The best bivvy bags reviewed (2023)

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 Hunka – Best Value

Outdoor Research Helium Bivy – Best for versatility

Robens Mountain Bivvy – Best pole-less bivvy

Snugpak Stratosphere – Best 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

What to look for in a bivvy

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!