Barely tipping the scales at a half of a pound, the SOL Escape was one of the more impressive models we tested. Made from SOL's proprietary fabric (which feels similar to a DuPont Tyvec Lab suit) and an inner reflective coating, the SOL excelled at keeping us warm while also relatively dry on the inside. Before we go any further, it's important to note that this bivy isn't in the same ballpark as the much heavier, or even the mid-range adventure models. The Escape isn't suited for long expeditions or sleeping in snow caves unless you have tigers blood flowing through your veins; instead, it fills a niche for lightweight, durable warmth for ultralight endeavors. Next, consider the nature of your running excursion. For a long adventure (more than a few nights), the importance of comfort and plenty of rest can't be underestimated. This is where a slightly heavier set-up might be preferred (eg a one-man tent with some space inside and a comfy sleeping mat).

Having read the promotional materials which state that the bivvy retains up to 90% of your body heat, I was curious if a ground pad would be needed. It is. I can definitely say that conductive cooling where you touch the ground still happens through the bag. To protect myself from mosquitos, I wore a hat and headnet with the bivvy. With a ground pad Waterproof seams plus a drawstring hood closure and side zip mean you can seal out the elements entirely or use the bivvy like a traditional sleeping bag, and the high-visibility orange exterior makes it easy for rescuers to spot you even in areas with high tree cover.

All in all I can say that the escape bivvy bag is probably one of the best, if not the best bivvy bag available even though it has a few little flaws.

The SOL Escape Bivvy is a heat reflective, lightweight emergency shelter that minimises condensation whilst protecting you from the elements. Low weight and a compact shape are the most important factors for runners, since a bulky or heavy bag makes running feel awkward and also more strenuous. Is a bivvy better than a tent? The inside of the bivvy is aluminized to reflect your body heat Here you see what the opening looks like with the zipper fully open Bivvy Design and Construction When I first bought it, I didn’t understand what breathability meant. But I discovered its importance when I first used it. My friend and I went minimalist camping in the mountains, bringing only a tarp, our bivvy bags, and sleeping bags as shelter. The night went smoothly for me, but my friend woke up with pretty horrible surprise, his sleeping bag was completely wet from his sweat. It turns out that because his bivvy bag wasn’t breathable, his sweat built up and couldn’t escape like mine did. So started my day dry and rested while he was wet, cold and miserable.The escape bivvy, in my opinion, is a bivvy like no other. It’s durable, warm, and comfortable. It does have its downsides though like the fact that you can’t move your arms very easily while inside, especially when using a sleeping bag inside of it. The real test came on the Colorado Trail where weather, mostly rain, was a big part of my ride. I used a Marmot Atom 40* sleeping bag with the SOL Escape Bivvy and no sleeping pad. Overall temperatures ranged from the 50’s to upper 30’s at night. The first 3 nights were relatively warm but damp. The ground was wet, the bivvy stayed dry, and I remained comfortable and warm. The complaint with most ultra-light emergency shelters is the same: condensation builds up inside as you get warm, leaving your clothes soaking wet. As far as I'm concerned this bivy has no reflective qualities whatsoever, and that's the only reason I even considered it. There are much better options out there that offer more protection and are much more durable. I only used it for a night, but in a multi-day survival situation the amount of condensation could be dangerous or even life threatening, if there was no way to get the sleeping bag and bivy dry every day. I only tested it in the -10 to -15 range, and it is possible with the right bag and outside temperature there would be less condensation, but as this is meant to be a survival bag, it should work in relatively mild winter conditions such as this.

I first heard of the bivvy right before the Arizona Trail Race last year. A friend convinced me to use his as my entire sleep system (no pad or bag) since the weather was looking appropriate to do so. My attempt to race the 300 miles sleepless failed after nearly falling asleep on my bike. The smart decision was to lay down, and rest for 20 minutes. Although it would cost me 2nd place, rest helped and the bivvy kept me warm in 60 degrees with nothing but my bike kit on. I own and have used SOL’s much less expensive Sol Emergency Bivvy, which is non-breathable and functions as a vapor barrier. My questions upon receiving the Escape Pro Bivvy were:Excellent product. Part of my kit ALWAYS. Even use it at home in cool weather, under blankets or blankets inside.