I use it as a a liner inside a sleeping bag if it's going to be really cold. For that, it's great. Last time I had to use it I just threw a Grabber all weather blanket over the hammock so each side touched the ground. That stopped the convective breeze from going under the hammock and I was fine. Have never used an underquilt.
I have a video where I modified my SOL Bivvy to allow room for folks that move around a lot in their sleep or for larger sized people. I like to use it like you did in conjunction with another bag to add reflection and wind protection. It really shines when it's used as part of an overall system. Thanks for sharing your test.
The SOL escape bivvies seem like they would work best in the classic "car stuck in a blizzard scenario" where you have your vehicle for shelter and use the bivy to sleep in at night. Especially if you paired the bivy with a blanket or lighter sleeping bag.
For comparison sake: the Escape Bivy (used above) has a 31" width; the Escape Pro has a 31" width; the Escape Lite Bivy has a 32" width; the Escape Emergency Bivy has a 36" width but it is polyethene and not breathable; my new 2Go Systems Trifecta has a 35.4" width. All but the Emergency Bivy are aluminized Tyvek but the Trifecta can also be used as a tarp since it has a full-length zipper, is larger, and has 9 tie outs. For $5 more you can get a bigger bivy bag that has far more versatility but with a 7 oz. penalty. I made my decision after testing it - the Trifecta is in my EDC backpack.
illbilly The regular SOL Bivvy failed for Forestwalker111 because it ripped easily. The Escape version is more durable and is the one I would suggest you try.
I am so glad I found you again! last time I saw one of your Videos was the 'Amazing Wilderness Camp / Hammock Chair ' You are my greatest inspiration - very informative & never a dull moment, thank you (from the UK)
Hay, Jeep & Craig; Good 2 know the limits of the gear we purchase & use. Thanks 4 the heads up on the over-nighter trip. Have a great weekend up yonder, Friends. Happy Trails From Down The Path A Piece ATB Terry God Bless
T.W. Milburn It was a fun night out for sure and we both learned a bunch. I am working on this combination to try and get my overall pack weight down. Every test hike a get a little closer to my goal. Thanks for dropping in for a visit.
Great review on the SOL Bivy. I love my SOL Breathable Bivy and like you use it over my sleeping bag. I live in Virginia and have camped in the mountains using this system, however, my bag is an inexpensive Farland (synthetic stuffing) rated at 35 degrees. So far there have been no issues being cold and even down into the high 20's. I've used the SOL just as a sleeping bag in my hammock using a Snugpak Underblanket and stayed quite warm. There were two occasions I had to place a Snugpak jungle blanket over me when the temp dropped into the low 30's. My sleep outfit is a synthetic pair of long johns, long sleeve shirt, beanie, a $1 pair of wool mittens from Dollar Tree and a fresh pair of wool Cabin Socks from Dick's. I pack a smaller SOL Bivy as well (in a first aid kit).
Now that is testing put to the test...I appreciate that point on the SOL Bivvy...you can bet I will try to add that to my kit but not as a stand alone.
Tango Joe It is the only way to test your gear. The backyard just does not give you the feedback you need to fix / improve / adjust or replace. Before anyone goes on the 10 day Econo Challenge they have to take all their gear out for at least a weekend test hike in similar conditions and terrain as the area we are going to explore. Time and time again it has proven the best way to figure out what you are forgetting and what needs to be fixed or adjusted before the big hike.
Good informative video! Unless the wool bivvy was about three inches thick there’s no way it would be warm enough, even if it was pure wool. Wool isn’t magic, it works like any other insulation, by trapping tiny pockets of air. Don’t forget, sheep generate a lot of heat from their digestion of grass; if they didn’t, they’d need much thicker wool to survive cold weather. We can do the same by eating fats and oils before we sleep, which then generate extra heat at night.
A bivvy is not a replacement for sleeping. It is designed to be used as a water and wind resistant shell for your sleeping bag. That being said, I wish the SOL Escape Bivvy was a bit wider at the shoulder and feet. Great video gentleman.
Excellent test and review. On the strength of this I've subscribed to your channel *and* added the SOL Escape Bivvy to my "To Buy" list to add to my day pack. Great to know it'll increase the effectiveness of my sleeping bag on really cold nights. Your mate at the end of the video looked like he'd just come back from beating Robin Hood in a quarterstaff fight and dumping him in the river.
EconoChallenge You're most welcome. It was, seriously, a damned fine test and review and it answered my default question when looking at *any* product: "yeah, but is it any good?" ATB, Wolf.
good review. From my personal experience I slept in my bag with the bivvy over top as well. However in the morning my sleeping bag was a bit damp because of condensation. I was very warm overnight but if I had to stay another night it would of been in a damp sleeping bag...
That’s a good point. The body gives off water vapour all night, which condenses in the outer part of the bag where it meets a cold layer, even in a breathable bivvy. Next night, if it’s not dried properly, which is difficult in cold, damp weather, the insulation is reduced by the trapped moisture and gets worse and worse each night. One way round that is to use a waterproof ‘fuzzy’ liner which traps the moisture without feeling wet itself, and dries out quickly.
Nice comparision. Testing out gear is not only great for making a video but further refining your own kit. Heading out in the Ontario Wilderness this weekend. Should have similar temps to this video. Testing out a new insulation for the hammock.
+LiveWild I have learned a lot from the discipline of testing gear before i need to rely on it. Perhaps the channel has me do it more often but i think it is an excellent habit for keeping yourself safe in the wild. Enjoy your weekend out. I am heading to the big city ... basically the complete opposite of what you are doing.
Ha! I waited for your video to come out after Craig's and then I missed it. Loved the video! That is how you test gear! Can't say it enough: Great video!
EconoChallenge I have not received any private messages from you. I even checked just now. Nothing. Could you send it again? I will let you know as soon as I receive it.
some people have told me it works fine around the 35 degree mark but I have to agree I froze during a backpacking hike out on the CDT in 2014 late April and needed an additional liner to help out and it was colllllllld
Sleeping in a nylon shell jacket will promote moisture. Sleeping on a cot will lose heat underneath you. Having the right rated sleeping bag and a proper mat is all you need.
That is the only way to do a review. These unboxing videos I watch don't really give me much more than what I can read for myself. You have to take it out and use it more than a few times before you will be able to give anyone really good information.
Well this was interesting, epic fail of the wool blanket and hammock which was to be expected and epic fail of the SOL Bivy on it's own!! Good lessons learned for all of us. Hammocks are cold even in warmer weather they seem to be chilly to the back so I was expecting that to be cold. Did you have any condensation issues with the Bivy. I hate it when my bag gets damp because of lack of breathability. Really good stuff in this video.
A J Taylor The SOL Escape Bivvy advertises that it is breathable! I was not hot enough to perspire but I did not notice any dampness in the morning. Great question ... Thank you my friend.
Typical mistake, the Sleeping bag rating is based on dry stale air (zero wind, no dew) and not wearing clothing. If your wearing clothing, especial anything that was worn that day and not 100% dry will make you freeze. Anyone who jumps in a sleeping bag with clothes on is going to have a cold sleep period. (experience from camping in the rockies at -20c, and along the west coast)
I actually just scrolled through all these videos to see if anyone else actually knew this about NOT wearing your clothes into the bag. I have found though in diffiicult conditions, if your coat is basically dry like nornal to use it bunched up on me at the mouth of my sleeping bag. That creats warmth of course but a large breathable area for moisture to get out.
