25 inches at your shoulders.

This sack comes with a mesh pocket and straps to secure your sleeping pad. On the outside, you will find three stake and two guyline loops for additional stability. Compared to other sacks, it’s very budget-friendly – you should definitely consider it if you’re planning on hiking in warm and nice weather.

This is a bivy system that gives you great quality for a very affordable price. Like most others, it doesn’t require any complicated setup, so you need less than two minutes until you can use it. The design includes two lightweight aluminum poles that lift the material from your body. Thanks to this, everything is nicely contoured in the head and foot area, and the movement range inside is increased.

A big plus is the facial ventilation system in the head area, which constitutes of two pieces of mesh. One mesh panel can also double as a window when you want to have a view, or you can zipper it completely when the rain is heavy. The body is made of ripstop nylon, with a 5000mm hydrostatic head rating.

At 2lbs weight, it’s one of the lighter sacks around, especially considering that poles come with it. Thanks to the mentioned poles, the height inside is 17 inches which most users really appreciate. It is 91 inches long, with a width of 32 inches in the shoulder area. All of these attributes to a very spacious sack. You can get it in blue color only, but it looks pretty sleek. If you pick this one, you can be sure it will last for many trips to come.