Great video! I move through the bush of Alaska often and I highly recommend everyone take a roll of PINK survey tape with them for marking trails. Pink is easily visible in all forest conditions whereas orange, red, yellow and blue may blend in with the natural forest colors. The pink tape is readily available at hardware and home improvement stores. A whole roll isn’t needed - just take a strip about ten feel long and that should be plenty for marking a long path. Wrap it around a lighter or a water bottle or something. I also highly recommend everyone carry a large, contractor-size, heavy-duty trash bag at all times. They are great for making a shelter, rain cover, or for holding in body heat. And they are light and compact, easy to carry. I enjoy all your videos! Thanks
Yes, I do this. I also bring a Sharpie permanent marker allowing me to leave notes on this ribbon or other surfaces, even my own body to help in identifying my remains if needed (okay, that's a little dark, but that's what goes through my mind).
Love the suggestion about pink. My wife and I were just discussing this while watching that while we think of orange and red as very visible, they actually blend quickly with the natural colors of the forest.
@stuarthall3874 Just a note to supplement what you already said: In the role of an emergency rescuer, I have found that while permanent markers do write on skin, they are not even close to being permanent markings. I suspect that it has something to do with the natural skin oils....
I do the same the markers saved me one time when I lived in Alaska I got turned around and was able to see my marker from the adjacent ridge and that’s what saved me from turning it into an extra long trip.
This isn't a sleeping bag. It is designed to provide "some" warmth, but it's not an insulated sleeping system. This bevy has to be used along with some insulated ground padding such as pine needle duff, leaves etc. A wind break of some sort might have helped sled some wind chill. Pulling bivy up around your head could have helped some as well. I was lost while out hunting in the fall here in Oregon awhile back and it was raining and I was wet. I became very cold. I was lucky enough to find an old plastic shopping bag that was probably discarded by a mushroom hunter. I put the shopping bag on as an improvised stocking cap after a while, I noticed I was beginning to feel warmer. Not comfortable but a tad warmer. After some time wandering around I was able to make to an old logging road and eventually back to the truck. This was going to be a "short" hunt that could have become a nightmare. Thank goodness for litterbugs! Over the years I've been lost a few other times but I've learned from my mistakes as well as from stories about others who became lost. Being lost is scary, espesially when a sunny day turns into cold rain or snow. Never trust the weatherman. Always prepare for the worst. Last word, wool is key. All of this other fashionable "outdoor" clothing just makes for a well dressed corpse. Oh, I see you survived the night, short of a full nights sleep. That's success!!! I really do enjoy your work keep it up.
A Military Surplus Wool Blanket and Rain Poncho every time. Add a UCO Beeswax candle and carry a Bic Lighter. Tried and true gear is always better than slick marketing.
In the Swedish Army we use the memory-word STOP. S= Stop, stay where you are. T= Think, asses your situation & inventory resources. O= Orientate, get an approximation of your location. P= Plan, make a plan for digging in or finding your way back.
These aren't bad if you know their faults and adjust your loadout accordingly. Never try it on the ground, always have a pad. Never wear 8 layers of clothing and expect it to reflect a lot of heat. The single BEST way to use this one is as a liner for the MSS bivy which will hold a lot of the heat the SOL vents. I took that setup (with a pad) down to 45 degrees comfortably. I'm BETTING as a liner for the Snugpak jungle bag you could get near freezing....but I haven't tried that yet. Both setups are very light too.
I've been using an sol escape bivy since they came out in like 2007 or maybe 2009'ish. I've tested it in plenty of spring-winter seasons and the one thing I am going to say is .... used within its limitations, its better than nothing when it comes to rain/moisture/snowfall. If it was raining and you got wet at 40 degrees, it would really suck. I am actually kind of surprised you have zero ground insulation, not even biomass other than what is on the ground. It could be 90 degrees outside and if you are laying on the ground, you are going to be cold.
also, another thing I noticed, on mine, the hood opening end of it has draw strings you pull over your head and cinch it around your face. But I also noticed in almost every shot, you have the front of it from about belly button down and all your body heat is in your core ... from the belly button up.
He seemed to expect a lot from a Tyvek sack and he didn't really commit to using it as a life saving device. I think that if he'd been truly in danger of hypothermia he'd have pulled some thin branches from the conifers and shoved them under and in the bag. Still, it is a fantastic video to demonstrate the bag is almost useless alone. I have one with a mosquito net hood and a mylar blanket in my bag. I'll have to try the sac with a mylar blanket draped over it one of these nights to see if it's worth keeping in my pack.
To all of you modern day snowflakes looking for that magical piece of equipment.....I have used an army poncho for 50 years, it does everything for emergency situations.
It’s basically meant to keep you (longer) alive, while you wait for SAR, after you pressed the button on the InReach. Find a place, not to windy but visible from distance and don’t lie down. Even for that it’s better to use a real emergency bivy, which isn’t breathable but keeps your heat.
@@johnswanson3741 I think a bunch of hikers forget about the reality and ways to make things work. cause agreed, not in the military but in know whatbim doingnis the least of my worries and ive dealt with some bad weather just cause i HAD to. was no choice
I used a SOL a few times as a layer over my summer sleeping bag and it worked great. I went from very cold to very warm. Had to open the zipper a bit. Glad I bought it!
He did discuss this around min 34. The only positive reviews after use were from people who used it while camping & in his experience there are better Bivy systems on the market for that purpose… I believe he just doesn’t want people to have a false sense of security from this product’s advertising and there are better options such as a light weight tarp or my preference is a poncho 👍
@@allenwurl6245 Nah - I believe he just needed to generate some Internet clicks by being overly negative and trashing a product that a lot of people have used very successfully. This is a good product that can really help you out in an emergency, but it's not gonna replace basic common sense which he used absolutely none of when making this video.
Land marker tape, that thin bright pink orange tape. Keep a 100 ft. roll and mark a tree AT where you leave the trail and every 50 ft off trail at head level. Collect the tape as you come back for reuse. You should never get lost doing this.
The initials SOL, to anybody who has served in the military it stands for "Sh*t Out of Luck". Which seems to be the case if you relied on this product. I keep an "Oh Sh*t" bag in my car that has contains a GI poncho and an issue woobie, a tarp and an MRE, as well as a first aid kit and a fire starter kit. Having lived in the desert of Arizona, where you get more than 15 minutes away from a major point of "civilization," and you are in the middle of absolutely nothing, I got in the habit of keeping water in the vehicle. So if I break down in the middle of who knows where, I can survive for a bit, until, hopefully help arrives. Thanks, Luke, for another informative adventure.
I had to think about this a while. When I was 6 I went on my first hunt in 1953. We went to the lake duck blind my uncle built out if wood. I was cold and my teeth were chattering. They gave me an oil cloth. Wrapped me in it, wind proof, water proof and I was warm in 5 minutes. I remember seeing these as table clothes that nothing could touch. Early 50s.
Absolutely brilliant, love the honesty. There should be more videos like this that actually tell the truth about a specific product required for a required task or job. Keep it up. Thank you
Corporal’s Corner (Shaun Kelly), teaches a pie method to help you find a trail. It is easy to learn, remember and teach others. He also stresses to not panic. I often wonder if that’s why people’s remains are found miles from where they were going. Just get so panicked they dart off in the wrong direction and are never heard from again.
I once got lost in Iceland during a very simple trail tour around a volcano. I took a wrong turn, and when i realized it i just couldn't manage to find the correct trail back , despite the near complete absence of vegetation. I was lost in the middle of an old lava field, with heavy snow starting to fall. I was starting to panic a bit, when i spotted the car park in the distance, or at least the main trail leading to it. Against security i just booked it through the land, risking spraining my ankle in some holes and destroying some vegetation, just to get back to the trail. I just wanted one thing, get back to my car and not get buried in a snowstorm. Reflecting on it nowadays it was pretty dangerous, but when you're lost with some snow falling, in this lunar environment, even if the trail is just a dozen meters away, that's really something that got me. But if i had stayed and tried to find the path, with the ever reducing visibility and the rather dangerous terrain around, i'm not sure i'd have made it back.
