Arva Bivy Lite

Product detailed description

We’ve always looked down a bit on “Žďáráks.” Compared to a tarp, they’re almost always more of a “last-resort” option than a full-fledged solution for a comfortable night’s sleep. The biggest problem with bivy sacks has always been poor breathability and the resulting condensation inside, and especially the virtually zero chance of using this sleeping system in the rain. Either way, you’ll need a roof over your head if you don’t want to spend the whole night rolling around in puddles of water. However, after testing a tarp made from a material backed by the Arva brand (an expert in emergency survival gear), we’ve changed our minds a bit.

When to use a "bivy sack"

The most important thing is to realize when using a bivy sack is appropriate and when it’s better to leave it at home. It will certainly find its place among climbers who need to bivouac on a rock face, whether planned or in an emergency. The Bivy Lite will certainly find its place in races like Adventure Races or, for example, the very popular 1000 Miles race here and similar crazy events where every gram counts and you don’t get much sleep. But when you need to take a quick nap for an hour, there’s a big difference between shivering from the cold and staying nice and warm. In such races, a sleeping bag liner or emergency foil is usually mandatory gear—without it, they simply won’t let you start.

Where every gram counts

However, a particularly interesting use seems to be using a sleeping bag as a substitute for a sleeping bag for purely summer use. I’m referring, of course, to genuinely warm summer nights. In this case, you can save a significant amount of weight on your gear. Because the Bivy Lite weighs just 134 grams! The Bivy will definitely come in handy for overnight stays in mountain huts when you know you won’t need a sleeping bag on your trip. It also makes sense as a supplement to a sleeping bag when temperatures are at the limit of your current sleeping bag’s usability. The moment you put the Bivy inside your sleeping bag, your comfort will increase significantly. 

How is it possible that such a lightweight package achieves such great performance?

It’s all thanks to the non-woven fabric developed by SOL, which is fully waterproof, windproof, highly breathable, and—most importantly—features a thin layer of metal on the inside, allowing up to 70% of the heat you generate to be reflected back to you. With dimensions of 200 x 92/60 cm, even a 90-kilogram man with a sleeping pad can fit inside without any problem. The Arva Bivy Lite is also available in a version with a zipper and a drawstring hood, which we also offer—Arva Escape Zip Bivvy. Packed dimensions are a fantastic 8 x 20 cm. In the 2023 version, the material has changed; it is no longer dyed for environmental reasons, so it has a neutral white color. The standard bag has been replaced with a waterproof roll-up bag that can be used, for example, as a seat in the snow. As part of a recycling initiative, this bag is made from leftover material used in the production of airbags.

Arva Bivy Lite:

• Weight: 134 g (168 g including the bag).
• Dimensions: 200 × 92 / 60 cm.
• Packed dimensions: 8 × 20 cm.
• Hanging loop.
• Waterproof roll-up bag that can also be used as a seat.
• Patented non-woven fabric from SOL with an inner metal layer that reflects up to 70% of heat back.
• Waterproof, windproof, highly packable, and very breathable.