Bill Randall i do the same thing with my camping hammock. There are pouches under it and putting all my loose clothes in iy makes a huge difference because the air flow. It probably makes the difference i can use it another 30 to 40 degrees lower comfortably.
I live above 56th parallel and always carry a pair of dry wool socks, long johns and a light sweater. Along with a 1 man Pup tent to keep the dew and the rain off. a -15deg Jones bag. A small hot water bottle, a ground mat. no matter where i pack into. you are correct about how to sleep in a Bag in good weather and dryness is paramount. Nothing can rattle people more than to go to sleep in 60 deg weather at 10 at night and to be awoken at 3AM in the middle of a Spring snow storm.
Excellent test and information! I have one of these in my pack and have used it over my -18c down winter bag at -20c and it worked great. I would only use it as a bag alone in summer, then I think it would be sufficient. I do think though that in the winter it may make the difference in actual survival if lost in the woods, you wouldn't be warm but would probably live through the night especially if the conditions weren't great for a fire.
I know it's an older review but it's popular so I'd like to comment. This test totally misses the point of a "survival bivy." It's actually, somewhat irresponsible. The real question is not about relative comfort ("am I cold?") but: Would you have SURVIVED the night or DIED of hypothermia? Another good question: Would you have gotten frostbite in this thing? Bottom line . . . before you go on any operation, you have to check weather and terrain. If you're in a place and time of year where the temperature drops very low at night, you absolutely MUST take enough "warm gear" to survive an emergency overnighter. That means thick woolen blankets or even better, a sleeping bag. Do not rely on an "escape bivy" alone unless temperatures are in the range it can handle comfortably.
they say you can go without a thermal bag if it's around 50F, i have done 40 and was still fine. I would say the bivvy would be okay for a ohh crap moment in conjunction with some fire. Compared to the survival blanket from SOL the heat reflection is lower. I would rather haul two survival blankets and some string then have the as an emergency shelter, nevr tested it with another sleeping bag though.
+The Last Grownup in the Woods You will see it in action again very soon. I was out in freezing conditions again and it saved me from retreating to the truck. LOL
Mylar type blankets or bags meant as a temporary measure. In freezing temperatures the Mylar type stuff will make you sweat and then freeze you. If you hold it close to your skin you will feel heat but when you touch it you feel cool. Difference in reflecting heat and conducting heat. Also it is best with polyester clothing and not thick layers. Inside or outside of a sleeping bag is good for a day or two of winter. For extended cold weather the Mylar would be good inside a sleeping bag as a vapor barrier so your sleeping bag does not accumulate moisture and stay wet and lose its insulating properties.
Man, your timing on this comment is golden. I just got back from an overnight in minus 6-celsius conditions with this bivvy over a light down sleeping bag that I used in the same way you might use a top quilt. I was very warm. In the morning I found the outside of the sleeping bag was frozen to the inside of the bivvy bag. Now this version in breathable and is supposed to manage moisture better than the cheaper version. But it would not be good for more than one night out in the cold.
I like good timing:) I have also been reading about open cell foam clothing. A guy named Perry Peacock from WildernessInnovations made foam clothing for himself and has been able to sleep outside with no protection straight on the snow in up to -40 degrees. No reason why I am looking at winter camping stuff now. I live in dried up fire ridden Southern California... I see all these bushcraft channels and people lighting fires, making super shelters etc. and I just kinda wanna cry inside lol. Just a tiny bit of jealousy.
neil castell A few years back one of the guys tried the heat n click heating pads to try and warm up the sleeping bag before he used it. Turns out it was hot enough to melt a few of the attachment points inside his sleeping pad. When he tried to lie down the attachment points popped causing a hug balloon to form where the heating pad was sitting. It ruined the Thermarest pad.
+Big City Ready 2017 Thank you for your kind words. I think you will be impressed with how they work if combined with some other system like a blanket or sleeping bag. On there own they will not keep you warm in freezing conditions.
I used mine last weekend for the first time in -20c. This bivvy does not breath very well in those temperatures. My sleeping bag was very wet on the surface in the morning, not a good thing when you are using an expensive down bag. I used it last fall around the same temp, +3c and it was fine.
Good to know. So when you drop below freezing it must have more of a challenge "breathing". I have since discovered a similar problem when trying to use it in below freezing conditions.
I thought bivy bags were supposed to be an outside "tent" layer. Something to put your sleeping bag inside of instead of a tent. Not just something to slide yourself into with your hiking clothes.
You are correct. That is exactly how "real" bivy bags work. However, this is being marketed as a lightweight emergency bivvy bag. Something to through in your backpack to have handy if you ever get stuck out in the wild on an overnight unexpectedly.
Has anyone considered the very simple idea of using more than one bivy against the cold? Isn't that what you do when one blanket is not enough? Add another one?
Great informative video, forestwalker111 probably could have used a bit more insulation under his hammock, I have used a Mylar backed foam sleep mat in mine, with the old Czech sleep system but not tried it at -3!
No probably about it brother Alex! Definitely!!! lol An underquilt or a good R value pad was called for. I had hoped to get along with the wool bivvy bag, which I hold would have worked had mine been real wool. I was duped into buying a small bolt of synthetic and got burned, er...frozen, as a result. Lol I am looking at a sleep pad for the next time up there! Lol Cheers brother and Be well Craig
+Forestwalker111 yup, heard good things about the Italian army officers blanket, but I don't know from personal experience. If you are mostly clothed the Czech bedroll/sleep system is good to maybe +2C if a mat of some sort underneath is used, but the damn thing weighs about 8lb on its own and really needs another liner of some sort. Btw I believe the phrase you were looking for is 'split from stem to stern.' 😉 though I don't know where the saying comes from. Sounds nautical. Probably. Maybe. Heck, it's just a guess. Good luck on your next one, coming to you from sunny Scotland, where it reached the heady heights of 4C here last night, and 13C during the day!
Hello From Vancouver, I was noticing that sleeping bag you have, it looks like a very good light weight option, where could I find a mont bell like that in Canada, thanks for your great videos, oh i got my amazing wilderness camp chair in the mail and it is awesome.
+THENEWWRANGLER I ordered mine online a few years ago. This is the closest version - www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=3214&p_id=2321183 It is an awesome bag for me because I like the warmth of a mummy bag but don`t like how confining it can be. This one offers mummy comfort and you can still move around in it. Love it.
The bag is made by Mont-bell super stretch mummy bag. It will stretch to allow for more leg movement and return to a mummy bag shape when you stop moving. I find staight mummy bag way to confining for my comfort.
If the bivey does not pass moister then it must get trapped in the bag. May not be a good option for longer trips I'm guessing. Down bags might be a further risk of condensation as well.....what do you think Jeep?
TomsBackwoods The SOL Emergency Bivvy is definitely guilty of moisture build up and it happens fast. The SOL Escape Bivvy is advertised to be breathable. In theory some moisture can escape. I did not find that my sleeping bag was any more damp than any other time I have slept in it in these temperatures. It certainly performed better than the Emergency Bivvy. If it was much warmer and I was perspiring more I would not need the extra protection of the Escape Bivvy. The sleeping bag I was using in this video is stuffed with synthetic fibres.