Luke provides a lot of valuable tips on how not to get lost as well as what to do if it happens. I've spent a fair amount of time "cold" camping (no lights, no fire, no tent). It takes a mindset and preparation for many folks to get through it. Keep in mind that "survival" does not equate to "comfort." Perhaps it would be more effective if he'd had a wool blanket (or a layer of browse) between him and the bivvy, but that would have been even more cramped.
As for getting lost, i wondered if a old fashioned compass would be of any help? It would mean you could avoid walking in circles at least,no batteries/signals required.
It is good to know the last bearing/heading direction back to camp/trail/vehicle/town etc. then, even if someone does “get lost”, they can use a compass 🧭 to re-orientate. The only thing about that is not knowing what’s between you and the destination, such as a cliff, impassable river, or other dangerous things.
I watched a video where an instructor was doing a scenario like this. He said to blaze both sides of the tree. If you only blaze the one side and you go past it you will not see the markings on your way back. Pink Trail marking tape in my day bag just in case I ever get lost! Thank you for your videos! I always enjoy watching them!
Good idea. Maybe tie a knot on one side in order to head in the right direction back because if you need survey tape you may waste time going back on your in route instead of out route
I use the Escape Sol breathable bivy for the shell of my ultralight down sleeping bag. Works amazing without the condensation building up. By itself it's probably horrible since mylar isn't great at keeping heat if you lay on cold things or breath in it. It's better then nothing but terrible at everything besides a sleep accessory.
As a landscape photographer, I keep a first aid and "survival" kit in my photo bag all the time. In it is the SOL blanket and a rain pouch. I was caught in a rain storm and found I forgot to replace the rain pouch and used the SOL blanket for rain protection while I waited out the storm. It was in the low 50's and after 30 minutes tucked into the blanket, I was sweating (and condensation!) So I know at least that works. I would say maybe the emergency bivvy would be better for summer type use where cold is not at play and moisture-wicking is better used.
Personally I think the blanket/shelter you have may work better than this item due to the facts that you can use your blanket as a shelter, keeping space between you and the reflective material which is more effective. Also this bivi Luke has does not fit him properly, which adds to the ineffectiveness of the bivi. If Luke used this as more of a tarp, it may have been more effective.
Well maybe you ought to partner with China and start selling a jacket that keeps you warm in the summer I'm sure people like you would purchase two or three to carry around in their vehicles. What's wrong with you man? This thing makes claims that are completely false and it puts people's lives in Risk when they blindly trust something like this. And there's a difference between their mylar blanket that is actually mylar and a Tyvek bivy that has some kind of silvery crap painted onto the material. I'll bet you we're not out in the rain in one of these things. As a photographer I doubt you ever wore a Tyvek suit before. But as someone who has I can tell you if they are worn over clothing year-round even in the hottest conditions. They might be a little restrictive. And when you're working in a vessel that's about 150° or more for 30 minutes at a time in some cases only 15 minutes at a time the suit makes very little difference other than blocking the wind that would cool you off when you first come outside. So you keep carrying this in your survival kit I'll probably read about you one day on Missing 411 and I can't wait to laugh at you in the comments
"... Walk around all night long." I had to do this to survive once in my early twenties. Got caught on a trail at dark in an area I was extremely familiar with. I navigated by moonlight as far as I could until it got too dense to see and continue. It would've been more dangerous to continue because the last couple miles was a lot of scrambling, craggy rocks etc and would've been too big a risk. Loooong story short, it got down to like 35 degrees that night, I fell asleep and remember dreaming that I was getting warm and there was a voice yelling at me to wake up, danger, etc. I got up and was so cold. Started doing small movements until I could get up, then walked in place for hours until I got confident to move around more, then did Tai chi (I know, neeeeerd) for like six plus hours to stay warm until first safe light then I was outta there. I was young and stupid and only had water and snacks on me. Not even a flashlight. Extremely lucky.
My personal edc is a small old-fashioned milspec cigarette case with lighter holder. Inside is a emergency heavy mylar blanket, swiss ranger pocket knife, fingernail clippers/tweezers/a stainless pick, magnesium rod with striker, P51, rechargeable rovyvon a3 light, chapstick, 32oz whirlpak bag and a waterproofed lighter. Covers a 72 hour window of survival that no one can detect with your shirt pulled over it.
I can verify that feeling when you realize you're legitimately lost is horrible. Thankfully mine wasn't a major problem, considering I was nearby a major road and had a huge radio tower as a reference point to get back to the park head. But the moment I realized I had no idea where I was in relation to the trail was terrifying.
That’s something I’ve never experienced. I don’t know why. I’ve been hiking and camping since Boy Scouts. Then in the military I was a army Ranger. My last 3 years I was part of Ranger school training for desert survival. I’ve been lost a few times but I eventually found my way. Maybe that’s why I don’t get scared , I don’t remember being scared when I was lost. Especially knowing someone would look for me. I’m really more worried in the city then I even been in the woods. Maybe I’m just dumb and don’t realize the danger. I don’t take a map and I always have a good sense of direction and plot navigating with landscape I recognize. Then again maybe I’m lucky. An don’t do unnecessary dumb things ( which gets easier the older I get). I believe Boy Scouts taught me much more then I even realized. What kind of stuff goes through your mind that makes you scared? Is it because you don’t have equipment to keep you warm, or is it food. I always hike with enough gear for 72 hours. It’s about 8lbs a little more in winter. Maybe if I was in deep woods without a pack that might be scary. I just don’t know what would put me in that position. I’m very interested in anyones story an how they felt , but really why they believe they felt that way and how they overcame it. I also wanna add while being lost has never scared me. I’ve survived a home invasion where I was beaten they broke my arm an ribs and pistol whipped me. The worst was my girl yelling for help and not being able to get to her. We both are still working through the fear of not feeling safe at home. I’m also in a liberal cesspool. I understand fear I’m interested in stories of overcoming it or driving through it while in the grip. Thanks everyone who reads this.
@@richardhenry1969 sorry to hear what happened to your family, it's terrible that someone can come in to your home and do that, I'm lucky where I live this doesn't happen. I assume u are in USA, do u not have a gun or can you not get one.
Great review. I wondered about those bivvts Flagging tape and or signal panel can be used to mark where you left the trail and shoot a line with your compass to where you’re going to relieve yourself and follow the reverse azimuth back to the trail and your marker. Better yet, don’t lose sight of the marker. Also, always look behind you as you’re walking to see what it would look like going back that way. That has saved me in the mountains.
Years ago I added an outdoor lounge furniture storage bag, pretty much the same as a mattress storage bag, to my kit. It's more than large enough to get you and your gear inside it, is lightweight, packs pretty small depending on which size and mil you get, and can be found in different mils of thickness for durability. Yes, there can be condensation and yes don't suffocate, but it's large, packs small, totally waterproof and windproof. Like a contractor bag but bigger. Mylar has its uses but tears easily so using a lightweight one inside this bag, you don't worry as much about tearing one due to snagging or wind. Keeping your gear dry is important too.
I use the same SOL Bivvy as a sleeping bag liner and it seems to work well. For day hikes I take the SOL plastic bag, which is essentially a large plastic garbage bag.
Great video as always! I have one of these in an emergency bag and just removed it after seeing this. Thank you for saving me the time and misery of testing it on my own!
