Outdoor Research Helium Bivy Slate

2024-08-25T20:00:00

Traveled to Iceland for a backpacking trip in the highlands. Bought this bivy to be a backup incase my tent failed under the intense winds present on this trail. Winds behaved, but it was very cold and wet. I had a small light-weight tent and a very light sleeping bag. Bivy set up in the tent, along with my sleeping pad and bag inside the bivy; it created enough heat insulation to make for a comfortable nights rest. Using the bivy allowed me to stick with a light-weight sleeping bag, so that I didn't need to bring a thick and heavy one.

Jayco

Originally posted at

2024-07-15T20:00:00

What a great bivy - high quality, great value, lite weight, rugged, easy to set up. What else can you ask for?

Daniel

Originally posted at

2024-06-10T20:00:00

I use this with my Sea to Summit Ether Light XT pad size regular. I've spent a few nights in it including a night full of thunderstorms and heavy rain, a night in a heavy mosquito area, etc. I stayed dry and didn't get eaten by mosquitos. At just under a pound (448 grams for you gram counters) it's a perfect bivy. It's not a tent replacement. You can't fit a rectangular pad in it, you can't sit up in it, if you are claustrophobic it won't be a super good time. But if you need some lightweight small footprint protection from the elements it delivers on that and nothing more. When what you need is more important than what you want you sleep in a bivy. This is what you want when you are willing to sacrifice some comfort to accomplish your objective.

Joel

Originally posted at

2024-05-07T20:00:00

I slept on top of a volcano while it was raining and gusting 70km/h winds, the Helium completely exceeded my comfort expectations in those conditions, and kept me and my gear dry!

Georgia

Originally posted at

2024-04-28T20:00:00

This product is great and works really well for solo camping. The biggest problem I have with the Helium Bivy is that the zippers fail easily.

Sue

Originally posted at

2024-04-03T20:00:00

This is my 3rd OR bivy; I had to return 2 because netting caught in zipper really bad and caused sever rips in netting. However, OR replaced them with NO hassle. The 3rd one I've had for many years and altogether, I've used the OR bivy at least 100 times. In the summer, when you first get in it can feel hot, but after 10 mins it adjusts. I've also been in downpours and was always dry. I have a Big Agnes too and hate it; I'm always getting wet when it rains. Highly recommend OR Bivy.

Rich

Originally posted at

2024-01-29T19:00:00

I was unable to try this out in the wild, as I had to return it due to the small guy line attachment point breaking while trying it out in my living room, but for what it's worth here's my review nonetheless. Overall, it appeared to be well constructed and packed down to a small and light size. However the small guy line loop was just not designed well or mine was defective. I also found the rain hood too fussy to tie up with the two retaining straps so that the rain hood would stay open nicely. It worked, but it was not ideal and could use a better system to keep it open. You may want to bring a binder clip or clothespin. I'm 6' 3" and fit well inside. I can't comment on the ventilation outdoors, but just zipping it mostly up, leaving about 8" open while in a house did get a little muggy. It's a waterproof bivy, so it comes with the territory. I may wait for an Ascentshell to go on sale and see if that works better.

Neal

Originally posted at

2024-01-05T19:00:00

I've used the Helium Bivvy a few times, most recently on a backpacking trip. It is not only lightweight and compressible but also has the creature comfort of a lightweight hoop. The fabric breathes exceptionally well. I camped next to a river and it still breathed well enough to keep me dry! I got sprinkled on in a previous trip and it kept the rain out as well. I'll be curious how the material holds up, but time will tell and I know OR's got my back.

Joseph

Originally posted at

2023-12-15T19:00:00

The Helium Bivy is a great product. Extremely packable and light and replaces my tent in most 3 season conditions. Smooth zippers. If you're looking for a sign to buy this, this is it. When it's raining/humid it can get a bit hot inside but it's well worth it for the waterproofing and warmth retention.

Max B.

Originally posted at

2023-09-04T20:00:00

Worked great for me on Mt Baker. Winds were howling but inside I was snug as a bug. Only thing that bothered me was the fabric hit my face sometimes in heavy gusts.

