Best bivvy bags UK 2026: 8 picks for wild camping, compared
8 November 2026 · 8 min read · Prices checked 7 November 2026
Best bivvy bags
We compared 12 bivvy bags sold in the UK on weight, waterproofing, breathability and price. Here are the 8 we'd buy, from a 236 g ultralight cover to a £30 army surplus bag.
A good bivvy bag keeps rain, dew and wind off your sleeping bag so you can sleep out without a tent. We compared 12 bivvy bags sold in the UK on the numbers that matter: weight, waterproofing (hydrostatic head), breathability, how you get in and out, and the lowest UK price we could find. These are the 8 we'd buy, from a 236 g ultralight cover to an army surplus bag at about £30.
The best bivvy bags at a glance
How we chose
We started from the makers' own specs and checked prices at UK retailers. Then we looked for bags that do one job clearly better than the rest: lightest, best value, most weatherproof, or most shelter. Reviews from road.cc, Outdoors Magic, Advnture, OutdoorGearLab and others shaped the pros and cons, and every one is linked from its product page. Where a figure comes from a retailer rather than the maker, the product page says so.
Waterproofing is given as hydrostatic head in millimetres: the bags we compare range from 3,000 mm to 20,000 mm. Breathability is given as MVTR in g/m² over 24 hours, but only some makers publish it. A bivvy bag isn't insulation, so you'll also need a warm enough sleeping bag and mat.
The best bivvy bags for the UK
Best overall
Rab Storm Bivi
- Weight
- 547 g
- Packed size
- 25 × 12 cm
The Storm Bivi gets the balance right for British weather. It's 547 g, rated 10,000 mm waterproof, and Rab publishes its breathability (10,000 g/m²/24h), which few bivvies at this price do. A zipped entry with a mesh vent panel lets you close up against rain and still let moisture out, and the roomy cut takes a bulky sleeping bag. From about £109.
Reasons to buy
- Maker-rated 10,000 mm head and 10,000 g/m² MVTR on a 547 g bag
- Three-dimensional cut leaves room for a larger sleeping bag (Rab)
- Zipped entry with a mesh vent panel lets you close up and still vent
Reasons to avoid
- No hoop or pole, so the fabric sits close to your face when zipped
- Stock is patchy: Rab's own store and several retailers were sold out in October 2026
Stock is patchy, so check the retailers listed. If it's sold out, the Alpkit Hunka is the best-value alternative.
Best value
Alpkit Hunka
- Weight
- 330 g
- Packed size
- 13 × 15 cm
For about £55, the Hunka gives you a breathable, 10,000 mm bivvy with taped seams at 330 g. There's no zip, just a drawcord hood, so it's simple and there's nothing to fail, but it won't seal out heavy rain.
Reasons to buy
- Excellent value and a 4.81/5 rating from 251 Alpkit customer reviews
- packs down to about the size of a Nalgene bottle
- 10,000mm HH with taped seams handles heavy dew and showers well; sold with a 3-year guarantee
Reasons to avoid
- Hood drawcords are fiddly and will not keep out heavy rain; no zip
- No insect netting, and condensation builds in cold, still conditions
The one to start with if you're new to bivvying.
Lightest
Terra Nova Moonlite Bivvy
- Weight
- 236 g
- Packed size
- 20 × 9 cm
At 236 g by Terra Nova's description (its spec table and UK retailers say 210 g), the Moonlite is the lightest bivvy bag we compare. It's rated 10,000 mm and 15,000 g/m²/24h breathable, with taped seams and a zipped hood with an insect-net screen. Outdoors Magic named it its best ultralight bivvy, but it's snug and has no hoop, so it's best under a tarp. From about £183.
Reasons to buy
- Outdoors Magic called it "ultra lightweight" with "superb packability" and named it Best Ultralight Bivvy Bag
- Taped seams and a drawcord hood with a mesh screen (Ultralight Outdoor Gear review: "helps in midge season")
Reasons to avoid
- Outdoors Magic: "Expensive; low on features" and not one for very bad weather
- Snug inside, especially at the footbox; no hoop, so best under a tarp (Ultralight Outdoor Gear review)
For fast, light trips where every gram counts.