I'm not sure what you expected out of a bivy. All they are supposed to do it keep you dry and out of the wind and this one does that pretty well. A fancy goretex bivy won't keep you warm but this one and the Goretex one will keep you from having as much condensation inside. Ex-Infantry, I've spent many a night rolled up in a poncho. It's certainly more comfortable than an a poncho or tarp. I go agree that it could be a bit bigger.
I've used this bivy on a winter night of 20F. I placed my sleeping bag inside bivy. When I woke up inside of the bivy was completely wet from condensation. I was warm throughout the night but the bivy was wet inside. I would continue to carry for just in case reasons until a better product comes out. It's small and lightweight but please still do carry a sleeping bag with you.
Thank you, Luke. I have something like that in my glove box. Fortunately, I also have a thick down hooded jacket, gloves, a battery operated throw and a fleece lined wool blanket in my SUV along with drnking water. It makes me so made that these are marketed as life savers when they are junk. Thank you again for checking these out. .
I have a green bivy made out of the same stuff from the same company. I love it. I have used it regularly for about 5 years, in conjunction with a summer bag or a winter bag. I have always been warm, dry, and comfortable. If it looks like rain I put up a plot point tarp under a tree. It adds about 10°C to my bedding temp. I use a foam reflection mat too. My tarp, bivy, light sleeping bag and mat are very light weight and inexpensive. Your video was windy and negative before you settled for the night. You didn't attempt to get off the ground or make a fire. You spent the night with your body half out of the bag and your clothes not even zipped up.
I learned from corporal's corner to take trash bags with you. If you need leaves, put them in trash bags to keep those insects off you at night while you are sleeping. In this way, you have a cushion of air with the leaves to help make a warmer layer. But that said, thanks for this video, I appreciate you for giving an honest review of products to help me with getting better gear for my backpack and emergency use.
This survival bivvy reminds me of the emergency fire escape shelters that wildlands firefighters have. The same thing happened to me one time when I was hiking. I steped off the trail to relieve myself when I was done and turned around to get back on the trail and couldn't find it. I started to get that panicked feeling, but before I did anytnig I calmed myself down and made short trips away from where I was standing to relieve myself. Found the trail on my second try. It's just so odd to have spent so much time in the woods, then have all of it look unfamiliar.
Maybe include plastic grocery bag to tie on branch on trail. I carry 2 and a small rope to don over beanie on bicycle hikes ... RAIN protection. Words 'Day Hike' self deceiving- I plan complete overnight poncho, sleeping sack & tarp waterproof . Food & water weight decreases overnight.
You had a purpose for this trip. I think every person will follow their own actions in experiences they encounter. The first thing I would do is scavenge some wood. Then when things were getting awkward I'd build a small fire. I might make a wind break out of the bag. Would it be worth it to repurpose the bag? It looks rain proof. Open it fully up for a small tarp? Ideas on that?
I have a woodlands firefighter escape shelter and it is NOT lightweight, having some thickness as well as reflectivity. It's packed down pretty densely so not bulky, but has some heft to it.
It was 43° today where I live t shirt and shorts. And yes I went outside for more than an hour. Bring bundled up like you're going through a 6 ft snow storm is ridiculous
I got lost once at a very familiar trail, and it was because of fallen leaves and the sun going down. About crapped myself when I realized I was lost, but calmed down and found the trail again in ten minutes. Still super terrifying, no matter how familiar you are with a location, it's always possible!
Indeed. That's a horrible feeling. Was out for an extended walk in the woods in winter just 15 minutes away from my parent's house where I grew up. Snow, then it got dark at 3 pm and after 2 hours I saw my own tracks. What a relief to hear an angry dog barking at a farm which lead me to a street. Came back late and my dad smiled and said "Easy to get lost in this part of the woods, isn't it...".
@@tommo9757 No, not really. German. His dad, my grandfather, escaped a Russian POW camp and walked back 1,500 miles to the allied side (German allies...). I couldn't really complain when I had cold feet as a kid playing outside...
No Kidding - terrible feeling! I got lost while hunting in the WINTER! Fortunately I had a flashlight and a compass and was able to walk in a straight line to a road... You have to carry some items to make survival possible.
I tried out that bag 10 years ago. In a snow storm . I could feel the warmth everywhere I wasn't touching the bag. I called them and asked to make a bigger one or a 2 person. They told me I was gonna be excited when I saw what they were doing, that was 10 years ago, NOTHING. They basically took my feedback and told me to kick rocks. It needs to be bigger
Thank you for calling these companies out in your emergency gear testing series, Survival with This. I have been curious about this bivvy for a long time due to it claiming breathability and as far as I have seen no one but you has given a detailed and real world review. Even Les Stroud, A.K.A. Survivorman, used this product in his Tofino episode with his son and not much was said about it other than they used it and liked it which was not very helpful.
Thanks for this chance to understand how this product performs….or does not perform. As an older guy, 74, I am not doing much trail hiking. However, my main concern is with having my SUV broke down on the side of a poorly traveled road or dirt trail. I carry a summer weight sleeping bag & a flannel oversized bag liner in my vehicle, with other necessary gear. I would never leave my vehicle. In the summer I would sleep in the passenger seat, reclined in the bag liner, and in cold weather, in the liner in the sleeping bag. The car is my protection from rain, bugs, wind, and animals. I have done this in the past, and recently began sleeping in my bed at home sitting up. Excellent prep for such a situation! When traveling by myself, Rather than paying for a motel room, I do this and eat like a King! Ha ha. I carry a light blocking head cover to knock out the street lights or parking lot lights, also keep a pistol handy for the 2 legged critters that might pester me. Thanks for saving me money due to your experience with this item!😃
I've been 'turned around' a few times, but I've only ever been truly lost once. I was hiking in Central Idaho, got off-trail, and ended up completely lost. Interesting enough, my biggest fear wasn't dying, getting injured, or not being able to get home. I was embarrassed. That was my biggest feeling. "How am I going to explain this? I'm an Eagle Scout for crying out loud, and I'm going to look like a complete idiot." I sat down, had a snack, and calmed down for a while. Then I pulled out my map & compass. I knew about where I was on the map, and some terrain association got me even closer. Once I had a general location I realized that there was no way I was going to make it out that night. I pulled out my survival blanket -- I always carry one -- made a shelter, and spent the next couple hours gathering up firewood and making a bed. I spent the night sleeping by my fire. The next morning I figured out a direction of travel and spent half the day travelling cross-country to the road that lead to where I was parked, and then I spent the drive home trying to think up a great excuse for why I didn't make it home on time. Ultimately, I just told my mom, "I got lost." When she questioned me I just told her, "It happens to the best of us. What do you think I learned all those survival skills for? I knew that I might get lost some day!" BTW, this was 2001, before I had a GPS.
@@joanies6778-- Thanks, she was just glad that I was OK and probably a little more at ease the next time I went out because she knew that even if things didn't go as planned I'd be alright. I also went out and bought a GPS.
THANK YOU for the test. I have made the mistake of buying some of those things, but I will not make the mistake of using them or taking them with me. I certainly appreciate all the the work that you’ve put into your channel, thank you again.
I got lost one time and needed to spend a night out in the open wirh no shelter other than what I was wearing. No light, no ability to make a fire. All I could do was break off leafy twigs and make q big pile and burrow myself in it. I managed to stay just watm enough to make it to the next day. Turns out I was about 200 metres from my camp. There and then I decided to put together a survival kit, including a SOL escape bivvy. They are so good that partnered with a good liner, it will replace a sleeping bag in all but winter conditions. I have since used it as a lightweight sleeping bag. But one thing is essential. Get SOMETHING under you! The fact that this guy didn't even attempt to do this tells me that he probably set out to bag the product. It is actually a great piece of kit.
