The Best Bivy Sack Awards Presented By OutdoorGearLab

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Oct. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- OutdoorGearLab, an established website that publishes free, detailed comparison reviews of outdoor gear, has published a top bivy sack review for camping and climbing. Five popular models were put to the test by a few extreme backpackers, climbers and campers, who pitched the tent while sleeping everywhere from the mountains to the deserts and a few swamps and rock faces in-between. Each product tested was scored in the areas of durability, comfort, weather resistance and packed size. Once the testing and scoring was complete, awards were granted to the Editors' Choice, Best Buy and Top Pick award winners.

Editors' Choice - Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy

The Outdoor Research Alpine won this award for being the best all-around product. According to gear Editor Greg Davis, "The Alpine Bivy is completely waterproof. The Gore-Tex shell kept reviewers dry after fourteen hours of soaking wet, rainy weather. The comfort and security that comes with knowing that you will stay dry and warm make the price tag on this item a little easier to tolerate. It is also very light, lighter than a backpacking tent and it can be stuffed into a very small sack. It has a lot of headroom, which was nice, and it is also very durable. It is a little bit bulky, heavy and narrow though."

Best Buy - REI Minimalist Bivy Sack

The REI Minimalist won this award for being the best value. Gear Editor Davis reports, "The REI Minimalist is a high quality, versatile product available for an inexpensive price. It is lightweight and breathable and can handle three-season weather. It has some cool features like extra zippers available for sticking your arms out and a breathable bug netting that covers your face instead of a nylon shell. The breathable bug netting is not waterproof though and will leak in the rain."

Top Pick - Outdoor Research Bug Bivy

The Outdoor Research Bug Bivy was chosen as the Top Pick award winner for being the best model tested to provide protection from insects while camping in warm and dry weather.  Davis elaborates, "The OR Research is basically a bug net with a heavy duty nylon floor. It is not designed for keeping bad weather out. It is best used in good weather to keep insects and any other unwanted animal intruders out of your sleeping bag. The Research is durable but light and comes with a tent pole to keep the netting away from your head. This is a great option for those wanting to lighten their load while camping in windows of great weather."

About OutdoorGearLab:

OutdoorGearLab LLC is headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Dedicated to creating world’s best outdoor gear reviews, the company performs side-by-side testing of outdoor gear and publishes the results in comparative reviews. Each product is scored across a range of weighted categories, competing products are graded, and top performing products receive awards. The company’s website www.outdoorgearlab.com, is a free resource for people who love the outdoors and participate in activities such as hiking, climbing, backpacking, and camping.