Most waterproof
Alpkit Kloke
- Weight
- 285 g
- Packed size
- 20 × 12 cm
The Kloke has the highest ratings of any bivvy we compare: 20,000 mm waterproof and at least 30,000 g/m²/24h breathable, from a 3-layer fabric at just 285 g. road.cc's tester stayed "perfectly dry both from the ground and the rain", though the zip caught on its storm flap. About £160.
Reasons to buy
- road.cc: 'the fabric itself kept me perfectly dry both from the ground and the rain'
- 285 g and 20 × 12 cm packed, yet roomy enough for a 4-season bag and mat (Alpkit)
- road.cc found 'plenty of space above my head to store any kit and keep that dry'
Reasons to avoid
- road.cc: 'I had constant issues with the zip catching the storm flap'
- No bug net and no pole to hold the fabric off your face (road.cc)
Light and seriously weatherproof, without a hoop.
Best premium
Rab Alpine Bivi
- Weight
- 440 g
- Packed size
- 25 × 12 cm
Rab's Alpine Bivi pairs a 15,000 mm Pertex Shield Air upper with a tougher bathtub floor at 440 g. A wide two-way zipped clamshell opening makes it easy to get in and to vent, and testers reported very little condensation. The thin 15D upper needs a careful choice of pitch. From about £250.
Reasons to buy
- Very light and packs to about the size of a 1-litre bottle, with a high 15,000mm HH shell
- Wide two-way zipped clamshell opening makes entry easy and allows venting; testers report very little condensation
- Bathtub base in tougher 40D nylon with taped seams
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive at £300 RRP
- 15D upper fabric is thin and needs careful site selection to avoid punctures; independent testing of the newer Pertex…
For alpine starts and big mountain days.
Lightest hooped
Outdoor Research Helium UL Bivy
- Weight
- 511 g
- Packed size
- Not stated by maker
A single hoop holds the fabric off your face, and full insect mesh and twin vent flaps make the Helium UL feel more like a tiny tent. At 511 g (retailers quoting Outdoor Research) it's the lightest hooped bivvy we compare, with a clamshell entry and fully taped recycled Pertex Shield NetPlus fabric. Condensation still needs managing. From about £240.
Reasons to buy
- Fast set-up, small footprint and low profile (Ultralight Outdoor Gear's review; it also sells the bivy)
- Full insect mesh and "better-than-basic headroom" from the hoop (same review)
- "Blocks wind and light rain well" (same review)
Reasons to avoid
- "Condensation is part of the deal": it needs active venting (Ultralight Outdoor Gear's review)
- Heavier than the previous Helium Bivy: about 530 g against 479 g, per the same review
The best compromise between a bivvy and a tent.
Best budget hooped
Alpkit Elan Hooped Bivvy Bag
- Weight
- 900 g
- Packed size
- 39 × 11 cm
Two short hoops, a long side zip and a zipped mesh panel make the Elan easy to live with for about £110. Advnture called it "almost tent-like in its features". The trade-offs are weight (900 g) and condensation, which Cycling UK found significant.
Reasons to buy
- Advnture: 'Almost tent-like in its features' while keeping a bivvy's simplicity
- Long side zip makes getting in with bag and mat easy (Advnture)
- Two short hoops create more head space than a traditional bivvy (Cycling UK)
Reasons to avoid
- Cycling UK reported 'fairly significant condensation buildup'
- 900 g and 39 cm long packed; Advnture advises pegging it down in exposed spots
Tent-like shelter for less money, if you'll carry the weight.
Best surplus
British Army MTP Bivvy Bag
- Weight
- 900 g
- Packed size
- 28 × 12 cm
The British Army's issue bivvy is a waterproof, breathable bag with taped seams, a drawcord hood and no zip to fail. It's sold used, so condition varies by grade, and sellers quote about 900 g to 1,100 g. In Grade 1 condition it costs from about £30, one of the cheapest bivvies we compare.