That same company (I think) makes an "emergency tent" that is basically a big mylar tube with orange on the outside, and some faux-paracord. I recently got one to put in my 72 hour bag, but I haven't gotten a chance to test it yet. I figured I could either use it as a tent or tie one end shut and use it for a bivy. You ever try one of those? I figured the best way to use it in an emergency might be to set it up like a tent, cover it with leaves, and then use my poncho liner for a sleeping bag.
I'm thankful that you reviewed this item. I've been considering adding it to my EDC kit for months. I tested a mylar bivy, but it split in 3-5 spots, which doesn't make sense! I currently carry a double hammock and a multi-use poncho from Saphi Rose. I have used the poncho as a shelter in a surprise hail storm and was very happy with it. I carry stakes and carabiners and paracord as well.
A lot of great points about a bag like this. I think it might be best to buy some contractor bags along with it to fill with leaves or grass to either lay on top of and/or to contain a leaf barrier surrounding the bivy by nesting it in the dunnage filled contractor bag. It's best to get at least 4 inches, when compressed, of leaves or grass under you. Also, I'd keep my shoes on but loosened to keep them from freezing and add insulation to my feet
That bivvy Luke used is meant to be used with the sleeping bag if the weather is below 50 degrees. With the sleeping bag and the bivvy being breathable and water proof it is still a good choice if you are in serious need for it.
I recently went on a day hike in the mountains of north carolina. I noticed most other people had nothing but a fanny pack on. One person asked me why I was carrying so much gear. I told him I was 70 years old and I wanted to be prepared for anything that may happen, especially if I had to stay overnight.
No. You were Not the one everyone on the trail should have been scoffing at due to “…too much gear…”. You are the one everyone else should have been emulating to a greater or lesser degree. And if someone your age can carry those items comfortably, then why wouldn’t you?? Those with fanny packs on are proving Luke’s and others points here that people are going into places which they are not expecting to encounter a problem that forces them to stay outside to survive, risking a dangerous situation.
I absolutely agree. 99.6% of day hikers carry virtually nothing, let alone the 10 essentials. But, most young people don’t think past the end of their nose. I teach a 10 essentials class and tell folks that even having this stuff is not enough. They need to take their little essentials pack and go spend the night in someone’s back 40 on a cold/rainy night. The lessons you learn each time you do that could save your life or someone else’s. RUclips is helpful but experience is the best teacher.
I think if I were in that situation, I would take some of my cold weather clothing (coat) and use it as insulation against the ground (ground insulation is imperative). Then gather a lot of firewood, start a fire with a reflector behind it, and use the Bivy sack wrapped around my back as a wind block and reflector behind me. You can cat nap until the fire dies down, then build it back up and nap again. You are not going to get a good nights sleep, but you will stay alive, especially if it’s really cold. I have done this down to -16° and survived. There is no such thing as a single item for survival. It’s a combination of what you have with you and knowing what the natural environment provides that can help.
Even though the Garmin Inreach can be expensive to purchase and a monthly fee is expensive, you can do short term subscriptions. For me and the places I go, it is more a comfort for my wife that she can reach me in emergencies than anything else as cell signals suck but hiking/camping is non-negotiable.
You’re absolutely right. When you lose the trail you panic. Last time I was incredibly lost I wasn’t on a trail. Just bushbashing. Got out of a narcissist and toxic relationship where I could’ve unalived because of abuse and was floundering. Hiked maybe 15km that day but it saved me. I had to switch off part of my head that said I couldn’t. I was worthless. May as well lay down and give up. Turns out I can think myself out of an awful situation but I had to be calm and think. Was stronger than I realised and eventually hiked back to the trail, hiked back down
I used this product in addition to my swagman roll and it worked well down to 50°F with minor condensation. In the whole video I couldn't see you using it zipped up with additional tie down of the face opening, which explains why it didn't heat up. Yes you have to avoid having direct contact with your skin, thats the same with every mylar blanket. If you use it as a normal bivy together with a light sleeping bag, it works well on blocking wind and moisture and yes, its definitely reflecting the body heat if zipped up. I agree to test every product before having a emergency, but next time you should test a product as intended. Its obvious, that a product which is this light can't insulate, just reflect the body heat.
Well the name isn't fully laying. Use this product in an emergency situation and you are SOL. Thank you for the videos and all the great information you provide!
I think in a true survival situation you’d be trying to get insulation under you which would help. To me the biggest issue is the small size of the SOL system. Air is an insulator but if the bag is too small, one can’t close it up and/or trap any insulating air. The video showed a great deal of time with your head and shoulders exposed… probably because it was a tight fit. The Trifecta V4 is significantly larger and fits me(6’2”). There’s always a balance between being small enough to be conveniently carryable but large enough to work in the expected conditions. I prefer the additional bulk of the Swagman Roll, though larger, it really works well
I am 6’-1” and 210 pounds and have a Swagman Roll. It’s fine if draped over you along with a poncho, but zip it up like a sleeping bag and it’s WAY too small. I have to keep it unzipped to under my arm pits just to fit in it. I’m tired of things being made for small people, COME ON manufacturers there are people bigger than 5’-6” and 140 pounds. So much of outdoor equipment is worthless today.
I' am glad that you told us about the survival bag. My son and I live in a town that the electric goes out in the winter. We don't want to freeze. We have a all electric apartment. I was going to buy two of them. Just in case. Now I won't. Thank you!
I don't bother with gimmicks like this. I always carry either a fully waterproof poncho and / or a 3m x 3m lightweight tarp. Definitely both during out of season hikes. The versatility of both these items is beyond anything a supposed 'emergency' bivvy can provide.
your waterfall memory is similar to mine! i got turned around after finding an un marked waterfall took pics but when i came out everything looked foreign it was getting late i had that feeling come across me. so vulnerable, fearful. i walked one way then another could not find the trail darkness set and i was planning my shelter when i took one last walk, and somehow stumbled upon the trail i had initially walked down (which was an old grown in logging twitch road)
I got lost when I was 18 , I was hunting & got turned around & panicked like I’ve never felt in my life ( fair ) ,started running around and found a river & I remembered if you follow it down stream it will eventually come to a road,well 2&1/2 hrs later crossing back& forth the river I came out on a road 2 miles away .# so scary.
Luke such great information to have,, you know we never know when we are hiking and darkness catches up and we are lost..Thank you so much for sharing!👍
Just goes to show it is probably better to take a standard bivvy bag and a wool blanket or down quilt with you everywhere. Add a small tarp and you are still looking at a very light/small set of kit for emergencies. I would certainly spend an hour getting warm by collecting duff, foliage, bracken etc to go under/around me. For me, I ALWAYS carry a Themarest Xlite (size of a water bottle).
@@GerschonMessingerthe standard bivy is bigger to accommodate a sleeping bag. With the wool blanket or quilt, you get the insulation; the bag isn’t against your body.
Agreed. Yet depending on the time of year, location and availability of materials to collect, you may not be able to do so to make some sort of insulating bed. In many cases however, during the fall months this should not be a problem in several forests globally. Yet having some gear with you allows for additional protection and/or substitution for resources you may lack naturally.
@@GerschonMessinger 1) The enmergency bivvy is pretty fragile, and will likely only last one or two uses. A traditional bivvy bag will be much more robust. 2) The base of a traditional bivvy is usually tougher and will resist sharp twigs and stones and be more waterproof 3) Traditional bivvy bags are usually made of proper two- or three-layer breathable materials like Goretex or Event 4) Unlike the SOL, most bivvy bags have no mylar/metallic liner so it does not conduct heat away from you where it touches My Alpkit Hunka XL bivvy stays in my bag all the time, even for day hikes, and so does my Thermarest Xlite. I usually keep the one inside the other, often with a quilt or lightweight sleeping bag as well. I also Always have a small tarp in the top pouch of my bag. The whole package takes up about the same amount of space as a Winter sleeping bag. I use the same bag for day hikes as I do for overnights, so there's always a water bottle and a cookset in there as well. Frankly, unless I ABSOLUTELY KNOW I am going to be within shouting distance of other people all the time, I prepare as though I am going to be out overnight.
