#Alpine design tent instructions full#

In use, however, the extra weight and size make sense.ДЇirst, the OR Alpine Bivy comprised of 3-layer Gore-Tex and a sturdy 70D nylon floor coated in Hydroseal, which is intended to increase its waterproofness from the damp ground. 2 oz.), and Black Diamond Spotlight Bivy (1 lb. Two competitors are quite a bit lighter: the Rab Alpine BiviВ (1 lb. Although smaller than my tent, I had hoped it would pack down more compactly. I was initially surprised at its size and weight (32.0oz / 907gВ including the pole). Instead, the pole should be pushed outwards until it is completely extracted from the bivy. I find it to be simple, but have noticed that there is a system to follow since simply pulling the pole from the entry point causes the pole to separate from itself and lose its stability. The bivyвЂ™s material and structure collapse nicely to conform to the space available in the pack.В IвЂ™ve read some reviews indicating that removing the pole is tricky. I personally like to stuff the bivy into my pack without its stuff sack, therefore maximizing storage space in the pack. The pole is removed and the bivy is then rolled or folded and returned to the stuff sack. In a hurry this can be done in less than a minute, a much-appreciated option when the rain is falling, the wind is howling, and your fingers are cold and loosing dexterity. The bivy simply needs to be removed from its stuff sack and laid out and the collapsible pole fits into its designated hole.

#Alpine design tent instructions full#

I am looking forward to putting this to the full test in winter conditions when I have sweaty boot liners sitting in the bottom. The storm flaps that cover the zippers make it easy to unzip the bivy for airflow without compromising its weatherproofing. Varying temperatures and weather conditions have yet to cause damp gear (during my testing the temperatures have not dropped too far below freezing). So far, buildup of condensation along the interior walls has not been an issue. The Alpine Bivy is as waterproof as one could hope for and I would be more than comfortable using it as a 4-season shelter. I only realized this in the morning when I unzipped the bivy and found everything around me damp and covered in fine beads of water. In fact, while sleeping near a waterfall one evening, the winds shifted and pushed the spray towards my camp. This bivy handles rain and outside moisture without issue. The Gore-Tex is, in my opinion, one of the main things that sets the OR Alpine bivy apart from most of the other sacks out there. Some might consider the 3-layer Gore-Tex overkill on a hot summer day, but itвЂ™s worth it when the skies open up. Combined with a three-inch sleeping pad and a 32-degree sleeping bag, the evenings were comfortable and pleasantly warm even when the thermometer dipped below freezing. It handled all conditions and temperatures with ease. I tested the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy in a variety of environments, including the cool and dry deserts of Moab, the rocky alpine terrain of the Cascade Mountains, and the damp forests of British ColumbiaвЂ™s Coast Mountains. Performance Weather Protection and Breathability Below we break down the Alpine Bivy's weather protection, construction, space and comfort, and more. ItвЂ™s a comfortable, bombproof bivy that is ready to tackle anything Mother Nature has to throw at it. Advertised as being waterproof, 4-season, and with a pole to create headroom, the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy ticked all of the items on my wish list. And after a backcountry ski trip in which I had to set up a tent with numb hands in high winds while watching others simply unroll their bivies, I was sold. The idea of reducing weight, saving space, and having a shelter with very little setup was appealing. For a number of years, IвЂ™d thought of replacing my two-person tent that often serves as my home on solo adventures, with a bivy sack.