Kevin

Originally posted at

2023-08-10T20:00:00

Simple, lightweight, easy to set up. For a solo trip it's nice knowing you have good protection from the rain without having to carry a full tent. My only qualm with it so far is that the system for "rolling up" the rain fly when you want to only use the mosquito net is not very good. It has a tendency to flop in your face. I found ways to work around it, but a little better design would have been nice here. But overall, it has served me well, so far!

Chris

Originally posted at

2023-07-26T20:00:00

This bivvy has a design error that arises from the pole that has been added. When using the flyscreen, the cover cannot be tucked away properly. It has 2 clips that are very ineffective. If the fly was zipped to the base of the cover, instead of to the end of the cover, the problem would have been avoided ... the cover would have been able to have been folded back over the bag. When needed, it could be folded forward, over the flyscreen, and zipped to the top of the floor. I owned the earlier version of the bag, which was fine ... til the waterproofing failed.

Dradb

Originally posted at

2023-07-22T20:00:00

Best bivy you can buy. The archway is a gamechanger and the mosquito net is the only thing holding my sanity together, even at night the bugs have been relentless from our big spring runoff here in the Sawtooth Mountains.

Max

Originally posted at

2023-07-09T20:00:00

Incredibly light, especially considering that it has a pole that keeps it from feeling like a body bag.

Misha

Originally posted at

2023-07-07T20:00:00

Finally had a chance to put the Bivy through its paces on an 8-day Bikepacking trip to Idaho. Bivy was nice and light, fit in my front bag, and was quick to set up. I didn't have any rain to deal with, and nite time temps were in the 50s. However, every morning I woke up to a significant amount of moisture that soaked my sleeping bag, liner and any clothes stored inside. I slept with the rainfly zipped up to increase airflow but that didn't make a difference. The head area is an awkward design with the primary fabric open as the rainfly tends to rest directly on one's head. Again, breathability is a major concern and had me wishing for a tent despite the weight penalty.

Tim

Originally posted at

2023-06-26T20:00:00

I use this for minimalist alpine excursions and it is perfect for that application. It was the perfect option to shave weight on a Rainier Summit this month. Thanks OR!

David

Originally posted at

2023-06-06T20:00:00

Haven't tested it out yet but this thing is light! Wrapped it around my compressed sleeping bag since I cant find a compression sack small enough. Might just stuff in a pocket! The floor material is worryingly thin but climbing inside I'm immediately warmer. Can't wait to take it on multi-day trail runs and use it on snowy summit bids.

Marv

Originally posted at

2023-04-12T20:00:00

I have the previous version, the "heavier" 18 ounce one. The review should cover 95% of what the new one is, with the exception of the newer, similar material and the even lower weight. What can I say? I like to hike from dusk to dawn. The last thing I want when I get to camp is to have to fiddle with poles, guy lines, stakes, site finding, etc. For a U/L 3 to 4 day trip, like the ones I do, or even for the Hyperlight thru-hiker crowd, this is where is at. TOTAL Weather protection, I have even used this in Winter Conditions on the AT without any problems. If you hang your food bag, your small pack will fit at the bottom or spread around near the head in the corners. I usually leave the shoes outside semi-covered in a bag. If you are a dude bring an empty 32 oz Gatorade to be used as a pee bottle, it works! You barely need to stake it out or guy it. I sometimes hike with a tarp-poncho combo (if rain dumps are in the forecast) and use it as a vestibule at the head by triangulating the 2 hiking poles with a little clip atop the Helium's semicircular pole at the head. You can then proceed to guy/stake out 2 corners of the now tarp away from the head. The only thing I could wish for, and no, it is not a negative, is if they made a more squarish-footprint version so that I could maybe fit something like a 25 inch wide Nemo Tensor. In the morning just wipe it down a bit, mostly on the outside and pack it away. That's it. Less time housekeeping, more time hiking and sightseeing. Last but not least, you can throw it inside a shelter for more comfort. I mean, with some pads being 25 inches and the front to rear dimensions being rather irrelevant in this case, who the is going to complain that you have mice protection and they don't?