Thank you again Luke for keeping it realistic. SOL do an Escape Plus, i wondered whether that was an improvement. You seemed to have much of your body outside the bivi; especially your torso, which obviously is going to create a significant heat loss. The ideal position is your whole body inside, with just your face exposed so as not to breath in condensation. To play devil's advocate, i have used it with a few small additions and it's been a success. The additions were: ▪️A torso-sized inflatable sleeping mat. ▪️A thin super compact sleeping bag liner ▪️A couple of ten hour chemical hand warmers ▪️And recently a couple of Zippo 9S PLUS electric hand warmers As mentioned please try out the Blizzard emergency/medical gear. Especially the triple layer bivi.
Kudos to you for carrying everything you did/do/would on a day hike. Watching this, only minutes into the video, my first reaction is: you carry a much larger day pack with far more gear than most people do/would. Most people I meet day hiking have a fanny pack -- and maybe a water bottle and snack bag. Anyway, I am eager to see what you carry, what you do with it, and how things work out, so...ONWARD!!!!!
Maybe whenever you are about to leave a trail, look at least at any compass app on your phone and determine in wich direction u are going, so you can reverse the process later.
With WW3 knocking at our door all your information is so important if we have to be on the move to keep safe, many thanks to you for all your survival tips. There is one thing not sure if you spoke about is a certain shoe or boot that works better for traction or leakage and warmth? I've bought shoes and boots that when they get wet, they are slick as heck when the bottom gets wet and end up being crapola for hiking or just plain walking and important to not break a leg or sprang a ankle. If you have any tips it sure be appreciated.
Thanks for testing this product. I had a combat casualty blanket i kept in my car long before youtube and i needed it due to a break down of my car. We were stuck after christmas at a closed down gas station waiting for a truck to show. The thing ciuld not keep ius warm. Since then i keep a 20 degree sleeping bag in my car with some candles and matches. Candles will melt in high temperature ares but you can still use those jessus candles from dollar tree stores. It was the better option for me.
This is the type of post that will save people money and even more important can save people's lives. Thank You! But if you already own one, it could be used as a ground sheet, especially if you camp with a pet.
THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!!! There was a time I would struggle to figure out which best survival product to purchase Thankful for your testing and the information you share, I know how to keep myself safe. I am very excited when you say it is better to use a tarp at times. Those I have ad they are small to carry. Thank you much!!! 🙂
I've found the best survival gear is a gear list so I remember to bring everything on the list. That way I'm not surviving but enjoying my weekend with friends.👍🏼
My personal experience is that any of these similar emergency shelters so far have been causing massive condensation and made my life even more miserable. I’ve decided to build trapper beds with natural materials if possible for insulation and a small tarp/poncho for protection. Still a nice video with honest education
Not a survival situation, but I was on a hiking trip in Northern Michigan in the Fall last year, and the temp dropped below the rating on my sleeping bag. I put this over my sleeping bag and it seemed to take the edge off of the cold that night and I was able to sleep after adding it. It didn't have any moisture in it, and it did cut the wind a bit, but it was not a substitute for a warmer bag. I suppose if you were out in the cold rain, it would at least keep you dry. Thanks for the review!
Two things , I would have gathered leaves or anything I could find to insulate me from the ground and I would have built the best lean to shelter from what I could find , anything to help that bag do its job .
@@Xeno-M. you can make a simple shelter from wood you can snap , no knife needed , any leaves pine boughs etc can be collected to insulate you from the ground , I wouldn’t even call that bush crafting just common sense , it’s not rocket science , did you not build dens as a kid ?
We always have to consider that we may be critically injured - immbolized, and unable to move more than a metre and in severe pain. So never presume we can get a fire going (processing the wood), as well as sourcing leaves, branches, making shelters.
Truthful review, Luke. I have used this exact product several times for backpacking. The first time, I realized just what you did: it's skin tight (I'm 5'11" 185#) and the material itself is the same temperature as the outside temperature. So where I was touching the bag (which was almost everywhere) I was cold. But in those (few) areas where I was not touching the bag my body heat was being reflected back to me and I was warm without noticeable condensation. Disappointed but seeing potential, I began to brainstorm. If I could surround myself with the bag, but not touch the bag, I would be warm. But it's so tight. How would I do that? I bought a second bag and had a seamstress cut out two long wedge-shaped pieces and sew them into each side of the original bag to enlarge it. Then I put my mattress and blanket inside. It worked great. My body wasn't touching the bag and I wasn't laying directly on the ground. Yes, all that cost a couple hundred bucks and I'm lucky I can afford it. But the material does work as they say it does. The problem is the marketing. As a survival bag that you simply lay out on the ground and slide into it sucks because of conduction both from the ground and from the air. I am not surprised at all by your experience. But as a thermal extender I find that it can work if used properly. I have recently added a Mountain Laurel Designs 1/8th" foam pad (3.3 oz.) between the bag and the ground. I find that it is amazingly effective at blocking temperature conduction with the ground. So now neither the bag nor my mattress is directly on the ground. The SOL Breathable Bivy is not a stand alone survival product, as you demonstrated, but it can be a nice piece of kit.
Thanks for the tip on the Mountain Laurel Designs -- will look into this. Would have been very useful in my recent experience (commented about above) where conduction from a rock base was the main challenge and the environment I'm usually in (i.e. caves).
Same here, I used the bag in addition to an inflatable pad (ground insulation) and a SnugPak jungle blanket (insulation). First and very budget attempt into light weight thur hiking setup. Wrap myself in the blanket, crawl in the bag, sleep onto of the pad. Temps were in the low 40’ but I was comfortable. I agree this is not a good stand alone product but combined with others it can make a very light and portable setup.
"the material". You mean tyvek with a mylar backing, that material lol. It may work but it's nothing special. It's also not remotely waterproof thus it is breathable. It's not like it's gortex or some high end waterproof breathable fabric
Interesting fact. The sol bivvys were tested in a indoor test lab using testers wear almost no clothes. Just a light wool layer. also the bivvys were tested using a insulation layer underneath. The idea is that you would remove the majority of your clothes and layer them underneath to have a ground layer and get in the bivvy wear a baselayer.
Thanks for all the valuable info. This may have saved someone's life. I've seriously considered getting one of these to add to my vehicle emergency cold weather gear. Not now.
I really appreciate you reviewing this product. Recently, I had went to Amazon to look at this to put into a kit I been building. I will not waste my money.
Luke, Thanks for the great video and idea of testing these products. I had looked at this bivy at one time and didn't to spend the money on a one use product at the time. I later decided to buy a military bivy and now I am soo glad I made that choice. I will say its nowhere near as light or small but as most serviceable military gear is it will work, might not be as comfortable but will keep you alive. Keep up the great work Luke, its needed and appreciated.
This bivi is a life threatening piece of rubbish in an emergency - especially if it were raining. Thank you for highlighting the fact. In my opinion it was expensive. Cheap pieces of Mylar for a couple of £, loosely draped around your body would likely have been more effective Luke you will never know, but maybe you have/will save some lives. I salute you Sir xx
![Quando Rondo - Life Goes On [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eIf3fhMXAow/mqdefault.jpg)
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Great video! I move through the bush of Alaska often and I highly recommend everyone take a roll of PINK survey tape with them for marking trails. Pink is easily visible in all forest conditions whereas orange, red, yellow and blue may blend in with the natural forest colors. The pink tape is readily available at hardware and home improvement stores. A whole roll isn’t needed - just take a strip about ten feel long and that should be plenty for marking a long path. Wrap it around a lighter or a water bottle or something. I also highly recommend everyone carry a large, contractor-size, heavy-duty trash bag at all times. They are great for making a shelter, rain cover, or for holding in body heat. And they are light and compact, easy to carry. I enjoy all your videos! Thanks
Yes, I do this. I also bring a Sharpie permanent marker allowing me to leave notes on this ribbon or other surfaces, even my own body to help in identifying my remains if needed (okay, that's a little dark, but that's what goes through my mind).
