REI Co-op Shell Bivy

Our take Bivies aren’t known for their livability, but if you find yourself spending an unplanned night in this one, you can at least take comfort in knowing you got a good deal on it. But cheap doesn’t mean this bivy isn’t functional: The nylon shell kept one tester dry when a rain and sleet storm raged around her outside of Ouray, Colorado, and an overlapping rain flap ensured precip couldn’t leak in.

The details A large, U-shaped zipper extends to the shoulders and offers easy entry. The 27-inch width is average, but the 87-inch length makes up for it: “I stashed extra clothes at the foot with room to spare,” one 5’6” tester says. The 70-denier nylon bottom emerged only lightly scuffed when pitched on river rocks and dirt. As with all bivies, ventilation was a problem on chilly nights.

Trail cred “It packs down to the size of a football, better than I expected given the interior space,” our Colorado tester says.