The windbreaker / rain jacket is made by Columbia. They call it "Omni-heat" technology. The idea is the inside of the jacket reflects radiated heat back to the body. I really can not tell you if it is any better than any other windbreaker without omni-heat at keeping you warm. Great at cutting out wind and keeping water off of you. That is about all I can say about it.
Nice Video. I looked up that #3 bag and it is rated for 30, not zero. And I wonder what kind of results you would get sleeping inside in the bivy inside the bag with maybe a light tarp tossed on top for dew if needed.
30 ferinhight is just below zero or freezing in celsius. Normally I try to remember to make that distinction when I talk about the temp. Sorry about that. We are broadcasting from Canada and we are using the celsius tempurature scale. I don't have the gear to try and stay out in zero ferinhight. That is crazy cold for me.
Hey Jeep, I live in below zero temperature (F not C). I have used my thermorest on top of the snow covered ground. It makes all the difference. I was wondering why you put the thermorest inside the cot? I think it would have performed better if you were laying on it. Just a thought, regardless I would love to have you do it again and see if it makes a difference? I am six ft four inches tall and I hear the escape bivvy is too short for us tall, big guys. I know you are approaching this size, and it seems you talked with SOL, did they say why they don't make a bigger size Bivvy for those of us that are bigger and maybe a little clostrophobic?
Daryl Gud You should know I don`t have any relationship with Adventure Medical Kits other than I have purchased a few of their products. I am 5'11" and I would not be able to close the Escape Bivvy completely over my head without curling up a little. You certainly would be sticking out the top . I know they make a two person version of the emergency bivvy (not the same breathable fabric as the escape) but I don't know if they made it any longer. I put the thermarest inside the cot to keep in in place under me. Sometimes I get moving around and the thermarest can work its way out from under me. I don't know how this happens because I am asleep but I wake up quickly due to the cold and have to put it back under me again. In hammock mode it is even worse!
EconoChallenge I wonder if you put a pocket on the top and bottom of your amazing cot to hold a thermorest, kind of like your pillow pocket if it would hold it in place. I don't want to harp on this but I understand the way the thermorest works best is when your body heat warms up the small air pockets in the pad. You know dead air space is the best insulator their is. That is why I wondered if it would be better if it was next to you for body heat. Or do you get it anyway because the fabric of the cot stays right up next to the thermorest. Some how I got an image of the fabric of the cot keeping you suspended above the thermorest. Just wondering. Thanks again, especially for the answer.
The cot is pulled pretty tight in this configuration but not tight enough that you are not lying on the pad itself also. The pad gets squeezed between the two layers of the cot fabric like a sandwich. No worries about the questions. You are not there so you can not always figure every answer out from the video. I am very happy when people are interested and ask questions. I have learned a lot from viewer comments and questions over the years.
I called it the Amazing Wilderness Camp Cot. The final version of this cot can be used in a raised bed shelter, simple camp cot, hammock or camp chair. I make and sell them to those who are interested. Send me an email to econochallenge@live.com if you want to learn more.
I'm closer in size to Craig (ForestWalker) and getting a sleeping bag and myself into the SOL bivy sack is impossible for me. I would definitely bust the seams. The bivy sack INSIDE my bag to be used as a liner might work but probably snug tight as well.
I tried the same test a few weeks ago but with just a 2Go Systems Trifecta bivy which is much bigger and I put on a wool anorak at 2:30am. No long undies. It got down to 4°C. I got chilled enough to have to urinate 2x but I made it through the night and slept well. Next step will be to use it at 0° or lower with my 0° down bag inside. I'm still waiting for that weather. :)
In a situation where it is cold weather. To get the full effect of warmth, is to strip down naked. As being in your clothes, it traps the heat which cannot distribute the heat as well as your clothes being off. Just a suggestion.
+Keith Lapere When I got into the cot at first I just had the bivvy. There was no way I could have stripped off clothing at that point. The heat was being reflected back but I was still loosing heat from conduction. This bivvy sac is cold to the touch. It really needed an insulating layer to trap warmed air around my body. When I got up and added the sleeping bag that is when this system really performed. I had to strip down to my base layer to keep from perspiring at these temps.
I gave my SOL Bivy a try this past summer. The temp got down to 10c. With just my clothes on and the bivy, I found I sweat a lot, the inside of the bivy was soaking wet. I don’t know if I would like try this thing out if temps dropped below freezing. I was not impressed. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.
Did you have the "breathable" version? That helps a lot but does not solve the problem of condensation on the inside of the bag. I use mine with a light compact bag liner and that gives me another layer to absorb the moisture. Then I take that out in the morning to dry.
Yea wool blankets are not all they are cracked up to be. Lots of misconceptions abounding concerning them but some bushcraft stick the the script and will not bash them. I think that bivvy is best kept for the car and not very cold temperatures as you will be frozen in condensation before long. Limited but still useful. Mylar blankets are overrated as much as wool blankets. I am glad you kept it honest because bad advice could lead to someone freezing to death.
I think it has something to do with laying out cash and then not wanting to admit the purchase was a mistake. Since you spent the money you want it to live up to the hype. I have taken more than a little criticism for giving my honest opinion good and bad about products others have raved about. The ThermaCELL Mosquito Area Repellent Appliance is a fantastic example.
I slept with a liner and the bivvy and it left me cold. I started sweating due to lack of breathability (My head was out). I used the Tac Bivvy brand though.
I don't have any experience with down sleeping bags yet. I just purchased my first one this year and have only used in on one trip. I suspect it would perform about the same this demonstration. More likely you would have been too warm.
Have the, frog, version escape bivvy, and like you on the real cold nights, you need a sleeping bag. Does that mean it's a bust; not by a long shot. Just like you can do a lot with a nail, it works best with a hammer.
In freezing conditions you would need to have clothing with some insulation. Let’s say you were caught out on a day hike in plus 10 C weather and you only had a t-shirt and light hiking pants and then got lost. This would not keep you from suffering from exposure if the temp dropped below freezing in the night. You would need at least some form of insulation. In this scenario if you had a jacket and hat with you then it would be enough to keep you alive. You could also stuff the bivvy with grass or dry moss or dry leaves.
I will do that. I am going out again this fall and that is the best time of year to use this setup because I don't need a bug screen. I will try it on top with the SOL bivvy and see if I notice a difference.
took on the Appalachian Trail....and it did not last... non breathable one...and tore a hole in the bottom...the non breathable one...too much condensation.....
+Philip Buckley Yup. It is like wearing a plastic garbage bag. Emergency use only in my opinion. The breathable version is a lot better but still has a bit of condensation build up in cool weather.
I assume you are speaking Canadian, that is Celsius rather than Fahrenheit. There are several SOL bivys (or bivvys) sold. Which one is this. How much did it cost and how much does it weigh?
+EconoChallenge what's that like 25 degrees below more I live in southern California it's been in the 70's for a while it rained yesterday still nice and warm you sleeping outside tonight
I am very unimpressed. The whole point is to sleep in it alone. If you just use it as a outer shell for your other sleeping bag you are far better off with a real heavy duty goretex bivy bag.
