The Bush Pro Bivvi is a waterproof defence against the weather that weighs less than a lot of standard sleeping bags. The paratec material is soft to the touch and lightweight, meaning the bivvy has a total weight of only 340g. It represents fantastic value for money, and pushes the Highlander Hawk really close for the top spot if you’re looking to spend less. Yes if a bear did find me one night and the pepper spray worked I doubt I could sleep anymore that night, I would probably pack up and find the nearest village with a park bench and sleep there instead.

It uses a weft of thick and thin fibers which are arranged to allow moisture from your sweat and breath to breathe out through the mesh whilst also being fully waterproof and windproof to rain and water trying to get in from the outside. It uses an excellent grade of waterproof, windproof and breathable top layer material and packs up reasonably small (32cm by 9cm). This is a waterproof sheet with metal eyelets which can be strung up on tent poles or between a couple of trees to provide a basic shelter from rain. Sierra Designs are a great American outdoor gear design house, and we were extremely excited to get our hands on their Backcountry Bivy Sack recently. I would recommend this or some other UL trekking pole tent (Durston X Mid gets good reviews, but there are many options).

GO Outdoors - NEW for 2019: OEX Bush Pro Bivvi - part of the new OEX range ideal for low weight nights outdoors. The OEX Bush Pro Bivviprovides waterproof, breathable all-round cover,but packsdowninto a small, light package that you can easily take wherever you go. The top of the bivvy bag completely zips up, but there is no way of keeping it off your face, and sleeping can get difficult.

Be sure to check back soon for our review of 1-2 person all-season tents for similar capability in much improved comfort!The Lanshan 1 allows more traditional camping and isn't heavier or much more expensive than the Oex Salamanda. Lightweight: With minimal bulk this Bivvi sleeping bag offers great versatility for a wide variety of outdoor adventures. Our technique is to get it all set up with the head section fully unzipped, then undo our boots and literally step out of the boots one at a time onto the top end of the bivvy. If they do get aggressive, the best thing is to stand your ground, pick up a stone and raise your arm as if to throw it.

Using a tarp can overcome that problem, and we would certainly recommend that if you think there will be trees to set it up. I plan to stay in hostels most of the way, however I want a backup bivvy bag which I can use if I whenever I don't complete a segment by nightfall. I've got extended guy lines on mine, which allows me to use my second trekking pole to change the direction of pull of one end, slightly increasing headroom over one end. If a bear did happen to encounter a sleeping person, I'd wager the most likely outcome is that the bear notices the person and goes elsewhere long before the person has much chance of even being woken by the bear, let alone attacked. The Highlander Hawk bivi bag packs into a tiny 37 x 12cm ripstop stuff sack, making it brilliant for all kinds of adventures.I think they are more useful in the mountains where you don't have room to pitch a tent (even there a small bivvy tent is much better if you can find space for it. It was wonderful to see the stars, and I recommend reading this great stargazing guide if that’s of interest to you. I have encountered dogs in Georgia and I would be frankly terrified of one approaching me if I was lying down in a bivi at night. Breathable: For extra comfort whilst you rest, the bivvi is breathable to minimize moist building and to help prevent you from getting cold. I was impressed with the ability to keep dry inside the Ridge Raider and it is now definitely my choice of best bivvy bag if money is no object.