It’s not the kind of bivy sack you’re going to want to bring when hiking during the hot days of summer. If nights are frequently cold where you’re adventuring, however, BlizeTec’s Emergency Bivy Sack just may be the lightweight shelter you’ve been looking to bring along.
Designed to fold into a compact pouch that fits in a jeans’ back pocket, this just may be the most packable bivy we’ve ever seen. Seriously, if you’re one of those folks who’s serious about packing as light as possible, this is definitely one of those things you’re going to want to have in the gear stash at home.
The BlizeTec Emergency Bivy Sack consists of two items: a tube tent that you can easily pitch between two poles and a blanket. Both are made from a reflective Mylar material that helps you retain up to 90 percent of your body heat, allowing you to sleep exposed to the elements at night even in chillier mountain climate. Simply put, if you want to pack ultra-light without experiencing hypothermia in the cold mountain air, this thing’s combination of compact collapsed size and excellent insulation strikes the perfect balance for both those conditions.
To use, simply unfold both the tube tent and the blanket, then set up the tent by tying it down between two poles (or trees, if they’re available). From there, you just crawl into the tent, slip into the blanket, and spend the night warm inside the gear’s reflective and insulated material.
The tube tent that comes with the BlizeTec Emergency Bivy Sack, by the way, is completely open on both ends, so you’re still at the mercy of the elements the entire time. Despite that, the insulated, wind-proof, and water-resistant material should help a lot at keeping you comfortable no matter what nature brings while you sleep through the night. That means, there’s some chance that you’ll actually be sleeping with some water around you when it rains, although the insulation will hold and the wind-proof build should help keep some of that chilly air away.
Is this comfortable? We doubt it. You’re still sleeping right on top of the earth, with no cushion, bedding, or elevation whatsoever, so good luck not waking up with a stiff back in the morning. Plus, it bears repeating, the tent is open on both ends, so you’re pretty exposed to the elements, although you can always cover up completely in the blanket to shut out the bugs and any prevailing chill in the air.
To its credit, the BlizeTec Emergency Bivy Sack offers arguably the most compact shelter solution available for any outdoor activity. Whether you’re hiking in the backcountry, rock climbing, or backpacking up a mountain trail, nothing out there offers the same level of portability. I mean, a functional shelter you can keep in your back pocket is all manners of extreme, although it does come with some downsides that you need to be willing to put up with.
The BlizeTec Emergency Bivy Sack is available now.
