Continuing with our extensive report on bivys. Martin and friends were outside testing the "Dachshund Garages" in winter. HERE is the first part of the "Battle of Bivys" for you to read, and now here come the next and final bivy candidates in the ultimate test:

Number four comes from Integral Designs and is named Unishelter. The Unishelter is not an official military equipment piece, so it is rather rare to find on eBay and when you do, it's more expensive than the presented "Issued Models." Integral Designs opted for eVent material to save weight. They succeeded well, as the Unishelter is the lightest of our six at 870 grams - without sacrificing space. With a length of 240cm and a spacious head area, the Bivy lacks nothing. You can easily fit a medium-sized backpack in the foot area and still have enough space on the sides to store additional items. You can effortlessly fit a 6cm thick sleeping pad inside as well. As a special feature, the Bivy also has a loop at the foot area on the top side, where you can hang it up to create a flat surface, so the upper material does not rest on the sleeping bag. The head area is equipped with an arch pole similar to the Dutch model, and in addition to the closable mosquito net, there is also a wire frame that allows you to use the mosquito net in light rain. Additional ventilation is provided by a small tubular opening at the front, which is always open (with its own mosquito net) - cleverly connected to the tensioning system to keep it taut. The floor is fixed with 6 pegs and is not breathable - a relatively thin-looking nylon material was used, which is certainly not waterproof but does not look very trustworthy; it is best to use a groundsheet underneath. The zipper is waterproof and has no protective cover. The Unishelter is available in Green, Woodland (US), 3 col. Desert (US), ACU, and Multicam. It is slightly heavier in camouflage variants.

Another bivy bag from Integral Designs is the Observer Shelter. It is the heaviest (2350 grams) and most luxurious bivy in our series. The interior space is enormous: Integral Designs states that it is suitable for two slim people, and we believe it - if the two are very slim. The Observer is also the tallest, with both rear and front arch poles. The rear one is slightly smaller and includes a rain-protected ventilation opening with mosquito netting, providing a pleasant breeze when the cover over the mosquito net at the front is also open. There are two covers at the front - one on the top and one in the front area. Both are fully closable, and underneath are the two entry points - because the front opening serves not only for observation but also for getting in and out. This works quite well as the head area is really huge. The Observer is made of Goretex with a sturdy bottom of waterproof, non-breathable nylon. Of course, like the Unishelter, it has anchoring points for pegs, resulting in a stormproof construction. As the Observer Shelter is not an issued model either, you can only get it from the manufacturer or with a lot of luck on eBay. It is offered in Woodland (US), 3 col Desert (US), ACU, and Multicam.

Bringing up the rear is the bivy bag named Observer from Carinthia. It is identical to the one used by the Dutch Army in Dutch DPM - produced by FESCA. The model shown here is from Carinthia and is only available in olive green. In this variant, you can get it starting from 550 euros - the FECSA model is available for half the price. There is also a civilian model - in olive green - called X-Tour Protecto, which is slightly cheaper than the Observer. Carinthia used Goretex for the entire bag - both upper and lower parts. It has two openings, one in the front for observation and one on the top for entering and exiting. Both openings have closable mosquito nets, providing protection for every situation. The head construction is held in an X shape with two arched poles, allowing you to set up the Observer without pegs. Of course, you can also secure it with pegs at designated points. With a length of 240cm, there is enough space for a backpack and gear, and again, no problem fitting a sleeping pad underneath. The Observer, weighing 1750 grams, is not lightweight but shines with a very good packed size and a robust overall impression.

CONCLUSION: Determining the best bivy is a personal choice - it always depends on what you want. Light and mobile always come at the expense of durability and comfort. The perfect bivy for everyone has yet to be invented. The fact is, with a bivy bag, you are always well protected against the elements and usually on the safe side legally in Germany when it comes to wild camping. Bivouacking is not expressly prohibited - camping is. So the less you set up and draw attention to yourself, the better you can argue in case the forester happens to stop by. Here is a summary of all the data once again (click to enlarge):

Lastly, we would like to point out some other models not discussed here that are also worth considering if you want to delve deeper into the subject:

British Army Bivy Bag (Available on Ebay):

- Robust, Goretex, low maintenance due to no zippers, and attractively priced

RAB Bivy Shelters:

- British company with great bivys for all requirements. Available in signal colors and olive.

- Priced in the middle to high range

Outdoor Research Bivys:

- Well-thought-out designs, good weight ratios, and moderate to high prices

Ultralight Bivys:

- For tarp sleepers, rather delicate but mostly under 200 grams

Furthermore, there is a great comparison list of mainly civilian bivy bags available HERE. If a detailed review of one of the models listed here is desired, just let us know, and we will provide it!