The test demonstrated to us that it does not work on its own in cold conditions. It does extend the ability of other equipment to keep you warm like clothing or a warm weather sleeping bag. It is compact light weight kit that you can carry should you be caught in unexpectedly cold weather. That can happen anytime in the spring and fall here in Canada or perhaps anytime in the mountains.
SimbaOS Completely different things. This is a compact emergency shelter. The MSS bivy is part of a rugged milspec sleep system. Its supposed to be used (and abused) a lot. But it is heavier, less compact and more expensive. On the other hand if you get the whole system you are basically set for every possibility. (within reasonable bounds). Pack a Tarp and some paracord and you can sleep pretty cozy, even in wet/cold weather.
Johannes Dolch Yeah. I have a British army goretex bivy. It's just a bivy, not a full sleep system like the US Army Sleeping System which is a little bit pricey for me, regardless of the fact that it really worth every penny, that's for sure. I was just wondered which one is better one on one, just the bivy by itself. I guess goretex is more wearproof and with a sleeping bag inside it would be way to go. Initially I though that the reflective inner layer would provide more heat preservation, but it seams it's not so.
Really cool test. I would bet that you would have survived, You just wouldn't have slept very much. :-) Well, maybe you could have made a nest of leaves or something.. Your pretty clever that way.. I wouldn't bother with a wool blanket anymore. Too heavy or me. Your little sleeping bag and bivy combo sounds perfect. Are you going to continue to use the bivy, or just keep it or emergency? At $50 or so it's understandable you don't want to ruin your emergency plan. It's still cheaper than other bivies though.. Love your cot set up. Great way to sleep under the stars. You got just enough to keep you away from the ants and other creepers, but your not swinging in the breeze. Thanks for sharing a great adventure my friend! :-)
saradreaming I get caught sleeping in an unexpected cold night more often in the spring and fall. Nothing life threatening just uncomfortable. Now I will have the Escape Bivvy with me to make the difference when that happens. So I plan to carry it all the time in the spring and fall and use it!!
The hat is something I make and have sold in the past. Unfortunately, I am sold out and have very little time to make more. The chairs have taken over all my free time. If you are interested in finding out more, send an email to my email address at econochallenge@live.com.
+Mark Riley I have learned you can't freeze to death in your sleep. You will wake up at least once as you start to cool so you can do something about it. As long as you don't override your bodies natural survival mechanisms with drugs or alcohol you will wake up at least once and shiver. Then it is time to take action.
+Carson Hackney The Gentleman in the vid's channel says he is Canadian. Therefore he is talking Deg C. I had to go looking too. Confusing when you have to go looking for context to understand the meaning?
+Tony McDermott You make a very good point. I normally put the conversion right in the video but missed this one for some reason. I have added an annotation for future viewers. Thank you both for you comments.
Do Americans realise when they say "zero degree rated sleeping bag" that it is celsius not fahrenheit? Because they always talk in fahrenheit and then 2 seconds later refer to their 'zero degree bag' when really its a 32deg bag for them.
It would have been very helpful it the USA had switched when we did. I get lots of questions for American viewers when I am out in zero degree weather and they say it does not look that cold.
+EconoChallenge I see those darn canucks gave into the communists!!! I giss I no longer want anything to do with you maple loving pansies! YEEEEEE HAW!! (rides off into the sunset) lol, I kid, I kid
You can skip to 5:30 for the beginning of the test or better is 6:27 for the beginning of the review.
Very good point made here
Thanks for saving me some time.
Thx m8
I just enjoy watching Jeeps videos, the bivvy bag review is secondary.
I use it as a a liner inside a sleeping bag if it's going to be really cold. For that, it's great.
Last time I had to use it I just threw a Grabber all weather blanket over the hammock so each side touched the ground. That stopped the convective breeze from going under the hammock and I was fine. Have never used an underquilt.
That is a really great tip. Thank you!
I have a video where I modified my SOL Bivvy to allow room for folks that move around a lot in their sleep or for larger sized people. I like to use it like you did in conjunction with another bag to add reflection and wind protection. It really shines when it's used as part of an overall system. Thanks for sharing your test.
The SOL escape bivvies seem like they would work best in the classic "car stuck in a blizzard scenario" where you have your vehicle for shelter and use the bivy to sleep in at night. Especially if you paired the bivy with a blanket or lighter sleeping bag.
That’s what I use mine for.
For comparison sake:
the Escape Bivy (used above) has a 31" width;
the Escape Pro has a 31" width;
the Escape Lite Bivy has a 32" width;
the Escape Emergency Bivy has a 36" width but it is polyethene and not breathable;
my new 2Go Systems Trifecta has a 35.4" width.
All but the Emergency Bivy are aluminized Tyvek but the Trifecta can also be used as a tarp since it has a full-length zipper, is larger, and has 9 tie outs. For $5 more you can get a bigger bivy bag that has far more versatility but with a 7 oz. penalty. I made my decision after testing it - the Trifecta is in my EDC backpack.
I've often wondered about these SOL bags. Thanks for testing it out for us.
illbilly The regular SOL Bivvy failed for Forestwalker111 because it ripped easily. The Escape version is more durable and is the one I would suggest you try.
Thanks. Good information.
I am so glad I found you again! last time I saw one of your Videos was the 'Amazing Wilderness Camp / Hammock Chair '
You are my greatest inspiration - very informative & never a dull moment, thank you (from the UK)
Dr_ nincompoop Well well. Welcome back. You have some catching up to do my friend. LOL Thank you for your kind words.
Hay, Jeep & Craig; Good 2 know the limits of the gear we purchase & use. Thanks 4 the heads up on the over-nighter trip. Have a great weekend up yonder, Friends.
Happy Trails From Down The Path A Piece ATB Terry
God Bless
T.W. Milburn It was a fun night out for sure and we both learned a bunch. I am working on this combination to try and get my overall pack weight down. Every test hike a get a little closer to my goal. Thanks for dropping in for a visit.
Great review on the SOL Bivy. I love my SOL Breathable Bivy and like you use it over my sleeping bag. I live in Virginia and have camped in the mountains using this system, however, my bag is an inexpensive Farland (synthetic stuffing) rated at 35 degrees. So far there have been no issues being cold and even down into the high 20's. I've used the SOL just as a sleeping bag in my hammock using a Snugpak Underblanket and stayed quite warm. There were two occasions I had to place a Snugpak jungle blanket over me when the temp dropped into the low 30's. My sleep outfit is a synthetic pair of long johns, long sleeve shirt, beanie, a $1 pair of wool mittens from Dollar Tree and a fresh pair of wool Cabin Socks from Dick's. I pack a smaller SOL Bivy as well (in a first aid kit).
Did you find that moisture builds up in your sleeping bag on multi day trips?
Now that is testing put to the test...I appreciate that point on the SOL Bivvy...you can bet I will try to add that to my kit but not as a stand alone.
+Man Land (Midnight121) Glad to help my friend.
Though I am not going to out trekking around in those conditions it's great to see you guys out in the real world testing out the gear.
Tango Joe It is the only way to test your gear. The backyard just does not give you the feedback you need to fix / improve / adjust or replace. Before anyone goes on the 10 day Econo Challenge they have to take all their gear out for at least a weekend test hike in similar conditions and terrain as the area we are going to explore. Time and time again it has proven the best way to figure out what you are forgetting and what needs to be fixed or adjusted before the big hike.
