Outdoor Research Helium Bivy – anyone got one?

I’m planning on hiking the ridgeline of the Sierra Nevada in September before the snows arrive.

I’m familar with the area but haven’t camped that high up.

Very high winds can be an issue, maybe 50/60mph.

I’ve got a 4-season tent which might hold but given its so exposed up there I doubt I’d sleep well at all.

So looking for a bivy, and the Helium seems to get the best all-round reviews.

I can only image they’re much better in storms given thier low profile?

Advice/opinion/experiences welcome.

Got one, only had a couple of nights in it so far but very happy with it. Couple of peg out points and also one to peg out the hoop though you’ll need your own length of cord for that.

Didn’t wake up with any appreciable condensation though didn’t fully enclose it, slept with the bug net closed but storm/waterproof bit open. Main complaint is that this bit keeps flopping down over the bug net. Ended up taking a small clothes peg to peg it to the top of the hoop.

Packs very small with three pegs and a length of cord for the hoop. If you’re used to bivvys in general it’s a nice improvement. Don’t expect “roomy” though, just enough room to look at your phone inside.

I managed to get one second hand. It’s really good. Perfect for being able to pitch in a small area, light, weatherproof. As noted above, the full door is a bit of a faff.

I now have two other bivvy bags to sell!

This was near the summit of Cairngorm and I managed to find a non-windy bit behind this lump of rock 🙂

The roll up system for the outer door is rubbish unless you like fabric flapping in your face.

thanks, I’ve just ordered one!

I’ll invest in a clip of some sort.

Very high winds can be an issue, maybe 50/60mph.

Seems that scotroutes approach of hiding from the worst of the weather will also be required.

Yeah, if you have a cold wind hitting the side of your bivvy bag then that’s going to reduce the insulating properties of your sleeping system, whereas a tent will maintain that better. However it’s easier to find a less windy pitch with a bivvy bag.