Best bivvy bags in 2025 | Lightweight shelters for solo campers, tested by a backpacking expert

Over the years this bivvy bag has become to be our benchmark against which we measure rivals. It does pretty much everything right: it's lightweight yet highly weatherproof; it's spacious yet compact; it's fully featured but not outrageously expensive.

For the avid minimalist camper, the Outdoor Research Helium is ideal.

Managing to weigh less than 500g for a hooped bivvy bag is quite impressive, especially when it has class-leading waterproofing and breathability ratings. To help with stability, it also includes two diagonally positioned pegging points (pegs aren't included).

Inside, the hooped design provides a relatively generous space in which you can move and organise yourself quite easily. That said, for very tall people it might feel a tad restricitve.

Read our full Outdoor Research Helium Bivy review

Fans of the simple, pole-free bivvy design can't do much better than the Alpkit Hunka XL.

As far as features go, there aren't many. There are no zips, just a drawcord around the hood; the other notable 'luxury' is a mesh pouch at the foot of the bag for storing gear.

But in terms of quality and performance, this is a great bivvy bag. The main fabric is recycled and PFC-free, and has a high waterproof rating of 20,000mm HH. It's breathable too (although not class leading).

The fabric is certainly capable of dealing with rain but the hood can't be fully closed so the Hunka XL is never fully weatherproof. For those in need of a fully enclosed bivvy, we'd recommend a design with a hooped pole rather than the Alpkit Hunka XL.

XL is in reference to size, which (you guessed it) is larger than the standard Hunka. It's great that there are two sizes (and three colours) to choose from.

Read our full Alpkit Hunka XL review

Bivvy bags are supposed to be the camping minimalist's tent but despite this, some models can be astonishingly expensive. Particularly those with a hooped pole.

Mercifully, the Lifesystems Venture Solo bivvy is on hand to help address this issue. At £120 (at the time of writing), it's a welcome addition to the lineup of hooped bivvies costing upwards of £200.

Is it any good? We thought so. The Venture Solo is very similar to the Best in Test Outdoor Research Helium in terms of design, while even managing to offer slightly more interior space. We liked its relatively tough 70D material too, it makes the Lifesystems bivvy feel reassuringly durable.

Although the material is relatively thick, the Lifesystems bivvy still packs down to about the same dimensions as the Outdoor Research Helium. It is, however, noticeably heavier, weighing around 200g more. Nor can it match the Outdoor Research bivvy for waterproofing and breathability.

Read our full Lifesystems Venture Solo Hooped Bivi review

The Terra Nova Jupiter Lite bivvy bag is an interesting one. It offers excellent stability thanks to six pegging points (pegs are included), two guy lines, and high quality materials. As one expects from Terra Nova, this is a very high quality product too and built to last. Where this is most noticeable is the pole. It's aluminium alloy instead of the plastic used on the Outdoor Research and Lifesystems bivvy bags.

However, it occupies a middle ground in other aspects. It's light enough, but the Outdoor Research Helium is lighter. It's waterpoof and breathable, but the OR Helium is more so.

Internal space is pretty generous. The pole gives the Jupiter Lite a ceiling height of over 50cm; it's reasonably long and wide too.

All in all, if you appreciate quality and longevity, this is probably the bivvy for you. It's a joy to use and camp in. But, there are lighter options out there if that's what you desire.

Read our full Terra Nova Jupiter Lite Bivi review

The Trailhead Bivi is Rab's least expensive and most simplistic bivvy bag.

On test, we found it ticks most of the boxes for a basic bivvy bag. Its materials are reliably waterproof and breathable; comfort is good with enough room for our gear and even some wiggle room leftover; it's reasonably lightweight and packs down very small; and it's quite durable.

It competes squarely with the Alpkit Hunka XL but loses out to it in terms of price. At over £100, the Rab bivvy is a tad expensive for a basic design. Granted, Rab is a reasonably sustainable brand as that is worth paying a premium for, but Alpkit is a responsible outdoor brand too and still manages to offer a model for £40 less.

Read our full Rab Trailhead Bivi review

This Mountain Warehoue bivvy is the most affordable option we tested and by some margin. In addition to the very attractive price tag it has some other enticing aspects such as a very low weight and packed size. It has decent internal space and volume too, with ample space for a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and space for your pack at your feet.

But, predictably, we did find this bivvy is rather limited in its performance. The fabrics and components don't feel especially durable and it also lacks the reliable waterproofing that the other options on test have. It's rated at just 3000mm HH, and can only fend of some spits of rain rather than any substantial rain.

So, if you are keen to try out the bivvy experience, and don't want to invest too heavily, or are solely a summer time camper, this might be the option for you. But we would suggest, for those who go more frequently, to choose the superior Alpkit Hunka XL.

Read our full Mountain Warehouse Waterproof Bivvy Bag review

This is a regular feature in any of our bivvy roundups, and with good cause. Freestanding and less claustrophobic than a typical bivvy thanks to its hooped main pole and micro upright pole at the foot, it’s made from Pertex Shield Air fabric, which is both waterproof and breathable (HH of 15k and an MVTR of 20k), keeping you dry and reducing condensation. The zipped entry provides easy access and has a mosquito mesh door.

It’s not as compact and lightweight (or as low priced) as a bivvy bag, nor as roomy and liveable as a tent, but it offers an excellent compromise between the two, opening up a world of overnight adventure opportunities.