Good informative video! Unless the wool bivvy was about three inches thick there’s no way it would be warm enough, even if it was pure wool.
Wool isn’t magic, it works like any other insulation, by trapping tiny pockets of air. Don’t forget, sheep generate a lot of heat from their digestion of grass; if they didn’t, they’d need much thicker wool to survive cold weather.
We can do the same by eating fats and oils before we sleep, which then generate extra heat at night.
Good to know. Thank you for trying it out for all of us.
Thank you for dropping in for a visit.
A bivvy is not a replacement for sleeping. It is designed to be used as a water and wind resistant shell for your sleeping bag. That being said, I wish the SOL Escape Bivvy was a bit wider at the shoulder and feet. Great video gentleman.
I agree. It is just a little tight.
Excellent test and review. On the strength of this I've subscribed to your channel *and* added the SOL Escape Bivvy to my "To Buy" list to add to my day pack.
Great to know it'll increase the effectiveness of my sleeping bag on really cold nights.
Your mate at the end of the video looked like he'd just come back from beating Robin Hood in a quarterstaff fight and dumping him in the river.
Wolf NZ Outdoors LOL you made my day with this comment. Thank you for my smile.
EconoChallenge
You're most welcome. It was, seriously, a damned fine test and review and it answered my default question when looking at *any* product: "yeah, but is it any good?" ATB, Wolf.
good review. From my personal experience I slept in my bag with the bivvy over top as well. However in the morning my sleeping bag was a bit damp because of condensation. I was very warm overnight but if I had to stay another night it would of been in a damp sleeping bag...
That’s a good point. The body gives off water vapour all night, which condenses in the outer part of the bag where it meets a cold layer, even in a breathable bivvy. Next night, if it’s not dried properly, which is difficult in cold, damp weather, the insulation is reduced by the trapped moisture and gets worse and worse each night. One way round that is to use a waterproof ‘fuzzy’ liner which traps the moisture without feeling wet itself, and dries out quickly.
I have that in my bug out bag and it's now nice to know that additional prep is needed if it's to be used effectively!
Ah that makes me feel great. Thank you so much for sharing.
red glow..... evil chuckle..... priceless
I always use it as a bivvy bag, which means a bag you put on you sleeping bag to get warmer and more protected from rain and wind.
Did you notice any moisture buildup in your sleeping bag when you did that?
@@EconoChallenge no, never!
I have an SOL BIVVY. GREAT INFO. Thank you both!!!
+Bruce Forster Glad you liked it and you are welcome.
Nice comparision. Testing out gear is not only great for making a video but further refining your own kit. Heading out in the Ontario Wilderness this weekend. Should have similar temps to this video. Testing out a new insulation for the hammock.
+LiveWild I have learned a lot from the discipline of testing gear before i need to rely on it. Perhaps the channel has me do it more often but i think it is an excellent habit for keeping yourself safe in the wild. Enjoy your weekend out. I am heading to the big city ... basically the complete opposite of what you are doing.
Thaaaanks!
Good thing you had a back-up plan or you could have been SOL.
That made me laugh. Thank you I needed that.
Ha! I waited for your video to come out after Craig's and then I missed it.
Loved the video! That is how you test gear!
Can't say it enough: Great video!
SpartanJohns I sent you a video link in a private message. Have you seen it yet?
EconoChallenge I have not received any private messages from you. I even checked just now. Nothing. Could you send it again? I will let you know as soon as I receive it.
SpartanJohns I just sent another private message to your channel with the link. Let me know if you get it.
some people have told me it works fine around the 35 degree mark but I have to agree I froze during a backpacking hike out on the CDT in 2014 late April and needed an additional liner to help out and it was colllllllld
Sleeping in a nylon shell jacket will promote moisture. Sleeping on a cot will lose heat underneath you. Having the right rated sleeping bag and a proper mat is all you need.
Excellent real life test!
That is the only way to do a review. These unboxing videos I watch don't really give me much more than what I can read for myself. You have to take it out and use it more than a few times before you will be able to give anyone really good information.
Have you tried Blizzard survival products? They are quilted mylar blankets or sleep tube or bivy. They also do jackets and light blankets.
Blizzard is a new name for me. I will look them up.
Well this was interesting, epic fail of the wool blanket and hammock which was to be expected and epic fail of the SOL Bivy on it's own!! Good lessons learned for all of us. Hammocks are cold even in warmer weather they seem to be chilly to the back so I was expecting that to be cold. Did you have any condensation issues with the Bivy. I hate it when my bag gets damp because of lack of breathability. Really good stuff in this video.
A J Taylor The SOL Escape Bivvy advertises that it is breathable! I was not hot enough to perspire but I did not notice any dampness in the morning. Great question ... Thank you my friend.
Typical mistake, the Sleeping bag rating is based on dry stale air (zero wind, no dew) and not wearing clothing. If your wearing clothing, especial anything that was worn that day and not 100% dry will make you freeze. Anyone who jumps in a sleeping bag with clothes on is going to have a cold sleep period. (experience from camping in the rockies at -20c, and along the west coast)
I never knew how they rated temperatures for sleeping bags. Thanks for the info.
I actually just scrolled through all these videos to see if anyone else actually knew this about NOT wearing your clothes into the bag. I have found though in diffiicult conditions, if your coat is basically dry like nornal to use it bunched up on me at the mouth of my sleeping bag. That creats warmth of course but a large breathable area for moisture to get out.
Bill Randall i do the same thing with my camping hammock. There are pouches under it and putting all my loose clothes in iy makes a huge difference because the air flow. It probably makes the difference i can use it another 30 to 40 degrees lower comfortably.
I live above 56th parallel and always carry a pair of dry wool socks, long johns and a light sweater. Along with a 1 man Pup tent to keep the dew and the rain off. a -15deg Jones bag. A small hot water bottle, a ground mat. no matter where i pack into. you are correct about how to sleep in a Bag in good weather and dryness is paramount. Nothing can rattle people more than to go to sleep in 60 deg weather at 10 at night and to be awoken at 3AM in the middle of a Spring snow storm.
@Bill Randall I do it all the fuckin time.
Thanks for the video, I'm looking into getting one to add to my 30deg bag just in case and I really appreciate your efforts for the sake of Science.
Excellent test and information! I have one of these in my pack and have used it over my -18c down winter bag at -20c and it worked great. I would only use it as a bag alone in summer, then I think it would be sufficient. I do think though that in the winter it may make the difference in actual survival if lost in the woods, you wouldn't be warm but would probably live through the night especially if the conditions weren't great for a fire.
Jacqueline Schwartz That is my impression so far as well. Still I would like to try it out this winter and see what it can do.
I know it's an older review but it's popular so I'd like to comment. This test totally misses the point of a "survival bivy." It's actually, somewhat irresponsible.
The real question is not about relative comfort ("am I cold?") but: Would you have SURVIVED the night or DIED of hypothermia? Another good question: Would you have gotten frostbite in this thing?
Bottom line . . . before you go on any operation, you have to check weather and terrain. If you're in a place and time of year where the temperature drops very low at night, you absolutely MUST take enough "warm gear" to survive an emergency overnighter. That means thick woolen blankets or even better, a sleeping bag.
