The North Face Soloist Bivy

Review Date
October 25, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: faddius(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer

Price Paid:  $250.00 at www.backcountrystore

Summary:
I read excellent reviews of this product and was very much looking forward to testing it out. After a few innitial test nights in light rain and drizzle it performed very well. Although i would reccomend a pertex shell sleeping bag just in case.

Satisfied it would be sufficient I took it as my shelter in Corsica in October into the mountains for three weeks. The weight saving compared to a tent is fantastic for a long expedition trek and climb. It aslo assembles very quickly and you can cook whilst in the bivy for breakfast.

Over all it performed well in reasonable bad weather. Unfortunately for three nights I was caught up at 2500m in torrential rain and wind. Drip by drip I noticed it gradually give up the ghost and by the morning I was well and truely soaked with big pools in the corners of the head area and all along the zipper side. It does dry out very quickly however although this is not much of a trade off if everything else is soaked!

Not sure as to what I'll do about this as I live in Ireland and v. bad rain is quite common in the mountains here too. I will reseam the joins and hopefully it will do the trick a bit.

Overall the product is sensational for good weather and light rain, in chronic weather (rain) not well at all. Maybe I need a heavy duty tent for such conditions and I was only fooling myself.

If this product could guarantee me being bone dry in the worst of weather it would be the greatest thing on earth.

Review Date
July 5, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Carl (Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $194.00 at REI

Summary:
very, very nice bivy. The venting, when the bivy is well placed with its head into the wind, is top notch and the gore tex has so far done its job perfectly: no condensation anywhere except for a few square inches on the left and right waterproof, non-breathable panals that extend up from the floor. Its nothing a small handkerchief can't fix, and it took ten hours of sleeping inside a cloud for anything to build up.
The best thing about the soloist is the massive amount of room around the legs. I placed my boots, wet gear, backpack, and stove all inside along side my sleeping back, and the warmth combined with the breathable bivy material dried out my boots, pack frame, and jacket (drape that over the foot of your sleeping bag).
At the head, there is room for spare water bottle, pee bottle, water filter, and snacks, room overhead for playing my harmonica, reading, and writing. It is for sure not an ideal environment for spening a lot of time in, but I've stayed warm and dry in some pretty nasty weather, and that is what really matters. The no-see-um netting is fully adjustable in front for venting preferences, and the tiny vestibule at the head protects a large mesh panel (this vestible fly rolls up and will keep you dry even in the rain and allow even more airflow.
All in all, I'm very impressed. Now I just need to figure out a way to extend a little cooking shelter off of the right side, and I'll be set for winter.

four stars for value (for a bag this pricy, even with the deal I got, it would be nice to have the most exposed seam taped before it leaves the factory.
five stars for overall, I stay dry, sleep like a rock, and taunt the bugs as much as I want

Similar Products Used:
The North Face mountain marathon (tried out), tarps.

Review Date
September 29, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Rich M(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Grants Pass, Oregon

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I bought this bivy used but it is in great shape. This one is green in color and I noticed that they only come in blue now, so I am not sure what year this bivy was sold. The Soloist has two equal length poles and is very easy and quick to set up. It has a right side half zipper that makes it nice to get into and out of the bivy. The major seams are sealed at the factory but the seams on the zipper are not. There is a double flap over the zipper. There is one spot where the front noseeum can be zipped shut in bad weather. The flap over this area directs the water to the zippered area causing the water to run down and into the zipper. So, seal this seam if you have the Soloist bivy. This would not be a problem if one uses a tarp. Otherwise, I really like this bivy.

Similar Products Used:
O.R. Advanced Bivy.

Review Date
January 13, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Lucas (Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer

Price Paid:  $270.00

Summary:
A sweet sac. If your thinking of getting a bivy get one and make it this one.

Customer Service:
?

Review Date
September 20, 2001

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.33 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by: timnaz(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Colorado

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I was really excited when I got my soloist. I had great expectations of it. I haven't had a chance to pack with it yet, but that will wait until I can seal the seams. I am very dissapointed with Northface for not taping the seams at the factory. I would think that if they are going to charge over $250.00 for a bivy that it should be able to at least keep you dry. I wanted to test it before depending on it in the woods so I set it up on my lawn in a gentle rain. Three hours later I woke up with a soaked sleeping bag and water puddled all around inside the bivy. I turned on my light and could see the water dripping in through the seams. I was dissapointed in the lack of quality from a Northface product with Gore-tex. It is great for keeping the bugs out though when it's not raining and it does break the chill of the wind. I will not recommend it to any of my friends soley because of the leakiness.

Similar Products Used:
None