Nowadays, there is no need to settle for this mediocre peice of engineering.

I have used this thing on and off for 4 years. Here are the problems:
Pole Design - The pole ends were designed to lose. And lose them you will. Just but 4 or 5 replacements right away and take a spare for every trip. Also, the poles are of 2 different lenghts. Nice touch (let's see, does the short one or long one go here . . . )
Ventilation - There is none, other than the illusive "GoreTex" breathing. There is no "escape path" at the crown of the bag - a common feature on other bags. Camp in this thing on a warm winter night for 12 hours and you shall be nice and wet. Better make it a 1 night trip . . . .
Access - This thing is hell to put your pad and bag in, and to get in and out of. Try setting it up in the rain. Yikes. Then try getting out and bag in when it's raining. Yikes.

Look around - spend a little money. There are better options.

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I really like this bivy. It's my first bivy sack purchased. I knew I would probably be a bit clausterphobic so I went with this one so I could have the headroom. It has kept my dry in real wet snow in June in Wyoming to rain in the mountains. Occassionally I wake up to a good bit of condensation or ice on the inside but I think that's because I'm a very warm sleeper.
The zippers are a pain at times because they are so small but that's a small price to pay for the weight saved. The bag has stake points at the ends which keeps the bag in place when sleeping on less-than-ideal angles. It has held up five years barely looking like it's been used and still keeping me dry. The price is a bit steep but the Gore-Tex is the way to go!

Customer Service

None. A solid product.

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First bivy purchased.

Just to put a little spin on things... I actually bought the Advanced DOUBLE Bivy. Why? Because, its only a few extra ounces from the single, you can fit your stuff in there perfectly, and changing is easy. I worked for REI at the time and bought it on a pro-deal. Would I have paid full price for it?? Doubtful. A one man tent is a better option. And you had better REALLY like the person you are sleeping with in that thing if you share it. I have shared it a couple of times and the condensation build-up was a little excessive.

I guess this thing is more novelty than function if you are paying the full price. I love the thing and plan on continuing to use it regularily for a long time to come. It sheds rain and snow extremely well and when you are in there by yourself there is no condensation buildup.

Customer Service

OR's customer service is fantastic.

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Anything you buy from OR will be completly bomber.

This thing has been great for light backpacking. By including this in my pack instead of my TNF Mountain tent, I have been able to shed 8 lbs just like that. It is not as roomy, but when I am fishing streams with my backpack on, I dont want to feel it back there, and now I dont. As for durability, I use it about 10 trips per year, and have been using the same one without fail for about 4 years. The high cost is why the lower value rating.

Customer Service

There are only two negatives to this bivy. First, the poles are made from plastic, and are just begging to be bent. The second issue is claustrophobia. I don't have it, but if you do (even a little), you won't be able to zip it shut when the snow starts to come down.

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The advanced bivy is a lightbackpackers dream. At less than 2 lbs., it helps cut your tent weight in half compared to the average 3 season 2 man tent. It is seam sealed, gore texed, and moderatley easy to set up. The room inside is a bit claustropbic, but the headroom is pretty decent. The 3 settings that you can set the head pole at help adjust to the weather for instance if it is cold or stormy, you can keep the flap closed to protect you from the elements. If you want a small air vent the flap will open several inches to provide some air, and if it is summer conditions, you can keep the flap open almost a full 90 degrees. Very versatile. It doesn't need a lot of space to setup, and it doesn't require andy stakes to setup unless you want to stake it when you leave camp where winds or weather could blow it away. Overall, it is a good purchase if you can stand the lack of room, but crave that weatherproof lightweight sleepingquarters of the advanced bivy.

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I have used this bivy during every kind of weather and bug situation you can imagine. It was my primary means of shelter during a mountain bike expedition from canada to mexico along the great divide. I slept in the bivy every night for almost three months.

It doesnt leak but sometimes condensation will dampen your sleeping bag when the weather is humid and night temps drop below 40. I have a down bag and it was never a problem. My bivy and sleeping bag were dry and packed long before my travel companions tents were even close to dry.

It is small and light. To those who complain about cramped space etc. its a bivy for gods sake. Did you expect more room?

I enjoyed sleeping in it and most of the time did not even put in the poles as it was easier to tuck the bivy top cover under my chin without them. Its great for star gazing and quick get-a-ways when you are renegade camping in city parks.

It takes some getting used too...but once you do it is awesome and actually is much nocer than a tent. I slept in a tent since the mountain biking trip and got claustraphobic. In a tent you cant see whats going on around you and in a bivy you can see everything.

Awesome product. I used it every day non stop for almost three months and no structural problems developed. The bivy didnt even get dirty. It is also resistent to dog urine.

I would highly reccomend it. Although during prolonged periods of wet weather it is nice to have a tarp to relax under and cook under.

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I have tried a cheap cycing bivy from performance and the OR bivy was worth the extra $$'s.

I bought this bivy on a dare. Its first use was in the back yard durring 7 inch snow storm I stayed very dry and warm. The second time was in Minisota and it was raining very hard. I still managed to stay dry. I personly use it when I have my other tent with me makes for a little added warmth over my sleeping bag especialy in my leaky tent. I dont like to use it alone because its so tight and if its poring their isnt much to do except move your head. I also hate seting it up kind of mickey mouse. I do have to give them creadit is make a very good minolist tent. Very light weight and compact

Customer Service

I think for the money it cost and for the use I get out of it I'm not happy but thats life

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I havent used any thing other than this product for a bivy.

My very first trip with my new OR bivy, we ran into a horrible winter storm on Mt Baker in the North Cascades. 85mph winds, freezing rain and temperatures around 0degrees. Even with all the misery going on outside, I stayed dry and warm and had enough room inside for most of my gear, including my boots. Changing inside was kind of a chore, but it IS a bivy after all. After that first bivy, it has been three years since I have slept in a tent. If I go with a group or I know the weather is wet, I sometimes bring a tarp to cook under, but only as a luxury. I have used my OR bivy everywhere from the summit of Mt Baker to the desert in Moab and have never had a complaint. One note: (which probably saved my life on that first bivy) practice getting into, getting out of, changing, and doing everything else BEFORE you try to use a bivy on a trip. They are small and there is certainly a trick to doing things when the weather is less than cooperative.

Customer Service

OR makes some of the best products around and I have yet to call ont their customer service, although I have stopped by their place (as it is in Seattle) and they are really great people.

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If OR makes it, it is going to be a top notch product. I use thier snowshoes, stuff sacks, ditty bags, gaiters, hats. All of their stuff is bombproof and made to withstand miserable weather.

O.R. makes the best bivy's. I've had mine for several years and it's never let me down. A travel-light essential. It fits into a side pocket on my pack, so I can hardly tell it's there until I need it. I've used it four seasons, from the winters on Lake Superior to the heat of the far south, this bag is worth every cent. If you want more room, they make a double, but the poles are the same as the single, just longer, so they tend to be a bit wavy and bendable at that length. They still work, however.

Customer Service

Never needed customer service. The only company I haven't needed it.

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Pretty much all their products. Gloves, gaitors, hats, hydroseal bags, raincovers, padded cells, stuffsacks, duffles, mugs, etc. Everything is bombproof.

I've found this bivy to have plenty of room. At least when compared to other bivies. Well-constructed; I've had it for a couple seasons now and it has served me quite well. I don't anticipate any problems.

Customer Service

Haven't used it.

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Military issue bivy (good but smaller than the OR bivy)