For many backpackers, traveling as light as possible is essential. That is why carrying even a small-sized tent can be a grueling activity. But by carrying a bivy sack, one can eliminate much of the weight associated with sleeping gear. Outdoor Research is a popular brand for bivy sacks.
Deciding between the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy or the Advanced Bivy can be confusing, as they are made by the same company and are very similar in features. In order to make a decision between these bivy sacks, we will be comparing them so that you can see how their features differ.
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Similarities Between The Alpine Bivy And The Advanced Bivy
While the Advanced Bivy includes more features, as per the name, it has many of the same design features as the Alpine Bivy. This is why we have decided to create the list below. Here, you will see how both of these bivy sacks are compared to bivy sacks from other companies.
In the next section, we will be comparing the Alpine and the Advanced Bivy. What makes the Alpine and the Advanced Bivy similar:
Weather protection and waterproofing:
These bivy sacks are designed to protect you against the rain and the winds. You can use the sacks in all four seasons. They are each made with three-layer Gore-Tex materials. The particular material that these bivy sacks use is made to be breathable for when people are sleeping. They are vapor and gas-permeable. This means that you will not be left with pesky vapor build-up from your breathing.
Plenty of headspace:
While many bivy sacks can make you feel a little claustrophobic, the Outdoor Research sacks are specifically designed to give you plenty of headspace. This allows for more movement in the upper body. They also have the added benefit of giving extra room in the foot area for movement.
Antifungal treatment:
The floor area of these bivy sacks are treated with an antifungal substance. This will help prevent any harmful buildups, which is particularly important, as you will be sleeping very close to the bivy material.
Fully taped seams:
The seams are fully taped so that no water leaks through during heavy rains and water build up on the ground.
- Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy is designed to accommodate thick sleeping pads for ultimate comfort
Accommodates thick sleeping pads:
There is enough space at the bottom of these bivy sacks to accommodate thick sleeping pads. The bivy sacks will not compress the sleeping pad, thus allowing the sleeping pad to do its job and protect you against cold temperatures. There are built-in sleeping pad straps so that your sleeping pad will not be slipping as you move around.
Foot vent:
You can vent out your feet on those hot summer nights with the zipper in the foot area.
Internal mesh pocket:
The internal mesh pockets of these bivy sacks allow you to be able to reach for your essentials in the middle of the night.
What Makes The Outdoor Research Alpine And The Advanced Bivy Different
Now that we have outlined how both of these bivy sacks stand out among other brands, we will be covering the differences between the Alpine Bivy and the Advanced Bivy. Below, we have made a list of the most differentiating features between them.
Double pole arrangement:
While both of these bivy sacks are efficient at keeping you from being claustrophobic, the Advanced Bivy is particularly good at this. Is it because it has a double pole arrangement around the head area that clearly keeps the fabric away from the face.
Multiple sack configurations:
Due to the double pole arrangement, the Advanced Bivy can be configured in one of three ways. It can be fully closed and fully protect you against the elements. Or, it can be partially left open to provide partial protection but allow plenty of air to get in. It can also be left fully open for maximum breathability. This gives you much more versatility, which is why we love the Advanced Bivy.
Stakes and guylines:
The Alpine Bivy has five-stake loops and one guyline loop. But the Advanced Bivy has five-stake loops and three guyline loops. This is likely due to the fact that it has the double pole arrangement.
Weight:
While the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy weighs only 907 g, the Advanced Bivy weighs a little more at 1.1 kg. This is not a noticeable difference to most, but there are a few diehard lightweight backpackers that would consider this a significant difference.
Dimensions
The dimensions of these bivys are important, so we thought we would give this a separate section. Below are the measurements that you will want to know about.
Outdoor Research Alpine bivy dimensions:
- Length: 84 inches
- Shoulder width: 26 inches
- Foot section height: 14.5 inches
- Peak height: 20 inches
Advanced bivy dimensions:
- Length: 87 inches
- Shoulder width: 26 inches
- Foot section height: 14.5 inches
- Peak height: 19.7 inches
Price Comparison
For some people, a part of deciding between bivy sacks is the price. In order to view current prices for the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy and the Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy, please see below:
- LIGHTWEIGHT & BREATHABLE: Be prepared for a night of adventure by carrying this lightweight sleeping bag. Made of a combination of nylon, TPU, and polyester, this helium bivy is waterproof, breathable, and easy to carry and use.
- Fabric Performance: Breathable, Durable, No-See-Um Mesh, Hydroseal Floor, Waterproof Floor, Seam-Taped Floor
- The Alpine AscentShell Bivy is constructed to enable solo adventuring and fast-and-light movements in the mountains and beyond.
Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy or Advanced Bivy: The Verdict
It is pretty clear from the above, as well as from the name, that the Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy has more features than the Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy. We love the fact that the Advanced Bivy allows for more movement in the head area. It also allows for more versatility in the setup configurations. It can be set up to be fully protective, or nice and aerated.
Overall, the Advanced Bivy is better than the Alpine in virtually all dimensions. The only drawback of the Advanced Bivy is that it is slightly heavier than the Alpine Bivy. But to most people, the weight difference is not very significant.
