Warm within a minute on an unplanned night at 6,200 ft. The SOL Emergency Bivvy is the one to keep in your jacket pocket. It scores 80 out of 100 and ranks #2 in our best emergency bivvy guide as our best pocket bivvy.
Best Pocket Bivvy
SOL Emergency Bivvy
- Weight (our scale): 3.8 oz
- Packed size: about a soda can
- Breathable: no
- Coldest night: 34°F at 6,200 ft
Bottom Line : Soda-can small and warm within a minute on an unplanned night on Mount Hood. It doesn't breathe, so expect to be damp by morning.
Pros
- Warm within 60 seconds
- Completely windproof
- Soda-can size, 3.8 oz
- Stretched rather than tore under boots
Cons
- Severe condensation: base layers damp in 90 minutes
- Leaves you damp after a long night
On Mount Hood
An equipment delay forced Ryan into an unplanned bivouac on Mount Hood, Oregon, in late October. He spent the night in a sheltered rock nook at 6,200 ft, at 34°F.
He felt noticeably warmer within 60 seconds of sliding in. The heat-welded seams stopped every cold downdraft.
The film stretched under his boots rather than shredding like basic foil, and it came through the night intact. It weighed 3.8 oz and packed to the size of a soda can.
Where It Asks Something of You
Condensation was severe. Within 90 minutes his base layers were damp, and by hour four sweat had pooled around his socks. It keeps you warm, not dry.
Spec Sheet vs Our Test
Traps 90% of body warmth. SOL says it traps 90% of body warmth. Ryan felt the difference within a minute. The flip side of trapping everything is that it traps sweat too.
Less than 4 oz, as compact as a soda can. SOL claims under 4 oz and soda-can size. Ryan's scale said 3.8 oz, and the soda can is right.
A durable shield against rain, wind and snow. It was completely windproof on Mount Hood, and the film stretched rather than tore under boots. It's tougher than a thin foil blanket.
Should You Buy the SOL Emergency Bivvy?
Yes, as the bivvy you carry every day. Nothing here gives more warmth for the weight.
If you expect to spend a long, cold night out, carry the breathable SOL Escape instead.
Compare With
- SOL Escape Bivvy: our best overall emergency bivvy.
- Go Time Gear Life Bivy: our best survival extras.
- Tact Bivvy 2.0: our best backup for winter packs.
See all four, and how we tested them, in our best emergency bivvy guide.
Editor's Note, 17 October 2026: New review, from Ryan's field notes. He spent a real night in this bivvy and weighed it on his own scale.
Our Testers
This review was edited by Sean Williams and tested by Ryan Williams.
- Sean Williams, Editor-in-Chief. Sean built the team of researchers and testers behind our reviews and sets the rule the site runs on: we buy what we test, and we say what we found.
- Ryan Williams, Lead Tester. A heavy fleet equipment mechanic by trade, Ryan tests our generators, family tents and emergency gear.
