Outdoor Research

Helium Bivy

Material and design seems to be great, haven't used it yet

Nothing short of Phenominal

To preface, I have only used the product for a week. I work as a guide for backpacking trips so both weight and comfort are paramount to me. While i used this in tandem with a tarp overhead, it provided excellent protection from cold wind and light rain. It is light weight and easy to carry and stuff. My only concern is ultimatly durability as it does seem thin. That being said, it handeled rocky terrain with no rips or tares. The condensation is there, but mainly only on the thicker pieces of fabric, including the insert for the pole and locations for the zipper.

Easy to set up and comfortable to sleep in. Kept out the bugs / scorpions in the forests of northern Thailand.

The essentials

Used for search and rescue shelter. Sometimes we can get stuck in the back country and it helps having sheltering resources. For me, a bivy was the answer. I had tested other units out before and while they do function well, it was always bothersome that they didn’t have any structure at all. Absolutely love having the hoop at the head box. Helps keep it from feeling like you’re being clung to. As far as space, It was great. I’m 6’1, 275 lbs. no issues getting in with my sleeping bag and inflatable pad during our overnight winter camp out last month. I would note that it does as a couple degrees and like most single wall systems you will get some condensation. I kept my mesh open during the night and that helped keep things warm and dry.

Ended up with a lot of condensation inside. I run pretty warm so that was somewhat expected. This probably won't be a summer setup, but I tend to hammock for that anyway (Big Agnes Headwall UL). The bottom material looks like it'll get damaged fairly easily, which is a tradeoff I'm willing to make for the weight. Long term, we'll see how it holds up, but it's met all expectations so far minus the breathability.

Great minimalist shelter

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Always been a tent user so this is my first bivy. Four stars because it needed a few mods. I bought it with the following in mind. 99% of my backpacking trips are in great weather and all I really did in my tents was sleep. That and maybe read a bit before falling asleep. We always seem to hike all day or socialize till late. I expect to almost never use it with the waterproof door closed, only the mosquito net. Last, I wanted far more freedom in pitch locations vs. a tent as my friends and I like off trail weird spots. Live in the PNW. We usually have too much dew and bugs to just sleep out. So far after two nights in cool weather it’s worked fine. I got a little condensation at 43F and frost inside and out at 20F overnight. In both cases it wasn’t much actual liquid though and dried quickly in the morning sun. The icy overnight my down bag felt completely dry actually. Made two mods to it as well. I added some shock cord loops to the stake down points that I just stuff large rocks or sticks into rather than carry stakes. I added a length of bike shifter cable housing to the door. (What would be the upper lip if the door were a mouth.) That made a huge difference in how well the mosquito net keeps its shape. Without that it sags a lot and lands on your head. The cable housing fit easily inside the edging material near the door zipper. Overall my mods added about 2oz. Im 6’2” and skinny, 195lbs. I have room for some things inside with me but they will shift around a lot when you roll over, unlike a tent. I use a vintage 1” thick thermarest shorty mattress. Plenty of room for my size 11.5 feet at the foot end.

Great Colorado Survival Shelter

I teach at the Colorado Mountain Club and I recommend this for hikes and snowshoes when going on day trips between September and April and on all above-tree line excursions. It has been a reliable piece of my kit for five years now, with no real issues.

Outdoor Research Helium Bivy

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

I recently purchased for a backpacking trip in southern Utah. Late October temperatures dipped into the low thirties and the heavy dew that should have been insignificant turned out to be almost catastrophic. The fabric not only seemed to lack any waterproofing but also wouldn’t dry quickly after waiting a few hours for the sun to reach us deep in the canyons. My sleeping bag was completely drenched inside the bivy sack which also had to be left out in the sun delaying our start each morning. I’ve used it on a multi day trip now so I can’t return it and I wouldn’t even give it away to someone. It’s most likely going in the garbage. I have used a bivy sack for many years in the past on climbing trips in the mountains in all types of conditions but my old Gore-Tex sack was excellent and never let me down even in the pouring rain. 0 stars!!

Great Bivy for Moderate Temperatures

I bought this for lightweight camping out of my truck for trailheads and to co-use for my unit when we’re in the field. Overall, great bivy, waterproof, wind resistant and minimalist. I slept in this with my -10 degree (f) bag and was plenty warm. My con on this bivy, is the vent is not vertically above your ahead but horizontally. So, when sleeping the condensations sits above you and does not vent the same as its Alpine Bivy counterpart. I would use this for more moderate temperatures where I use less bulky equipment than my Arctic winter gear since I put my sleeping pad inside the Bivy with me. More than likely pair it with my lightweight jungle bag and a R-Value 5 pad which is less bulky. Overall, awesome and consistent part of my kit.

NOT WATERPROOF

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Height:

5' 8"

Weight:

190

Used once, failed miserably, got totally soaked. Had an old Goretex OR Bivy that lasted 15+ year. This thing is garbage. Called OR, and they refused a return b/c product was used. Zero customer service and a horrible product.