Do not rely on an "escape bivy" alone unless temperatures are in the range it can handle comfortably.
they say you can go without a thermal bag if it's around 50F, i have done 40 and was still fine. I would say the bivvy would be okay for a ohh crap moment in conjunction with some fire. Compared to the survival blanket from SOL the heat reflection is lower. I would rather haul two survival blankets and some string then have the as an emergency shelter, nevr tested it with another sleeping bag though.
I was eyeing that up at MEC yesterday. Decided against it, but good to know it works decently.
+The Last Grownup in the Woods You will see it in action again very soon. I was out in freezing conditions again and it saved me from retreating to the truck. LOL
Mylar type blankets or bags meant as a temporary measure. In freezing temperatures the Mylar type stuff will make you sweat and then freeze you. If you hold it close to your skin you will feel heat but when you touch it you feel cool. Difference in reflecting heat and conducting heat. Also it is best with polyester clothing and not thick layers. Inside or outside of a sleeping bag is good for a day or two of winter. For extended cold weather the Mylar would be good inside a sleeping bag as a vapor barrier so your sleeping bag does not accumulate moisture and stay wet and lose its insulating properties.
Man, your timing on this comment is golden. I just got back from an overnight in minus 6-celsius conditions with this bivvy over a light down sleeping bag that I used in the same way you might use a top quilt. I was very warm. In the morning I found the outside of the sleeping bag was frozen to the inside of the bivvy bag. Now this version in breathable and is supposed to manage moisture better than the cheaper version. But it would not be good for more than one night out in the cold.
I like good timing:) I have also been reading about open cell foam clothing. A guy named Perry Peacock from WildernessInnovations made foam clothing for himself and has been able to sleep outside with no protection straight on the snow in up to -40 degrees. No reason why I am looking at winter camping stuff now. I live in dried up fire ridden Southern California... I see all these bushcraft channels and people lighting fires, making super shelters etc. and I just kinda wanna cry inside lol. Just a tiny bit of jealousy.
Great video Bro and great Info on the bivy, was wondering how they would work now I know....Thanks for sharing
Great test! Interesting product! Cheers! Pat
a couple of those chemical hand warmers
would be a good addition if it got any colder,
neil castell A few years back one of the guys tried the heat n click heating pads to try and warm up the sleeping bag before he used it. Turns out it was hot enough to melt a few of the attachment points inside his sleeping pad. When he tried to lie down the attachment points popped causing a hug balloon to form where the heating pad was sitting. It ruined the Thermarest pad.
the ones i have dont get that hot,
but its a good point to be aware of.
+neil castell also those consume oxygen, don't use them in an enclosed space if you're going to be in it.
Thank you both very much for a very informative video!
Great test.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
Thank you for dropping in for a visit.
Excellent real world testing. Thanks.
+TheGoatMumbler Testing yourself is the only way you figure out what you don`t know.
nice video guys, just bought 2 bivvy . have not tested it as yet
+Big City Ready 2017 Thank you for your kind words. I think you will be impressed with how they work if combined with some other system like a blanket or sleeping bag. On there own they will not keep you warm in freezing conditions.
I used mine last weekend for the first time in -20c. This bivvy does not breath very well in those temperatures. My sleeping bag was very wet on the surface in the morning, not a good thing when you are using an expensive down bag. I used it last fall around the same temp, +3c and it was fine.
Good to know. So when you drop below freezing it must have more of a challenge "breathing". I have since discovered a similar problem when trying to use it in below freezing conditions.
I thought bivy bags were supposed to be an outside "tent" layer. Something to put your sleeping bag inside of instead of a tent. Not just something to slide yourself into with your hiking clothes.
You are correct. That is exactly how "real" bivy bags work. However, this is being marketed as a lightweight emergency bivvy bag. Something to through in your backpack to have handy if you ever get stuck out in the wild on an overnight unexpectedly.
Has anyone considered the very simple idea of using more than one bivy against the cold? Isn't that what you do when one blanket is not enough? Add another one?
Hmmm. I know this never crossed my mind ... until you mentioned it. It just so happens that my wife purchased one so now we can attempt this idea.
yea but probably any item that keeps the wind from blowing thru your sleeping bag would help keep you just as warm.
Good one! I like your sleeping arrangement pal :D
BushmanofYukon Sometime is feels good to be able to do that without waking up to one big bug bite welt.
EconoChallenge Or a chunk missing from Mr. Grizz ;o)
Great informative video, forestwalker111 probably could have used a bit more insulation under his hammock, I have used a Mylar backed foam sleep mat in mine, with the old Czech sleep system but not tried it at -3!
No probably about it brother Alex! Definitely!!! lol
An underquilt or a good R value pad was called for. I had hoped to get along with the wool bivvy bag, which I hold would have worked had mine been real wool. I was duped into buying a small bolt of synthetic and got burned, er...frozen, as a result. Lol
I am looking at a sleep pad for the next time up there! Lol
Cheers brother and
Be well
Craig
+Forestwalker111 yup, heard good things about the Italian army officers blanket, but I don't know from personal experience. If you are mostly clothed the Czech bedroll/sleep system is good to maybe +2C if a mat of some sort underneath is used, but the damn thing weighs about 8lb on its own and really needs another liner of some sort. Btw I believe the phrase you were looking for is 'split from stem to stern.' 😉 though I don't know where the saying comes from. Sounds nautical. Probably. Maybe. Heck, it's just a guess. Good luck on your next one, coming to you from sunny Scotland, where it reached the heady heights of 4C here last night, and 13C during the day!
Hello From Vancouver, I was noticing that sleeping bag you have, it looks like a very good light weight option, where could I find a mont bell like that in Canada, thanks for your great videos, oh i got my amazing wilderness camp chair in the mail and it is awesome.
+THENEWWRANGLER I ordered mine online a few years ago. This is the closest version - www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=3214&p_id=2321183
It is an awesome bag for me because I like the warmth of a mummy bag but don`t like how confining it can be. This one offers mummy comfort and you can still move around in it. Love it.
great review and test just subbed thanks for the video
+Amra Survival Awesome
What info do you have for the zero degree rated sleeping bag that you inserted in the SOL BIVVY?
The bag is made by Mont-bell super stretch mummy bag. It will stretch to allow for more leg movement and return to a mummy bag shape when you stop moving. I find staight mummy bag way to confining for my comfort.
Great review, thank you!
Thank you for watching and leaving us a comment.
If the bivey does not pass moister then it must get trapped in the bag. May not be a good option for longer trips I'm guessing. Down bags might be a further risk of condensation as well.....what do you think Jeep?
TomsBackwoods The SOL Emergency Bivvy is definitely guilty of moisture build up and it happens fast. The SOL Escape Bivvy is advertised to be breathable. In theory some moisture can escape. I did not find that my sleeping bag was any more damp than any other time I have slept in it in these temperatures. It certainly performed better than the Emergency Bivvy. If it was much warmer and I was perspiring more I would not need the extra protection of the Escape Bivvy. The sleeping bag I was using in this video is stuffed with synthetic fibres.
Thank you guys for doing this. Maybe two of those bib you sacks together would be better . Cost ?
