7 Reasons You’ll Love The Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy
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As you hunt for the perfect lightweight shelter, the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy comes as close as there is.
You may be a lightweight backpacker, doing all you can to shed the physical and metaphorical weight of modern society.
You’re trekking the backcountry, connecting with nature, and proving to yourself that you can survive with the lightest gear and minimal rations.
You believe hard work brings even better rewards.
But with the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy you can still do all that except with the reassurance of a great night’s sleep.
The Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy sack is 7 feet long and 2 feet wide and comes with a number of features so it should be able to fit even the tallest camper with at least some gear.
What Is The Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy?
The Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy is one of the best Bivy sacks on the market today
In fact, it’s one of Outdoor Research’s top-selling products.
Even compared to the Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, which is also one of Outdoor Research’s best bivy sacks, the Alpine Bivy stands out in a class of its own
It’s lightweight, it’s spacious, and its cozy.
It’s like the intersection of a really comfortable sleeping bag and a small tent.
When most campers think of bivy sacks they think of a bivy bag that covers your sleeping bag simply to provide protection from the rain and cold.
But this bivy sack provides so much more comfort and luxury than most other bivy sacks on the market.
You may even forgo your 2 person tent just to experience this lightweight, high performing shelter.
Below are 7 reasons why you’ll love the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy!
1. Easy Setup and Breakdown
As a lightweight backpacker, you have the advantage of not always sticking to the script and making your camping decisions on the fly.
This is especially true when you’ve hiked all day and your feet and back start hurting and you need a break.
A bivy sack allows you to make an impromptu decision to stop and rest for the night
But some bivy sacks can only be tolerated for a short amount.
Eventually, claustrophobia sets in and you feel the need to get out.
However, the Alpine Bivy is built for maximum performance.
You might find yourself so comfortable lying inside this bivy you forget about the tight space.
Especially in the rain, the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy is as reliable as they come.
We’ve all been there.
One minute you’re hiking in the sunshine with your shirt off trying to get some vitamin D.
The all of a sudden, without even a warning cloud, you’re standing in the middle of a downpour.
Within minutes you’re soaked and looking for some kind of canopy to stand under.
With a tent you’ll spend 15 minutes running around, trying to get it staked and taut.
You’re tying guy lines, trying to hold flaps upright, dropping things while getting pounded by wind and rain.
Finally, you complete the setup while fully soaked both inside and outside of the tent.
Or you can just pull out the Alpine Bivy no matter how bad the weather.
Simply unroll it and you’ve got a comfy waterproof shelter to wait out the storm.
2. Gore-Tex and Waterproof Materials
The Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy’s reliable waterproof shell is comprised of 3-layer Gore-Tex and 70D nylon floor coated in Hydroseal.
Also included are fully taped seams to reinforce the stitching.
These materials keep the top and the bottom of the bivy sack protected from water.
We’re not advocating that you set up camp in the middle of a puddle.
Yet if you do get pounded by rain and the ground gets damper, you won’t feel any of that moisture inside your Bivy sack.
3. Lightweight
The Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy weighs just under 2 pounds.
For your average bivy sack that might seem like a high number.
But the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy isn’t your average bivy sack.
The extra weight is compensated with all the extra features and comfort you get in this awesome bivy sack.
Most importantly the Alpine Bivy is much lighter than a tent which can add on a full 1-3 pounds extra.
Add in the extra hassle that comes with tent setup and breakdown, this bivy sack is a home run for the lightweight backpacker!
4. Space
Traditionally the biggest complaints of bivy sacks is their size.
Especially if the camper is a bit bigger.
Many backpackers opt for tents because they don’t feel they get enough space in a bivy sack and at least a tent gives you some more headroom.
The Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy is 7 feet long and 2 feet wide.
This is more than enough room to fit you, a cold rated 4 season sleeping bag and a thick sleeping pad.
There’s even some high volume foot space for those with the restless leg syndrome.
To feel cramped inside this bivy sack you would have to be an absolute giant.
Assuming you’re not a former NBA power forward you’ll have more than enough room.
You may even find there’s also enough space for some of your belongings including your pack.
5. Poles For Custom Setup
Another common complaint of bivy sacks is that the material at the headrests over your face.
Who wants to spend the night with your bivy covering your mouth?
The Alpine Bivy comes with a special pole system that allows you to create a hoop over the head which keeps the bug netting and the bivy material off of your face.
This feature works great if you’re the type who likes to fall asleep under the stars.
You simply run the pole through the attached openings and set the hoop up over your head.
With the bug netting zipped up you can enjoy a beautiful cloudless night under the stars.
Maybe even just prop yourself up and have some headspace to read or play games on your phone.
(You may be outdoors but that Candy Crush addiction travels with you)
6. Storage Room
The ample space in the Alpine Bivy allows you to be able to store your most valuable possessions inside with you.
Aside from fitting yourself, your sleeping bag, and a thick sleeping pad, you might find enough room to even fit your pack.
At the very least your able to fit some items from your pack that you don’t want to be left outside.
For those with expensive cameras, phones, navigation electronics, or even a gun this is huge.
Many smaller bivy sacks force you to keep all this outside with the chance that something might get wet or stolen.
The Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy even comes with a small pocket where you can place your belongings to help keep things organized.
7. Easily Collapsable
One of the biggest advantages of the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy is its collapsibility.
Placed into its storage sack the bivy shrinks down to the size of a water bottle.
Paired with its lightweight this will help keep some extra space in your sack.
Any time you can make space and get more organized is a huge advantage for any lightweight backpacker.
THE OUTDOOR RESEARCH ALPINE BIVY
With so many Bivy Sacks on the market today, choosing the right one can be a highly personalized ordeal.
This article highlighting the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy is simply giving you a thorough explanation of one of the best bivy sacks on the markets.
If you don’t need the best or want to save the money there are still plenty of options to choose from.
For those who aren’t totally sold on bivy sacks, check out our article “Bivy Sacks vs.Tents: How To Choose An Ultralight Shelter” for a more detailed breakdown of advantages and disadvantages of both Bivy Sacks and Tents.
