Sol Bivvy Review
The Sol Bivvy is a survival item that comes in the form of a little orange bag. The bag calls itself “one of the most underrated survival tools of all time.” Here’s our Sol Bivvy review.
What Is The Sol Bivvy?
The Sol Bivvy is a sleeping bag that claims to be “one of the most advanced survival tools on the planet.”
The sleeping bag was recently launched through online deal website SurvivalFrog.com.
The Sol Bivvy is no ordinary sleeping bag. The sleeping bag claims to protect you from subzero temperatures. In fact, the makers of the sleeping bag claim it’s made from the exact same lightweight material NASA invented to protect its astronauts in the freezing vacuum of space.
That material is Mylar. The unique Mylar material allows the Sol Bivvy to fold up into an incredibly small shape – about the size of a clenched fist.
What else makes Sol Bivvy different from the average sleeping bag? Let’s take a closer look.
Sol Bivvy Features
The Sol Bivvy, like other Mylar sleeping bags, promises to reflect 90% of your body heat back towards you. So instead of losing that heat to the air, you’re instantly wrapped in a cocoon of warmth.
Other key features on the Sol Bivvy include:
-7 feet long x 3 feet wide
-Heat-reflecting Mylar coated with a special material called “Heatsheets” that is stretchy, tear-resistant, and made to last
-Waterproof and windproof material featuring taped seams that create “an impenetrable barrier between you” and the elements, according to the manufacturer
-Lightweight and compact, weighing 3.5 ounces and can fit into the palm of your hand when folded up
-Reflects 90% of your body heat back towards you, potentially raising the temperature of the sleeping bag by 20 degrees
Typically, when you’re buying a sleeping bag, you want to know the temperature rating. Unfortunately, the Sol Bivvy doesn’t come with any temperature information. Without this information, we have to assume that the Sol Bivvy is only suited for summer temperatures.
Sol Bivvy Pricing
One of the most attractive features on the Sol Bivvy is its pricing: it costs just $20 and comes with free bonus items like waterproof matches. The more Sol Bivvy sleeping bags you buy, the more bonus items you get. Here’s how pricing breaks down:
-Standard Edition: $19.97 + $4.95 for 1 Sol Bivvy + 1 Set of Stormproof Matches
-2 Person Pack: $39.94 for 2 Sol Bivvy Sleeping Bags + 2 Sets of Stormproof Matches
-The Perfect Pack: $59.91 for 3 Sol Bivvy Sleeping Bags + 3 Sets of Stormproof Matches + 1 Tube Tent
-Family Pack: $99.85 for 5 Sol Bivvy Sleeping Bags + 3 Sets of Stormproof Matches + 2 Tube Tents
-Expedition Pack: $239.64 for 12 Sol Bivvy Sleeping Bags + 12 Sets of Stormproof Matches + 5 Tube Tents
-End of the World Pack: $399.40 for 20 Sol Bivvy Sleeping Bags + 20 Sets of Stormproof Matches + 9 Tube Tents
The creators of the Sol Bivvy claim that the “Expedition Pack” is the most popular. Because, of course, so many people need to buy 12 sets of sleeping bags and 5 tents at the same time. I don’t think so.
Each set of matches comes with 20 waterproof and wind-resistant matches. The case has a strike pad on either side, so the matches claim to be one of the best survival items.
All purchases also come with three bonus PDF files that explain how to survive through various situations. Those bonus eBook PDFs include the Backup Energy Plan Guide, the Ultimate Survival Blueprint, and 37 Food Items Sold Out After Crisis.
Who Makes the Sol Bivvy?
The Sol Bivvy is made by survival equipment retailer Survival Frog, found at SurvivalFrog.com. That retailer is based at the following Denver address:
4155 E. Jewell Avenue, Suite 900
Denver, No 80222
You can contact the company by email at [email protected] or by phone at 800-773-7737.
In addition to the Sol Bivvy, the company sells water filtration systems, canned goods, emergency food supplies, and outdoor survival equipment.
Should You Buy the Sol Bivvy Sleeping Bag for Survival Situations?
The Sol Bivvy is a Mylar sleeping bag priced at around $20 (depending on how many sleeping bags you buy). It also comes with bonus items like additional tents and waterproof matches.
$20 may seem like a great deal for a sleeping bag, but there are some obvious shortcomings with the Sol Bivvy.
First, the company never lists its temperature rating, which is the most important thing to see on a survival sleeping bag. We don’t know if the sleeping bag is suited for winter temperatures. Typically, when a sleeping bag is rated for cold outdoor winter temperatures, they’ll advertise that fact. Since the Sol Bivvy doesn’t advertise any temperature ratings, it appears to be exclusively a summer-weather sleeping bag.
The other problem with the Sol Bivvy is the fact that it’s much more expensive than most Mylar material. Mylar is a relatively cheap material: you can buy a pack of 4 Mylar sleeping bags from Amazon for $12 USD, for example, or a set of 10 Mylar blankets for $6.
Ultimately, the Sol Bivvy doesn’t appear to be suited for many survival situations. Unless you live in a climate where it’s warm year-round, the Sol Bivvy does not appear to keep you warm (or alive) outside in below-freezing temperatures.