This review is a little lengthy, so I’ve also put it on the kit page in case you want to view it at a later date.It would be easy to make this a hammock versus bivi bag review, but really these are two different ways of sleeping in the outdoors. So I’ll attempt to confine this to reviewing the bivi bag itself.
As the name implies, a bivi bag is designed as a shelter and to encompass a sleeping bag which will lay straight on the ground. Ideally it should protect the sleeping bag from the rising damp of the ground and be waterproof enough to protect the occupant from the elements. Basically it’s a single person lightweight shelter falling short of an actual tent.
There are a few bivi bags around but the most popular is the ex-Brit army goretex version; a bag I have used on a number of previous occasions. These are certainly waterproof but you pay for it in weight. The other disadvantage is that most bivi bags leave the head exposed. So is the Snagpak bivi bag an improvement on this system?
The bivi bag comes in its own compression stuff sack, which is a good start. There are two lightweight alluminium poles which collapse into 8 inch lengths. There’s also a bag of the sturdiest tent pegs I’ve ever seen (and the heaviest!) They went straight into the great tent peg repository in the sky to be replaced by my normal alluminium pegs.
Setting up the bag couln’t be easier. Thread the poles through the sleeves at the head end of the bag and secure the ends in the holes in the loops provided (a la tent). These loops can then be pegged down. Before you ask, yes it is necessary to peg at least two poles down (one at each side) or the hood part moves about too much and becomes a pain.
It’s also a good idea to peg out the other foot end of the bag with one peg in the provided loop. This make a minimum of three extra pegs you must carry about (or make).
The obvious difference between this and a normal bivi bag is that you now have a raised, supported or framed hood at the head end, which you can only really appreciate once you’re inside the bag. It’s really a self supporting canopy, which can be enclosed, covering your head and shoulders.
Unless you have a very large head there’s surprisingly a lot of space in this area and you can share this space with a couple of small items that you might want to keep dry. I put my hygiene pack in there, spare socks, and Swanni shirt. You certainly have no room to cook (that would be a little dangerous as well) but there’s space enough inside to read a book, nibble on some trail food and listen to the rain.
There’s a nice little touch inside of the roof of the hood where Snugpak have sewn in a piece of zipped, square, white netting. This is ideal for storing your head torch, providing your light and for stroing any loose items from your pockets.
The other mesh vent is at the front of the face if you were laying face up in the bag. Left unattended it would just dangle down in at about chest level, but you have the option of rolling it up or zipping it to the outer material of the bivi bag. This second option encloses you completely yet allows a good deal of ventilation through the hood. I slept like this most of the weekend and there was no sign of condensation in the bag at all.
The alternative to zipping the netting up is to completely zip up and enclose the front or top of the bag in the outer material. I found this very clausterphobic, but if you are used to small tents, it’s probably no worse than that. What it does do is completely keep out wind and rain. It also very quickly increases the temperature inside the bag and as long as the end vent is fully open, there doesn’t seem to be a great deal of condensation as a result of this operation, but I didn’t try this out for long.
The material fabric top is 40D Nylon Ripstop, which is waterproof and moisture permeable: The bottom fabric is 70D Nylon Taffeta with PU Coating. Here are the sizes:
Size: 230 x 95 x 60cm
Pack Size: 35 x 10 x 15cm
Weight: 1300g / 1.3KG
The size of the bag isn’t a great issue and should be long enough to fit most folk. Width may be a problem for larger people and Unlike the ex-military bivi bag which has ample space inside, I’m not sure whether you would be able to stuff a large rucksack at the bottom of the bag in order to keep it dry. Perhaps a small one.
I haven’t tested fully how waterproof the whole bag is, as on my intial excursion with the Stratosphere, I also had a tarp, but I can say that the damp ground didn’t ingress into the bottom of the bag at all. I’m not sure whether it would stand up to a full onslaught when open to the elements, but other reviewers have stated that they had no problems even in foul weather on open ground.
The nearest rival to this bag has is the Highlander Falcon, which is similarly styled. They’re about the same price and roughly made out of the same material. The Falcon though has the vent at the top of the hood.
The Stratosphere ranges between £75-£90 (March 2008 prices).
All in all I’m quite impressed with the bag as a ground dwelling shelter. It will keep damp off and certainly makes for a cosy and warm environment once you’re inside the bag. It is a litle vision restrictive – but then, I suppose you don’t have to deploy the hood.
In summer it will keep the mossies and midges at bay while providing good ventilation and you should be able to use it without tarp. Add a Thermarest and you should have a relatively comfortable nights kip (if you’re a ground-dwelling that is).
Pablo.
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Very informative so thanks but if you were scoring this on a scale of 1-10 what would the overall score be? and would you say this item is good value for money? Many Thanks Tony
I think I would give it a 7/10. I would spend the same money again and get another one if I lost it for example.