Reasons to buy
- No zip to fail: a wide gusseted opening with a drawcord hood (Springfields, Surplus & Outdoors)
- Waterproof and breathable with taped seams, from £29.99 in Grade 1 condition
Reasons to avoid
- Sold used, so condition varies: check the seams and hood before relying on it
- No maker spec: sellers quote 900 g to 1,100 g, heavier than most civilian bivvies
Tough and cheap, if you don't mind the weight or the camouflage.
Compare the picks
| Bag | Best for | Warmth | Weight | Best price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rab Storm Bivi | Best overall | 547 g | £108.95 at Cotswold Outdoor | |
| Alpkit Hunka | Best value | 330 g | £54.99 at Alpkit | |
| Terra Nova Moonlite Bivvy | Lightest | 236 g | £182.75 at Trekitt | |
| Alpkit Kloke | Most waterproof | 285 g | £159.99 at Alpkit | |
| Rab Alpine Bivi | Best premium | 440 g | £249.99 at Ultralight Outdoor Gear | |
| Outdoor Research Helium UL Bivy | Lightest hooped | 511 g | £239.99 at Ultralight Outdoor Gear | |
| Alpkit Elan Hooped Bivvy Bag | Best budget hooped | 900 g | £109.99 at Alpkit | |
| British Army MTP Bivvy Bag | Best surplus | 900 g | £14.99 at Surplus & Lost |
Others we considered
- Rab Ridge Raider Bivi: the most shelter of any bivvy here, with a hoop, foot pole and bug door, but 890 g and about £340, close to a one-person tent.
- Snugpak Special Forces Bivvi: light (340 g) with a half-length zip, but the standard length is short for anyone much over 6 ft and there's no room for a mat inside.
- Snugpak Stratosphere: roomy with a hoop and mosquito net, but 1,130 g, and OutdoorGearLab found heavy rain got through the fabric.
- Mountain Warehouse Waterproof Bivvy Bag: the cheapest we compare at about £25, but rated only 3,000 mm, so keep it for dry summer nights.
How to choose a bivvy bag
What to look for
- Waterproofing of 10,000 mm or moreEvery pick here is rated 10,000 mm or more, except the British Army bag and the Helium UL, whose makers don't publish a figure.
- Breathability, if it's publishedHigher MVTR lets more of your breath escape. Condensation is the most common complaint about any bivvy.
- Zip, drawcord or clamshellA zip lets you close up in rain and vent when it stops. A drawcord hood is simpler and lighter but won't seal out a downpour.
- Hoop or no hoopA hoop keeps the fabric off your face and adds space, but adds weight: the hooped bivvies we compare weigh 511 g to 1,130 g.
- Room for your matCheck the width if you want your mat inside, so you don't slide off it in the night.
- Insect mesh for summerMidges in the Highlands are reason enough on their own.
Not sure whether a bivvy is right for you? Our guide to bivvy bag vs tent compares weight, shelter and price, and explains where you can legally sleep out in the UK. For emergencies rather than planned nights out, see our emergency bivvies.
Bivvy bag FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bivvy bag in the UK?+
Our pick is the Rab Storm Bivi: 547 g, 10,000 mm waterproof with published breathability, a zipped entry with a mesh vent, and a roomy cut, from about £109. For less money, the Alpkit Hunka is about £55.
What is the lightest bivvy bag?+
The Terra Nova Moonlite, at 236 g by Terra Nova's description (210 g in its spec table). The lightest hooped bivvy we compare is the Outdoor Research Helium UL at about 511 g.
How waterproof should a bivvy bag be?+
For British weather, look for 10,000 mm or more. The bags we compare range from 3,000 mm to 20,000 mm. Taped seams matter as much as the fabric rating.
Is an army bivvy bag any good?+
The British Army's issue bivvy is waterproof, breathable and tough, and costs about £30 in used Grade 1 condition. It's heavier than most civilian bivvies, and as it's sold used, check the seams and hood before relying on it.
Do you need a tarp with a bivvy bag?+
Not always, but a tarp keeps rain off while you get in and out and gives you a dry spot to sit. It makes the most difference with bivvies that have no hoop, such as the Moonlite, Kloke and Hunka.
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