Love the suggestion about pink. My wife and I were just discussing this while watching that while we think of orange and red as very visible, they actually blend quickly with the natural colors of the forest.
Always do, myself. It's common practice where I grew up (rural New Zealand).
@stuarthall3874 Just a note to supplement what you already said: In the role of an emergency rescuer, I have found that while permanent markers do write on skin, they are not even close to being permanent markings. I suspect that it has something to do with the natural skin oils....
I do the same the markers saved me one time when I lived in Alaska I got turned around and was able to see my marker from the adjacent ridge and that’s what saved me from turning it into an extra long trip.
This isn't a sleeping bag. It is designed to provide "some" warmth, but it's not an insulated sleeping system. This bevy has to be used along with some insulated ground padding such as pine needle duff, leaves etc. A wind break of some sort might have helped sled some wind chill. Pulling bivy up around your head could have helped some as well. I was lost while out hunting in the fall here in Oregon awhile back and it was raining and I was wet. I became very cold. I was lucky enough to find an old plastic shopping bag that was probably discarded by a mushroom hunter. I put the shopping bag on as an improvised stocking cap after a while, I noticed I was beginning to feel warmer. Not comfortable but a tad warmer. After some time wandering around I was able to make to an old logging road and eventually back to the truck. This was going to be a "short" hunt that could have become a nightmare. Thank goodness for litterbugs! Over the years I've been lost a few other times but I've learned from my mistakes as well as from stories about others who became lost. Being lost is scary, espesially when a sunny day turns into cold rain or snow. Never trust the weatherman. Always prepare for the worst. Last word, wool is key. All of this other fashionable "outdoor" clothing just makes for a well dressed corpse. Oh, I see you survived the night, short of a full nights sleep. That's success!!! I really do enjoy your work keep it up.
A Military Surplus Wool Blanket and Rain Poncho every time. Add a UCO Beeswax candle and carry a Bic Lighter. Tried and true gear is always better than slick marketing.
In the Swedish Army we use the memory-word STOP.
S= Stop, stay where you are. T= Think, asses your situation & inventory resources. O= Orientate, get an approximation of your location. P= Plan, make a plan for digging in or finding your way back.
Great advice😊
These aren't bad if you know their faults and adjust your loadout accordingly. Never try it on the ground, always have a pad. Never wear 8 layers of clothing and expect it to reflect a lot of heat. The single BEST way to use this one is as a liner for the MSS bivy which will hold a lot of the heat the SOL vents. I took that setup (with a pad) down to 45 degrees comfortably. I'm BETTING as a liner for the Snugpak jungle bag you could get near freezing....but I haven't tried that yet. Both setups are very light too.
I've been using an sol escape bivy since they came out in like 2007 or maybe 2009'ish. I've tested it in plenty of spring-winter seasons and the one thing I am going to say is .... used within its limitations, its better than nothing when it comes to rain/moisture/snowfall. If it was raining and you got wet at 40 degrees, it would really suck. I am actually kind of surprised you have zero ground insulation, not even biomass other than what is on the ground. It could be 90 degrees outside and if you are laying on the ground, you are going to be cold.
also, another thing I noticed, on mine, the hood opening end of it has draw strings you pull over your head and cinch it around your face. But I also noticed in almost every shot, you have the front of it from about belly button down and all your body heat is in your core ... from the belly button up.
He seemed to expect a lot from a Tyvek sack and he didn't really commit to using it as a life saving device. I think that if he'd been truly in danger of hypothermia he'd have pulled some thin branches from the conifers and shoved them under and in the bag. Still, it is a fantastic video to demonstrate the bag is almost useless alone. I have one with a mosquito net hood and a mylar blanket in my bag. I'll have to try the sac with a mylar blanket draped over it one of these nights to see if it's worth keeping in my pack.
To all of you modern day snowflakes looking for that magical piece of equipment.....I have used an army poncho for 50 years, it does everything for emergency situations.
It’s basically meant to keep you (longer) alive, while you wait for SAR, after you pressed the button on the InReach. Find a place, not to windy but visible from distance and don’t lie down. Even for that it’s better to use a real emergency bivy, which isn’t breathable but keeps your heat.
@@johnswanson3741 I think a bunch of hikers forget about the reality and ways to make things work.
cause agreed, not in the military but in know whatbim doingnis the least of my worries and ive dealt with some bad weather just cause i HAD to. was no choice
I used a SOL a few times as a layer over my summer sleeping bag and it worked great. I went from very cold to very warm. Had to open the zipper a bit. Glad I bought it!
He did discuss this around min 34. The only positive reviews after use were from people who used it while camping & in his experience there are better Bivy systems on the market for that purpose… I believe he just doesn’t want people to have a false sense of security from this product’s advertising and there are better options such as a light weight tarp or my preference is a poncho 👍
@@allenwurl6245
Nah - I believe he just needed to generate some Internet clicks by being overly negative and trashing a product that a lot of people have used very successfully. This is a good product that can really help you out in an emergency, but it's not gonna replace basic common sense which he used absolutely none of when making this video.
Glad you called it. I was considering a bag like this one for my car e-kit. I now will cross this one of my list. Thank you!!
Land marker tape, that thin bright pink orange tape. Keep a 100 ft. roll and mark a tree AT where you leave the trail and every 50 ft off trail at head level. Collect the tape as you come back for reuse. You should never get lost doing this.
Another good point is to tell someone where you are going and when they can expect you back. That is key.
Yes!
The initials SOL, to anybody who has served in the military it stands for "Sh*t Out of Luck". Which seems to be the case if you relied on this product. I keep an "Oh Sh*t" bag in my car that has contains a GI poncho and an issue woobie, a tarp and an MRE, as well as a first aid kit and a fire starter kit. Having lived in the desert of Arizona, where you get more than 15 minutes away from a major point of "civilization," and you are in the middle of absolutely nothing, I got in the habit of keeping water in the vehicle. So if I break down in the middle of who knows where, I can survive for a bit, until, hopefully help arrives.
Thanks, Luke, for another informative adventure.
I had to think about this a while. When I was 6 I went on my first hunt in 1953. We went to the lake duck blind my uncle built out if wood. I was cold and my teeth were chattering. They gave me an oil cloth. Wrapped me in it, wind proof, water proof and I was warm in 5 minutes. I remember seeing these as table clothes that nothing could touch. Early 50s.
@mickeybartlett1274
I never would have thought of that! What a good idea!!!
Absolutely brilliant, love the honesty. There should be more videos like this that actually tell the truth about a specific product required for a required task or job. Keep it up. Thank you
Signs that tell you should move from the point you are lost:
1. Fire
2. High Winds
3. Flooding
4. The sound of Banjos.
Corporal’s Corner (Shaun Kelly), teaches a pie method to help you find a trail. It is easy to learn, remember and teach others. He also stresses to not panic. I often wonder if that’s why people’s remains are found miles from where they were going. Just get so panicked they dart off in the wrong direction and are never heard from again.
Shawn's the man. Some awesome shelters he's made. He has gotten a little weird and angry lately, though.
The Corporal is Always Awsome !! Plus one on his channel/advice !!