Many thanks again Pablo, I think that the Snugpak will be my next purchase along with a Alpkit down bag, hopefully I will be able to get a discount for multiple items as the rest of my family may be persuaded to “go down the same path” as it were! BTW what a great site,I should have dropped in earlier!
Tony – This is a good choice. The Snugpak is light enough to carry around to keep the damp off a down bag. Consider a zip on the right for your down bag because the Stratosphere has a zip on the right. All the best. Pablo.
Thanks for the review Pablo. This sounds like a better option than my tent.
I read another review at http://www.snugpak.com/forum/showthread.php?p=41 where the reviewer suggested that the whole bag could be rolled up with the mat and the sleeping bag still inside. Does that seem like a feasible option to you or would the package be too big for the back of a bike? This would save some trouble when I’m out cycling and just want to crash for the night.
Thanks for the review pablo, very informative ..Bob
Can you confirm that this is really either 37 or 42 inches tall. It seems pretty high.
Dave,
These are the sizes:
Size: 230 x 95 x 60cm
Pack Size: 35 x 10 x 15cm
Weight: 1300g / 1.3KG
Very good review. I am thinking of buying one.
I would like to ask you if it can withstand severe weather temperature, i.e. -20 degrees Celsius, or not?
Greetings from Greece.
Thanks Nassos. I don;t think it would be suitable for -20. The material is quite thin. You would need a lot of insulation.
Thank you for the review. Have you had a chance to test the bag in warm-hot weather? With warm-hot weather, I mean temps in the 80-100 degree fahrenheit range. What I would like to know is, how breathable the bag is towards your legs and feet? While camping in warm-hot weather, did it feel like your body heat was building up inside the bivy?
Hi Kevin, No not that hot. I have tried it in the UK summer with a night temperature of about 50F. The material is quite breathable and there was no sticking. There was very little condensation as long as you keep the vents open. I just found it a little clausterphobic with all the zips done up.
Hi Pablo, Thanks for the excellent reviews and website. I’m thoroughly enjoying the read and information
) I’m currently stuck on choosing between the Snugpak Stratosphere and the Falcon. I like the rear vent on the Stratosphere but like the way the bottom of the Falcon pegs out. I was wondering if this would keep me dryer if it was very wet as it suspends the bivi up a bit from what I can see. The Falcon is advertised as being strong too. Is the material of the Stratosphere strong? Oh, and it’s cheaper. What do you think? Is there much difference between the two?
Oh, and would you use something as a groundsheet for these?
)
Many thanks
Hi Julia, Thanks for the comments. To be honest, I wouldn;t trust either in a torrential downpour, but both are ok for light rain as they both have similar material. It wouldn;t matter that the Falcon pegs out higher. It’s not that effective one you’re inside (my mates got one). No need for a ground sheet as long as you have a sleep mat. It boils down to vent at the rear or on top. You will need a through draft because of the condensation. I chose the Snugpack because I wanted to see out. Hope this helps.
Thanks Pablo. That helps a lot as I like the idea of being able to see out as well
I’ll look at getting a tarp as well for rainy weather and possibly a DD Travel hammock too. The hammock sounds really comfy but I have a bad back so not sure it’s a good option. Unfortunately I won’t know until I try it! Thanks for helping me choose. Apparently the Snugpak Stratosphere is undergoing some improvements and is apparently going to be a bit lighter! Hopefully it’ll still be as strong. I can’t wait to get one and try it out!
Just ordered mine today. Can’t wait to try it out! Thanks for the review.
Let us know what you think.
Hi Pablo
received mine last week, looks like they have made a couple of mods to it there are now two securing points at the foot end and the pole ends are slightly different, without the step and the eyelets that they fit into are a little more robust. They still come with pegs that weigh nearly as much as the bivvy itself!!!! Just sorting out a weekend to test it out. I see in one of your recent posts you were using your bivvy are you still pleased with the performance, do you have any more tips on using it and how do you get on with it during the night being all zipped in.
Thanks Pablo
lee
Hi Lee. I am still pleased with it but I prefer hammocks. I hate being closed in so rarely zip all the way up. I would also prefer a sloping hammock netting as opposed to straight down. Other wise still a good bit of kit. Cheers for now. Pablo
Re the dimensions of the snugpak stratosphere: Just taken delivery of one and actually measuring the sizes
Sorry! here are the dimensions as I have measured them:
Width:84cms(33″)- base of front pole to front pole
Height:48.5cms(19″) – floor to centre of front pole
Length:235cms(92.5″)
The dimensions as written on the Snugpak label attached to the compression bag are:
230x95x15(sic)cms/90in x 37in x 24in
– a bit confusing! I bought this mail order on the assumption the height of the head area was 24″(61cms) and the width was 37″(94cms). I am new to bivvying so any advice gratefully and respectfully welcome. Martin
I am also new to computers!!! notify me of follow up comments via e-mail .