I tried a bag liner and that helps a lot when it comes to loosing heat through conduction.
The therma rest....the Cdn military use thr same thing
Love the idea of this sol bivy. Also, what Is the name of that Very warm Jackets your wearing the video?
The windbreaker / rain jacket is made by Columbia. They call it "Omni-heat" technology. The idea is the inside of the jacket reflects radiated heat back to the body. I really can not tell you if it is any better than any other windbreaker without omni-heat at keeping you warm. Great at cutting out wind and keeping water off of you. That is about all I can say about it.
if you are ever caught in conditions...Bigger fire....and add leaves into that Bivvy! (worse gets to worse...cuddle up!) :)
Excellent suggestion
try with a down bag you will love it
I would love a down bag.
Nice Video. I looked up that #3 bag and it is rated for 30, not zero. And I wonder what kind of results you would get sleeping inside in the bivy inside the bag with maybe a light tarp tossed on top for dew if needed.
30 ferinhight is just below zero or freezing in celsius. Normally I try to remember to make that distinction when I talk about the temp. Sorry about that. We are broadcasting from Canada and we are using the celsius tempurature scale. I don't have the gear to try and stay out in zero ferinhight. That is crazy cold for me.
fun to see, cool test :)
hobbexp Thanks for dropping in for a visit my friend. Good to see you.
Hey Jeep, I live in below zero temperature (F not C). I have used my thermorest on top of the snow covered ground. It makes all the difference. I was wondering why you put the thermorest inside the cot? I think it would have performed better if you were laying on it. Just a thought, regardless I would love to have you do it again and see if it makes a difference? I am six ft four inches tall and I hear the escape bivvy is too short for us tall, big guys. I know you are approaching this size, and it seems you talked with SOL, did they say why they don't make a bigger size Bivvy for those of us that are bigger and maybe a little clostrophobic?
Daryl Gud You should know I don`t have any relationship with Adventure Medical Kits other than I have purchased a few of their products. I am 5'11" and I would not be able to close the Escape Bivvy completely over my head without curling up a little. You certainly would be sticking out the top . I know they make a two person version of the emergency bivvy (not the same breathable fabric as the escape) but I don't know if they made it any longer. I put the thermarest inside the cot to keep in in place under me. Sometimes I get moving around and the thermarest can work its way out from under me. I don't know how this happens because I am asleep but I wake up quickly due to the cold and have to put it back under me again. In hammock mode it is even worse!
EconoChallenge I wonder if you put a pocket on the top and bottom of your amazing cot to hold a thermorest, kind of like your pillow pocket if it would hold it in place. I don't want to harp on this but I understand the way the thermorest works best is when your body heat warms up the small air pockets in the pad. You know dead air space is the best insulator their is. That is why I wondered if it would be better if it was next to you for body heat. Or do you get it anyway because the fabric of the cot stays right up next to the thermorest. Some how I got an image of the fabric of the cot keeping you suspended above the thermorest. Just wondering. Thanks again, especially for the answer.
The cot is pulled pretty tight in this configuration but not tight enough that you are not lying on the pad itself also. The pad gets squeezed between the two layers of the cot fabric like a sandwich. No worries about the questions. You are not there so you can not always figure every answer out from the video. I am very happy when people are interested and ask questions. I have learned a lot from viewer comments and questions over the years.
Great informative video.
Can you please tell me what the camp cot is that you have the 2 sticks/poles going through and you are lying on?
I called it the Amazing Wilderness Camp Cot. The final version of this cot can be used in a raised bed shelter, simple camp cot, hammock or camp chair. I make and sell them to those who are interested. Send me an email to econochallenge@live.com if you want to learn more.
I'm closer in size to Craig (ForestWalker) and getting a sleeping bag and myself into the SOL bivy sack is impossible for me. I would definitely bust the seams. The bivy sack INSIDE my bag to be used as a liner might work but probably snug tight as well.
I have seen someone add a strip of tyvek to make this bivvy bigger in a video on UA-cam. Would that help?
I think I saw the same video. SOL should simply make the bivy bag bigger in the first place.
Agreed. It is even a little tight for my liking.
I tried the same test a few weeks ago but with just a 2Go Systems Trifecta bivy which is much bigger and I put on a wool anorak at 2:30am. No long undies. It got down to 4°C. I got chilled enough to have to urinate 2x but I made it through the night and slept well. Next step will be to use it at 0° or lower with my 0° down bag inside. I'm still waiting for that weather. :)
In a situation where it is cold weather. To get the full effect of warmth, is to strip down naked. As being in your clothes, it traps the heat which cannot distribute the heat as well as your clothes being off.
Just a suggestion.
+Keith Lapere When I got into the cot at first I just had the bivvy. There was no way I could have stripped off clothing at that point. The heat was being reflected back but I was still loosing heat from conduction. This bivvy sac is cold to the touch. It really needed an insulating layer to trap warmed air around my body. When I got up and added the sleeping bag that is when this system really performed. I had to strip down to my base layer to keep from perspiring at these temps.
gotcha!
Good test!...thank you
Thank you for dropping in for a visit.
Good stuff, just catching up on older uploads
+Jim Cyr Good to see you in the comments my friend. Thanks.
I gave my SOL Bivy a try this past summer. The temp got down to 10c. With just my clothes on and the bivy, I found I sweat a lot, the inside of the bivy was soaking wet. I don’t know if I would like try this thing out if temps dropped below freezing. I was not impressed. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.
Did you have the "breathable" version? That helps a lot but does not solve the problem of condensation on the inside of the bag. I use mine with a light compact bag liner and that gives me another layer to absorb the moisture. Then I take that out in the morning to dry.
Yea wool blankets are not all they are cracked up to be. Lots of misconceptions abounding concerning them but some bushcraft stick the the script and will not bash them. I think that bivvy is best kept for the car and not very cold temperatures as you will be frozen in condensation before long. Limited but still useful. Mylar blankets are overrated as much as wool blankets. I am glad you kept it honest because bad advice could lead to someone freezing to death.
I think it has something to do with laying out cash and then not wanting to admit the purchase was a mistake. Since you spent the money you want it to live up to the hype. I have taken more than a little criticism for giving my honest opinion good and bad about products others have raved about. The ThermaCELL Mosquito Area Repellent Appliance is a fantastic example.
Keep doing what you are doing. I appreciate the honesty. Tell the complainers to... Well you know what to tell them lmao
I slept with a liner and the bivvy and it left me cold. I started sweating due to lack of breathability (My head was out). I used the Tac Bivvy brand though.
Hey its little john!
He also has a light and jolly personality to go with the look. Lol
nice video. did you record this with your cellphone
No
It's fairly green for negative temperatures... birds chirping...
Looks can be deceiving. That's why something like this could be very handy for your pack. The weather can surprise.
Celsius, maybe.
Yes the temperatures mentioned are in Celsius.
How would it have done with my 30,° marmont down bag and the sol escape?
I don't have any experience with down sleeping bags yet. I just purchased my first one this year and have only used in on one trip. I suspect it would perform about the same this demonstration. More likely you would have been too warm.
I have on and have not used it. Does it seem to be reusable?
OH ya. This one is way more robust than the first ones they came out with. I have used mine a half dozen times now and it keeps working great.