I once got lost in Iceland during a very simple trail tour around a volcano. I took a wrong turn, and when i realized it i just couldn't manage to find the correct trail back , despite the near complete absence of vegetation. I was lost in the middle of an old lava field, with heavy snow starting to fall. I was starting to panic a bit, when i spotted the car park in the distance, or at least the main trail leading to it. Against security i just booked it through the land, risking spraining my ankle in some holes and destroying some vegetation, just to get back to the trail. I just wanted one thing, get back to my car and not get buried in a snowstorm. Reflecting on it nowadays it was pretty dangerous, but when you're lost with some snow falling, in this lunar environment, even if the trail is just a dozen meters away, that's really something that got me. But if i had stayed and tried to find the path, with the ever reducing visibility and the rather dangerous terrain around, i'm not sure i'd have made it back.
Seeing a vehicle, or road to it, i probably would have done the same.
Luke provides a lot of valuable tips on how not to get lost as well as what to do if it happens. I've spent a fair amount of time "cold" camping (no lights, no fire, no tent). It takes a mindset and preparation for many folks to get through it. Keep in mind that "survival" does not equate to "comfort." Perhaps it would be more effective if he'd had a wool blanket (or a layer of browse) between him and the bivvy, but that would have been even more cramped.
Luke said it appeared to be breathable, but that it was letting out too much heat as a result.@@mascotnet
he really should have at least piled boughs under the bivy, the ground was probably wicking more heat than anything.
Yeah, possibly, but at the end of the day, the product does NOT do what it says.
Also, leave your footwear on.
You never know when you have to bail, imagine having no footwear on!!
Should’ve raised yourself off the ground too…..
@@n8rlvr876 of coarse the product performed as it said, he just didn't come close to using it properly.
As for getting lost, i wondered if a old fashioned compass would be of any help? It would mean you could avoid walking in circles at least,no batteries/signals required.
Amen to that point!!
It is good to know the last bearing/heading direction back to camp/trail/vehicle/town etc. then, even if someone does “get lost”, they can use a compass 🧭 to re-orientate. The only thing about that is not knowing what’s between you and the destination, such as a cliff, impassable river, or other dangerous things.
So SOL really stands for "Sh#t Out of Luck."
I watched a video where an instructor was doing a scenario like this. He said to blaze both sides of the tree. If you only blaze the one side and you go past it you will not see the markings on your way back. Pink Trail marking tape in my day bag just in case I ever get lost!
Thank you for your videos! I always enjoy watching them!
Good idea. Maybe tie a knot on one side in order to head in the right direction back because if you need survey tape you may waste time going back on your in route instead of out route
Your work is truly a public service. Thank you for all the information you give in your videos, it will save someone’s life someday.
I use the Escape Sol breathable bivy for the shell of my ultralight down sleeping bag. Works amazing without the condensation building up. By itself it's probably horrible since mylar isn't great at keeping heat if you lay on cold things or breath in it. It's better then nothing but terrible at everything besides a sleep accessory.
As a landscape photographer, I keep a first aid and "survival" kit in my photo bag all the time. In it is the SOL blanket and a rain pouch. I was caught in a rain storm and found I forgot to replace the rain pouch and used the SOL blanket for rain protection while I waited out the storm. It was in the low 50's and after 30 minutes tucked into the blanket, I was sweating (and condensation!) So I know at least that works. I would say maybe the emergency bivvy would be better for summer type use where cold is not at play and moisture-wicking is better used.
Personally I think the blanket/shelter you have may work better than this item due to the facts that you can use your blanket as a shelter, keeping space between you and the reflective material which is more effective. Also this bivi Luke has does not fit him properly, which adds to the ineffectiveness of the bivi. If Luke used this as more of a tarp, it may have been more effective.
Well maybe you ought to partner with China and start selling a jacket that keeps you warm in the summer I'm sure people like you would purchase two or three to carry around in their vehicles.
What's wrong with you man? This thing makes claims that are completely false and it puts people's lives in Risk when they blindly trust something like this. And there's a difference between their mylar blanket that is actually mylar and a Tyvek bivy that has some kind of silvery crap painted onto the material.
I'll bet you we're not out in the rain in one of these things. As a photographer I doubt you ever wore a Tyvek suit before. But as someone who has I can tell you if they are worn over clothing year-round even in the hottest conditions. They might be a little restrictive. And when you're working in a vessel that's about 150° or more for 30 minutes at a time in some cases only 15 minutes at a time the suit makes very little difference other than blocking the wind that would cool you off when you first come outside.
So you keep carrying this in your survival kit I'll probably read about you one day on Missing 411 and I can't wait to laugh at you in the comments
@@jamesbowen5573, dude, were you dropped on your head as a baby? Maybe you should READ my post before sniffing glue.
The best part of your videos is your no nonsense presentation, and is the reason I enjoy your channel so much.
"... Walk around all night long."
I had to do this to survive once in my early twenties. Got caught on a trail at dark in an area I was extremely familiar with. I navigated by moonlight as far as I could until it got too dense to see and continue. It would've been more dangerous to continue because the last couple miles was a lot of scrambling, craggy rocks etc and would've been too big a risk. Loooong story short, it got down to like 35 degrees that night, I fell asleep and remember dreaming that I was getting warm and there was a voice yelling at me to wake up, danger, etc. I got up and was so cold. Started doing small movements until I could get up, then walked in place for hours until I got confident to move around more, then did Tai chi (I know, neeeeerd) for like six plus hours to stay warm until first safe light then I was outta there. I was young and stupid and only had water and snacks on me. Not even a flashlight. Extremely lucky.
TaiChi, Qiqong.. all goood 😊
EXTREMELY lucky indeed!! Glad you survived to tell the tale !!
You totally dispelled scary ideas of any bigfoot , totally natural, no fear, focused!
Awesome 👏
My personal edc is a small old-fashioned milspec cigarette case with lighter holder. Inside is a emergency heavy mylar blanket, swiss ranger pocket knife, fingernail clippers/tweezers/a stainless pick, magnesium rod with striker, P51, rechargeable rovyvon a3 light, chapstick, 32oz whirlpak bag and a waterproofed lighter. Covers a 72 hour window of survival that no one can detect with your shirt pulled over it.
I can verify that feeling when you realize you're legitimately lost is horrible. Thankfully mine wasn't a major problem, considering I was nearby a major road and had a huge radio tower as a reference point to get back to the park head. But the moment I realized I had no idea where I was in relation to the trail was terrifying.
It's like when your a kid and u loose your mother in the shopping centre or on fair day it sticks with u the feeling.
@@martymartin2894 definitely a sick to the stomach kind and i so don't miss it lol
That’s something I’ve never experienced. I don’t know why. I’ve been hiking and camping since Boy Scouts. Then in the military I was a army Ranger. My last 3 years I was part of Ranger school training for desert survival.
I’ve been lost a few times but I eventually found my way. Maybe that’s why I don’t get scared , I don’t remember being scared when I was lost. Especially knowing someone would look for me.
I’m really more worried in the city then I even been in the woods. Maybe I’m just dumb and don’t realize the danger.
I don’t take a map and I always have a good sense of direction and plot navigating with landscape I recognize. Then again maybe I’m lucky. An don’t do unnecessary dumb things ( which gets easier the older I get).
I believe Boy Scouts taught me much more then I even realized.
What kind of stuff goes through your mind that makes you scared? Is it because you don’t have equipment to keep you warm, or is it food. I always hike with enough gear for 72 hours. It’s about 8lbs a little more in winter.
Maybe if I was in deep woods without a pack that might be scary. I just don’t know what would put me in that position.
I’m very interested in anyones story an how they felt , but really why they believe they felt that way and how they overcame it.
I also wanna add while being lost has never scared me. I’ve survived a home invasion where I was beaten they broke my arm an ribs and pistol whipped me. The worst was my girl yelling for help and not being able to get to her. We both are still working through the fear of not feeling safe at home. I’m also in a liberal cesspool. I understand fear I’m interested in stories of overcoming it or driving through it while in the grip.
