The best bivvy bags reviewed (2023)

Try a lighter, more adaptable approach to wild camping by ditching the tent and packing a bivvy. Not sure what you need? Let us take you through the best options.

Hiker using a bivvy in Harter Fell Summit Lake District

by Ben Weeks |

There are some impressively light and compact hiking tents around today. Some one-person tents weigh in at around one kilogram and packing down to the size of a computer keyboard. But you can do even better with a bivvy bag.

Spacious they are not, but a well-designed bivvy bag provides an excellent little sleeping pod to use during your overnight outdoor excursions. The bivvy bag market isn't as extensive as tents, largely due to them being reasonably niche. There are, however, still a solid range of dependable options.

Our shortlist

Rab Ridge Raider Bivi – Best in test

Alpkit HunkaBest Value

Outdoor Research Helium BivyBest for versatility

Robens Mountain BivvyBest pole-less bivvy

Snugpak StratosphereBest for durability

Decathlon Forclaz Waterproof Trekking Bag Cover - Best budget bivvy

Some bivvy bags are very uncomplicated. They consist of a weatherproof outer material and that's about it. These are the lightest and usually least expensive options. But then there are others that seek to occupy a space between tent and bivvy bag. These offer more internal space thanks to the use of poles. But they are a bit heavier and more expensive.

In this guide, we are covering the best bivvies of all types and budgets.

The best bivvy bags 2023

1. Rab Ridge Raider Bivi

Best in Test

Description

This is a regular feature in any of our bivvy roundups, and with good cause. Freestanding and less

Pros

  • Spacious
  • Freestanding
  • Great weather protection

Cons

  • Not as lightweight as pole-less bivvies
Rab Ridge Raider Bivi with award overlay

2. Alpkit Hunka

Best Value

Description

The Hunka (and its big brother the Hunka XL) is about as simple as a bivvy gets. There’s no zip,

Pros

  • Very simple
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Fantastic value

Cons

  • Can't be fully sealed
Alpkit Hunka with award overlay

3. Outdoor Research Helium Bivy

Best for versatility

Description

For those wanting the comfort of a poled bivvy but without the extra weight, the Helium Bivy is

Pros

  • Great weather protection
  • Can use with or without pole

Cons

  • Rab Ridge Raider Bivi offers more space
Outdoor Research Helium Bivy

4. Robens Mountain Bivvy

Best pole-less bivvy

Description

The problem with bivvying is that the best nights for it are often the most popular with the

Pros

  • Good value
  • Good weather and insect protection
  • Compact

Cons

  • Very snug – may not suit everyone
Robens Mountain Bivvy

Best for durability
Snugpak Stratosphere
Price: £154
Amazon

Description

The thing that puts many people off bivvying is the claustrophobic nature of sleeping in what is

Pros

  • Tough fabrics
  • Relatively generous space

Cons

  • Similar style Outdoor Research Helium Bivy is lighter
Snugpak Stratosphere

6. Decathlon Forclaz Waterproof Trekking Bag Cover

Best budget bivvy

Description

More of a protective shell for your sleeping bag than a bivvy, Decathlon’s offering is nonetheless

Pros

  • Tough fabrics
  • Relatively generous space

Cons

  • Similar style Outdoor Research Helium Bivy is lighter
Decathlon Forclaz Waterproof Trekking Bag Cover

What to look for in a bivvy

Hiker using a bivvy bag, Lynn Idwal, Snowdonia
©Live For The Outdoors

Type: The most basic bivvy is a waterproof sack that goes over your sleeping bag and sometimes your sleeping mat. Some people find this set-up cramped, claustrophobic, and a little like a body bag, so prefer poled bivvies. These use short poles to lift the canopy – usually over your head – and make the interior feel a bit more spacious.

Weight: The weight of a bivvy can vary dramatically depending on the material it’s made from and whether it requires poles. You’ll need to consider which is most important: light weight and packability, or comfort and protection.

Waterproofing and breathability: A bivvy should prevent you and your kit being soaked by rain or the ingress of moisture from the ground, so the fabric must be waterproof. However, their single skin construction makes it difficult to prevent condensation on the inside, so the fabric should be breathable too. If provided, check out both the Hydrostatic Head (waterproof) and Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate or RET (breathability) figures of the fabrics – the higher the HH and MVTR numbers the more waterproof and breathable the fabric.

Face opening: While most bivvies can be sealed completely with a zipper, and some have a mesh panel that allows ventilation without letting in bugs, some cheaper bivvy sacks cannot be completely closed, leaving an opening around the face.

Get half-price digital OS Maps. Trail and Country Walking magazine members get 50% off an annual subscription to OS Maps for 12 months. Find out more here.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Live For The Outdoors newsletter to get expert advice and outdoor inspiration delivered to you inbox!

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us