Good to know, thanks.
Have the, frog, version escape bivvy, and like you on the real cold nights, you need a sleeping bag. Does that mean it's a bust; not by a long shot. Just like you can do a lot with a nail, it works best with a hammer.
Exactly. Great point!
Works much better with thermal pad under you. Ground and air will suck the heat out of you
So so true.
So FYI that Bivvy has a target temperature range of 60 and above so it would fail below that
+Yeti Hairyman Ya. I would agree that seems about right.
check out the 2 go gear trifecta, its bigger and better than the sol escape bivy.
love your vids keep it up.
peace
+-Kris- Thank you.
They're supposed to keep a person alive, not necessarily comfortable. Would that bivvy fill that role?
In freezing conditions you would need to have clothing with
some insulation. Let’s say you were caught out on a day hike in plus 10 C
weather and you only had a t-shirt and light hiking pants and then got lost.
This would not keep you from suffering from exposure if the temp dropped below
freezing in the night. You would need at least some form of insulation. In this
scenario if you had a jacket and hat with you then it would be enough to keep
you alive. You could also stuff the bivvy with grass or dry moss or dry leaves.
Question, did you sleep with the thermarest on top of the cot or tucked in between the cot fabric?
I put the thermarest between the layers of the cot. Great questions, thank you.
EconoChallenge , try again with the thermarest directly on top of the cot. I bet it makes a huge Improvement.
I will do that. I am going out again this fall and that is the best time of year to use this setup because I don't need a bug screen. I will try it on top with the SOL bivvy and see if I notice a difference.
good video, ty for sharing
your Canadian cool subbed!!!
+vanisloo Awesome. Thank you!
took on the Appalachian Trail....and it did not last... non breathable one...and tore a hole in the bottom...the non breathable one...too much condensation.....
+Philip Buckley Yup. It is like wearing a plastic garbage bag. Emergency use only in my opinion. The breathable version is a lot better but still has a bit of condensation build up in cool weather.
thanx...
Nice !!
Awww man, I thought it was some type of survival burger, nice video :(
I assume you are speaking Canadian, that is Celsius rather than Fahrenheit. There are several SOL bivys (or bivvys) sold. Which one is this. How much did it cost and how much does it weigh?
This one is the Adventure Medical Kits Escape Bivvy. And I paid about $50 canadian for it. All temps in this video are indeed in celsius.
go south young man !!!!!! way to cold
+kenny cadarett Good idea. Tonight it is minus 18 c
+EconoChallenge what's that like 25 degrees below more I live in southern California it's been in the 70's for a while it rained yesterday still nice and warm you sleeping outside tonight
No way. Maybe on the weekend when the temperature will go back up above zero Celsius. (32 f)
Brother how did u make that bed can you tel me please
Here is a link to the video that shows you how it is made. ua-cam.com/video/HIZjQNFhW7I/v-deo.html
Nice review
Thank you my friend.
I am very unimpressed. The whole point is to sleep in it alone. If you just use it as a outer shell for your other sleeping bag you are far better off with a real heavy duty goretex bivy bag.
The test demonstrated to us that it does not work on its own in cold conditions. It does extend the ability of other equipment to keep you warm like clothing or a warm weather sleeping bag. It is compact light weight kit that you can carry should you be caught in unexpectedly cold weather. That can happen anytime in the spring and fall here in Canada or perhaps anytime in the mountains.
This is just what I wanted to ask. Which one is better, this SOL bivy or standard military goretex bivy.
SimbaOS
Completely different things. This is a compact emergency shelter. The MSS bivy is part of a rugged milspec sleep system. Its supposed to be used (and abused) a lot. But it is heavier, less compact and more expensive. On the other hand if you get the whole system you are basically set for every possibility. (within reasonable bounds). Pack a Tarp and some paracord and you can sleep pretty cozy, even in wet/cold weather.
Johannes Dolch
Yeah. I have a British army goretex bivy. It's just a bivy, not a full sleep system like the US Army Sleeping System which is a little bit pricey for me, regardless of the fact that it really worth every penny, that's for sure. I was just wondered which one is better one on one, just the bivy by itself. I guess goretex is more wearproof and with a sleeping bag inside it would be way to go. Initially I though that the reflective inner layer would provide more heat preservation, but it seams it's not so.
Nope. It needs to be combined with something like a sleeping bag.
Really cool test. I would bet that you would have survived, You just wouldn't have slept very much. :-) Well, maybe you could have made a nest of leaves or something.. Your pretty clever that way..
I wouldn't bother with a wool blanket anymore. Too heavy or me. Your little sleeping bag and bivy combo sounds perfect. Are you going to continue to use the bivy, or just keep it or emergency? At $50 or so it's understandable you don't want to ruin your emergency plan. It's still cheaper than other bivies though.. Love your cot set up. Great way to sleep under the stars. You got just enough to keep you away from the ants and other creepers, but your not swinging in the breeze. Thanks for sharing a great adventure my friend! :-)
saradreaming I get caught sleeping in an unexpected cold night more often in the spring and fall. Nothing life threatening just uncomfortable. Now I will have the Escape Bivvy with me to make the difference when that happens. So I plan to carry it all the time in the spring and fall and use it!!
Interested in the hat where can i find one.
The hat is something I make and have sold in the past. Unfortunately, I am sold out and have very little time to make more. The chairs have taken over all my free time. If you are interested in finding out more, send an email to my email address at econochallenge@live.com.
3:17 It's Hodor!
LOL ;-)
I'm not going to lie, I was a bit concerned for your safety. Thanks for sharing.
+Mark Riley I have learned you can't freeze to death in your sleep. You will wake up at least once as you start to cool so you can do something about it. As long as you don't override your bodies natural survival mechanisms with drugs or alcohol you will wake up at least once and shiver. Then it is time to take action.
Good to know, thank you.
Why would you be when they clearly got back safely to post up this pointless video? Melodramatic much?
when you say 1 degree is it 1c or 1f
+Carson Hackney The Gentleman in the vid's channel says he is Canadian. Therefore he is talking Deg C. I had to go looking too. Confusing when you have to go looking for context to understand the meaning?
+Tony McDermott You make a very good point. I normally put the conversion right in the video but missed this one for some reason. I have added an annotation for future viewers. Thank you both for you comments.
Thanks- Nice vid otherwise. Keep em coming.
I assume when you say 0 degrees you mean Celsius and not Fahrenheit. You know how Americans are....
Great Review!
Do Americans realise when they say "zero degree rated sleeping bag" that it is celsius not fahrenheit? Because they always talk in fahrenheit and then 2 seconds later refer to their 'zero degree bag' when really its a 32deg bag for them.
It would have been very helpful it the USA had switched when we did. I get lots of questions for American viewers when I am out in zero degree weather and they say it does not look that cold.
I was wondering about that. Thanks!
Bags sold in the USA are almost always rated in Fahrenheit.
does canada use metric? (celsius) or is it just actually -0 fahrenheit cold?
+Dan DCC91 We are using Celsius. Glad you asked cause I am not that tough! LOL
+EconoChallenge I see those darn canucks gave into the communists!!! I giss I no longer want anything to do with you maple loving pansies! YEEEEEE HAW!! (rides off into the sunset)
lol, I kid, I kid