$135 (30 percent off) at Backcountry—Rab Storm Bivy
$182 (35 percent off) at Steep and Cheap—Rab Alpine Bivy
Backpackers have mostly ditched bivy sacks in favor of lightweight tents, and we can’t say we blame them: Today’s purpose-built ultralight shelters are lighter, more spacious, and just generally more pleasant to live in than bivvies. Still, if your plans include camping in deep winter or staying out in mountain storms and you aren’t prone to claustrophobia, these lightweight nylon envelopes have a lot to recommend them. We’ve weathered blizzards on Rocky Mountain ski tours in these that would have tested most lightweight 3-season tents to their limit.
At 1 lb 3.3 oz, the Rab Storm Bivy is head-and-shoulders lighter than carrying a 4-season tent, but is ready to handle the worst alpine weather. An upper made of 40D polyurethane-coated nylon ripstop kept out wind and precip, while a 70D floor stopped moisture from sneaking in on the ground. The 19.8-square-foot floor was roomy enough for high-loft winter bags, while a mesh panel protected by a flap with hook-and-loop closures kept condensation—traditionally an Achilles heel for bivvies—to a minimum.
Looking to go even lighter? For a little less than $50 more, Rab’s Alpine Bivy cuts about 3 ounces from the Storm with lighter materials, including a breathable 15D Pertex Shield Air upper and a 40D nylon bathtub floor.
The post Deal of the Week: This Lightweight Shelter Can Survive Any Storm—and It’s Under $150 appeared first on Backpacker.