Fred 1.

Originally posted at

2022-10-12T20:00:00

Awesome product light weight and nothing more than what's needed!

Brandon

Originally posted at

2022-10-01T20:00:00

Having spent 6 nights in the bivy both in wet/cold conditions it preformed very well keeping my sleeping bag dry. I found it best to augment this bivy with a small tarp/footprint and an SOL escape bivy sack for additional warmth and water proofing. When in a solid down-poor I fixed a lightweight tarp over the bivy stop rain from directly hitting it. The outside of the bivy was wet and or puddles were forming on top, but my sleeping bag was dry. I feel like bivys get a bad rap for being too small, damp, or just not enough for the elements. If you know what you'er getting into though this can be a very great sleeping system.

JM

Originally posted at

2022-09-28T20:00:00

Exactly what I was looking for!

E

Originally posted at

2022-09-14T20:00:00

It is light and I was comfortable. The stake points need extra reinforced stitches, they ripped easily, both of them and I'm a little bummed about that. I understand it's meant to be light, but it came apart easily. I would try to return it, but I still need it for current/upcoming UT, WY and CO hunts and don't want to be without one. It is lightweight and roomy comparably to most Bivy sacks and I'm 5'11/ 200 lbs. The zipper's are good and so far the material seems legit. I paired this with an ultralight sleeping pad & lightweight tarp/550 cord system to keep the rest of my gear dry. It did help get my whole "sleep/camp system" down to under 7 lbs. including sleeping bag (heavier synthetic, not down). Lastly it isn't as "free-standing as it looks in the photo, a string must be tied to something above to get it to stand like the image. I'd give it a 5 star if the stake points didn't easily tear on my first use.

Caseload

Originally posted at

2022-08-16T20:54:05

Super light and warm. I haven't had a problem with condensation on the inside. The bug net makes it very versatile

MARK T.

2022-07-10T20:00:00

Bought this for climbing Mt. Whitney. First time using a bivy and it will now be my companion on all my light weight trips. It breaks down in minutes, super light and compact. You have to fold the outer lining around the single pole for it to stay off your face when just using the mesh screen, but after that, it stays off your face and you can check out the stars all night.

Will

Originally posted at

2022-06-12T20:00:00

I used this recently for two nights in the rain while camping the sunshine coast in BC. I had a tarp so I was able to sleep with the rain fly open, but I still had some slight condensation in the foot box in the morning. It was considerably warmer than using a tent. My biggest complaints about the design are the lack of stake loops and guy loops. There are only two stake loops along the diagonal of the bivy, and if you don't get them just right then the bivy hoop doesn't stay up. There is only one guy loop at the top of the hoop, but it could use another one at the foot box to create more space. The product photo isn't really representative of what the bivy looks like when fully set up.

gaben

Originally posted at

2022-05-28T20:00:00

Great sizes, lite weight, compact size and the build quality is good.

Leroy

Originally posted at

2022-05-23T20:00:00

Slept outside in a flash flood. No raccoons ate me. Stayed dry. Success all around.

John

Originally posted at

2022-05-23T20:00:00

I purchased this to reduce weight in my pack when backpacking. I don't know how well it'd do in rainy weather, keeping the water out, but in nice conditions, it's excellent! I sleep nice and soundly, with enough room for a change of clothes at my feet. I highly recommend purchasing stakes and some guy lines to ensure the bivy is propped up the way you'd like, otherwise the frame can be a bit floppy. The material quality looks great, the stitching and zippers are nice and smooth. I would definitely recommend this to minimalists that just need a bit of shelter when sleeping.

Curtis

Originally posted at

2022-05-14T20:00:00

Took my new Helium bivy on the 310 mile Pinyons and Pines bike packing race in Northern Arizona this past week. I didn't sleep much, but when I did it was a treat thanks to my new bivy?thank you!!!!

James

Originally posted at

2022-05-12T20:00:00

This is a great bivy and protects against rain and pretty durable. The only thing is it gets very hot.

Logan

Originally posted at