What would you do with a large rucksack??? If you were 5ft 10inchs would it fit in the botton?
Also wot do u think, Falcon or stratosphere? Although there’s also the highlander rapid force – http://www.survivalaids.com/order1.php?pg=413
The Falcon is also good. Not much fifference. Read the other comments for a comparison.
Well, what can i say. Wish i’d bought the Rapid Force. I’ve just spent two nights in Yorkshire with my new Strat(for £100). First night it rained for about two hours. When i got up i noticed that the bottom of the bag (where i put enough items to try and raise the bag to clear my army down sleeping bag was soaked through.) Condensation was also a problem, which could easily have been solved using a hoop and vent at the bottom of the bag, allowing a free flow of air. I thought of this bag as a small tent to keep me dry when sleeping outdoors. No, a basha, or tarp is much more effective.
Nice review, i’ve had a stratosphere for a while and i’ve camped in the open and my garden where it has been exposed to the elements; the entire thing held up admirably to a decent amount of rain (even after it had been pitched on grass that was already soaking) and didn’t let a drop inside. There is, however, usually a small amount of moisture from condensation inside in the morning, this is probably my fault as i use a thicker sleeping bag than is neccessary in the british summer:P Even so there was never more than could easily be mopped up with my t-shirt without bothering me when i put it back on
A great piece of kit 
Great Review and I ordered mine today from http://www.Supertent.co.uk for £80 paid the extra for 24hr postage making £95 total. I’m looking at this as an overnight solution when doing slightly longer walks over 2 days. Fingers crossed.
Well, finally got chance to try out the stratosphere last weekend, there were three of us with them and I have to say it was very impressive, only used my summer sleeping bag and a sleeping mat and it was very toasty. None of us suffered condensation problems although we all left the front vents open. It didn’t rain in the night so I cannot comment on how waterproof it would be but we all carried a tarp just in case. Top piece of kit quick and easy to set up.
Good suff Lee. Pleased you’re happy with it. Let us know what you think of it in bad weather.
I used the this snugpak bivvy bag last night (18/9/10) after walking helvellyn in the lake district and im sorry to say it wasn’t as good and waterproof as id expected.
we were hit by a good 8hrs of stong wind a heavy rain and after about an hr it slowly started to seep in making the outside of my sleeping bag very wet….
On a good note though,it does offer a good amount of space and didn’t at all feel claustrophobic
I have used this snugpak bivvy in Townsville, Australia in temp of about 30 Cel about 3 weeks ago and found it to be very warm to sleep in and without a breeze, you will be sweating. It held up well to moderate to heavy rainstorm/showers at night with no penetration. The only time it got wet inside was when we had 400mm of rain dumped (daytime)in the space of 10 mins but i suspect this was due to the back flap being rolled up and that end was the end of the bag that was exposed to the direction of the storm ( buildup to the wet season), a quick wipe with a cloth dryed it out to a sleepable condition. With the bag zipped up, it can be claustrophobic but with the top zipped open to deploy the top mozzie net, its very comfortable. I lived in this bivvy for 18 days and 50% of that time i used a hutchie as a tarp, more for sun shade in the day and just incase we had another 400mm of rain in the night. I was able to sleep with items around my head (boots, clothing, soxs, torch, wallet)with no real issue. As the night cooled to around 20 Cel, it was nice and snug. Half of my time was spent sleeping in just a cotton sleeping bag liner on a self inflating mat, the other half in an open sleeping bag (rated to -5 Cel) as a few nights were a chilly 18 Cel. Havn’t had the oppertunity yet to use it in winter. The double hoops at head height go a long way to help those with mild claustraphobia compared to my normal half moon entery bivvy wich i no longer use, the snugpaks side zip is also a godsend to getting in and out. My usage is for military application and so far im happy with the results and the storage size and weight is excellent in my pack wich again is at a premium for my application.
Thanks for the write up Jeff
Any idea how this compares to the Snugpak Ionosphere?
http://www.snugpak.com/index.php?MenuID=160-113&ItemID=222
Peter,
I’ve not tried the Ionosphere – but I imagine the Ionosphere will have much more room becuase it’s a tent not a bivvy bag.
Thanks Pablo,
Yeah, I havn’t been able to find any decent reviews on it but I assume it would be of similar quality to the stratosphere. Despite it’s size, it’s actually lighter than the stratosphere but I presume that’s got a lot to do with the tent pegs. Do you reckon the tent would be better for general hiking?
Yes I would say so Peter. The tent will have somewhere where you can prepare food and keep boots and kit dry. With a bivvy bag like the Sratosphere, unless you definitely know it’s going to be good weather, you must take along a tarp.
Ok, thanks very much