Outdoor Research  Helium Bivy

This is the only bivy ive ever used but it was great. The pole helps keep the material off your face when zipped up and bug net is a great touch. I did get extremely closterphobic the first time I zipped in, but thats a me problem and the zippers are easy to find and use. The only thing that could make this bag better is if there was a zipper on the side to take a leak from in the middle of the night, as the shimmy out of the bag and bivy takes some time and effort lol. Used it on a moto camping trip (with great weather luckily) and looking forward to more UL missions with this setup.

Only used it one trip under a tarp. Haven't had it exposed to rainfall to see how waterproof it is. Looks to be quality. But, there are mixed reviews on Waterproofness. I want to find out for myself before I give a truthful review.

The bivy works great. It is a warranty replacement for my old Advance Bivy. I mostly use the bivy shelter camping or under a tarp or other shelter. I especially use it in cold weather.

Bought this for my Marine Corps infantry field ops, and it has not disappointed. It’s lightweight and low profile save space in my pack and allow me to bring more operational essential equipment. There’s a small issue with the condensation on a humid night but if you’re in your woobie or a light sleeping bag you won’t feel it and every time I’ve packed it up wet, by the time I’ve unpacked it for the evening it’s been dry. The different zippers for having an accessible mesh bug net or a completely enclosed bivy are money for those hot humid nights or chilly mornings. I compared it to the issued USMC bivys and they’re roughly 1/3 the width and 3/4 the height.

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.

I had high hopes for this product for a very specific backcountry hike, but I should have tried it out first. I'm 5'11", 250lbs, and have a 58" shoulder girth. This product runs exceptionally small for someone my size. Temps were in the teens overnight and I could hardly zip the bivy to close it. Even after finally getting it closed I felt like I was in a coffin and had to immediately unzip it. I am not claustrophobic but now I have a better understanding on the experience for someone who is. Despite my experience, I would definitely buy another one if it was made big enough to fit someone with my build. Great concept!

I have been using this bivy on and off for two years now, primarily in the south-west. The weight and packability are outstanding. The issue I often have with it is condensation. There is almost always some in the footbox. And occasionally, like on my most recent trip, there is heavy condensation between sleeping bag and bivy in my upper body area. Unless there are mosquitos out I keep the bivy completely unzipped so this condensation is disappointing. I had the OR Alpine bivy for many years before this which was a similar design but made of gore-tex. It seldom had condensation.

Good for cold weather, tested this out on the AT the other weekend and it was good, the pole is a little flimsy and gets annoying trying to keep it up right. Not good for mid weather climates gets really muggy inside and the condensation builds up over time. Overall great product and lightweight will be using this product!

This bivy does a great job being weather proof while still maintaining breathability. I've used it on summer rock and winter snow climbs and it's held up to everything I've thrown at it. It's still a bivy at the end of the day, but I found there to be ample room for moving around in my bag. I'd recommend this for anyone looking to use their bivy often. If you only need a bivy for emergencies, there are lighter options that do the trick, but if you want something that comfortable to use for multiple nights, this is it.

I loved how small and compact the bivy was making it very easy to carry for extended trips. Fully compacted down, the bivy is about the size of a 40 oz nalgene and just as light as an empty one. My largest concern was the condensation build up. Using a down bag and then waking to find the whole inside of the bivy WET was rough (even with the bug net open). Now my bag was wet and had to cut my trip short so i wouldn't freeze.