The North Face Flight Bivy

Forget paper-thin emergency sacks. This bivy stuffs smaller than a soda can and weighs less than most T-shirts, yet with taped seams and waterproof/breathable nylon fabric, it fends off wind and rain. Designers skipped zippers and snaps, and used an ultralight 15-denier fabric.

The combo saves beaucoup weight, but makes proper entry technique crucial to prevent rips: Stand in the foot section and pull it over your head before kneeling or sitting. Once you’re inside, it performs just like a classic bivy, including the minor condensation a tester felt during a winter storm in Utah. Downside: The ultrathin fabric needs TLC if you don’t have a pad. $125; 6.7 oz.; montbell.us