Thanks everyone who reads this.
@@richardhenry1969 sorry to hear what happened to your family, it's terrible that someone can come in to your home and do that, I'm lucky where I live this doesn't happen. I assume u are in USA, do u not have a gun or can you not get one.
@@martymartin2894 have one now. Didn't then. But also my state is very good about defending yourself.
Great review. I wondered about those bivvts Flagging tape and or signal panel can be used to mark where you left the trail and shoot a line with your compass to where you’re going to relieve yourself and follow the reverse azimuth back to the trail and your marker. Better yet, don’t lose sight of the marker. Also, always look behind you as you’re walking to see what it would look like going back that way. That has saved me in the mountains.
Flagging Tape, Great Idea. 👍
The sound of the wind in the trees was so relaxing. You should have another channel with the sounds you record during your trips on a loop.
He's already done that: www.youtube.com/@AQuietPlaceAdventures
@@jerk_store thank you for the link!
Years ago I added an outdoor lounge furniture storage bag, pretty much the same as a mattress storage bag, to my kit. It's more than large enough to get you and your gear inside it, is lightweight, packs pretty small depending on which size and mil you get, and can be found in different mils of thickness for durability. Yes, there can be condensation and yes don't suffocate, but it's large, packs small, totally waterproof and windproof. Like a contractor bag but bigger. Mylar has its uses but tears easily so using a lightweight one inside this bag, you don't worry as much about tearing one due to snagging or wind. Keeping your gear dry is important too.
I'd feel like a burrito for the bears in that Emergency bivy, great video Luke :)
I use the same SOL Bivvy as a sleeping bag liner and it seems to work well. For day hikes I take the SOL plastic bag, which is essentially a large plastic garbage bag.
I have used thd breathable SolEscape as a liner. It is effective and ultralight
Great video as always! I have one of these in an emergency bag and just removed it after seeing this. Thank you for saving me the time and misery of testing it on my own!
I'm not sure what you expected out of a bivy. All they are supposed to do it keep you dry and out of the wind and this one does that pretty well. A fancy goretex bivy won't keep you warm but this one and the Goretex one will keep you from having as much condensation inside. Ex-Infantry, I've spent many a night rolled up in a poncho. It's certainly more comfortable than an a poncho or tarp. I go agree that it could be a bit bigger.
Your video made me feel so *COLD!* I'm indoors, in Southern California, in the fall, and still watching this scenario is giving me the chills.
I've used this bivy on a winter night of 20F. I placed my sleeping bag inside bivy. When I woke up inside of the bivy was completely wet from condensation. I was warm throughout the night but the bivy was wet inside. I would continue to carry for just in case reasons until a better product comes out. It's small and lightweight but please still do carry a sleeping bag with you.
Thank you, Luke. I have something like that in my glove box. Fortunately, I also have a thick down hooded jacket, gloves, a battery operated throw and a fleece lined wool blanket in my SUV along with drnking water. It makes me so made that these are marketed as life savers when they are junk. Thank you again for checking these out. .
I have a green bivy made out of the same stuff from the same company. I love it. I have used it regularly for about 5 years, in conjunction with a summer bag or a winter bag. I have always been warm, dry, and comfortable. If it looks like rain I put up a plot point tarp under a tree. It adds about 10°C to my bedding temp. I use a foam reflection mat too. My tarp, bivy, light sleeping bag and mat are very light weight and inexpensive. Your video was windy and negative before you settled for the night. You didn't attempt to get off the ground or make a fire. You spent the night with your body half out of the bag and your clothes not even zipped up.
I learned from corporal's corner to take trash bags with you. If you need leaves, put them in trash bags to keep those insects off you at night while you are sleeping. In this way, you have a cushion of air with the leaves to help make a warmer layer. But that said, thanks for this video, I appreciate you for giving an honest review of products to help me with getting better gear for my backpack and emergency use.
This survival bivvy reminds me of the emergency fire escape shelters that wildlands firefighters have. The same thing happened to me one time when I was hiking. I steped off the trail to relieve myself when I was done and turned around to get back on the trail and couldn't find it. I started to get that panicked feeling, but before I did anytnig I calmed myself down and made short trips away from where I was standing to relieve myself. Found the trail on my second try. It's just so odd to have spent so much time in the woods, then have all of it look unfamiliar.
Maybe include plastic grocery bag to tie on branch on trail. I carry 2 and a small rope to don over beanie on bicycle hikes ... RAIN protection. Words 'Day Hike' self deceiving- I plan complete overnight poncho, sleeping sack & tarp waterproof . Food & water weight decreases overnight.
You had a purpose for this trip. I think every person will follow their own actions in experiences they encounter. The first thing I would do is scavenge some wood. Then when things were getting awkward I'd build a small fire. I might make a wind break out of the bag. Would it be worth it to repurpose the bag? It looks rain proof. Open it fully up for a small tarp? Ideas on that?
I have a woodlands firefighter escape shelter and it is NOT lightweight, having some thickness as well as reflectivity. It's packed down pretty densely so not bulky, but has some heft to it.
It was 43° today where I live t shirt and shorts. And yes I went outside for more than an hour. Bring bundled up like you're going through a 6 ft snow storm is ridiculous
I got lost once at a very familiar trail, and it was because of fallen leaves and the sun going down. About crapped myself when I realized I was lost, but calmed down and found the trail again in ten minutes. Still super terrifying, no matter how familiar you are with a location, it's always possible!
Indeed. That's a horrible feeling. Was out for an extended walk in the woods in winter just 15 minutes away from my parent's house where I grew up. Snow, then it got dark at 3 pm and after 2 hours I saw my own tracks. What a relief to hear an angry dog barking at a farm which lead me to a street.
Came back late and my dad smiled and said "Easy to get lost in this part of the woods, isn't it...".
I bet he was worried but didn't want to say. The sarcasm was probably just his relief 😉
@@tommo9757 No, not really. German. His dad, my grandfather, escaped a Russian POW camp and walked back 1,500 miles to the allied side (German allies...). I couldn't really complain when I had cold feet as a kid playing outside...
No Kidding - terrible feeling! I got lost while hunting in the WINTER! Fortunately I had a flashlight and a compass and was able to walk in a straight line to a road... You have to carry some items to make survival possible.
Basically means you were not well prepared to go into the bush.
I tried out that bag 10 years ago. In a snow storm . I could feel the warmth everywhere I wasn't touching the bag. I called them and asked to make a bigger one or a 2 person. They told me I was gonna be excited when I saw what they were doing, that was 10 years ago, NOTHING. They basically took my feedback and told me to kick rocks. It needs to be bigger
i have one for years... it works perfectly OUTSIDE of a down sleeping bag... from wind, warm air loss, and water drops...
I'm cold just watching you do this...kudos Luke!
Stuff like this is why I really appreciate your channel.
Reviews like this can save lives. Or at the very least money and a butt ton of aggro.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you for calling these companies out in your emergency gear testing series, Survival with This. I have been curious about this bivvy for a long time due to it claiming breathability and as far as I have seen no one but you has given a detailed and real world review. Even Les Stroud, A.K.A. Survivorman, used this product in his Tofino episode with his son and not much was said about it other than they used it and liked it which was not very helpful.
Thanks for this chance to understand how this product performs….or does not perform. As an older guy, 74, I am not doing much trail hiking. However, my main concern is with having my SUV broke down on the side of a poorly traveled road or dirt trail. I carry a summer weight sleeping bag & a flannel oversized bag liner in my vehicle, with other necessary gear. I would never leave my vehicle. In the summer I would sleep in the passenger seat, reclined in the bag liner, and in cold weather, in the liner in the sleeping bag. The car is my protection from rain, bugs, wind, and animals. I have done this in the past, and recently began sleeping in my bed at home sitting up. Excellent prep for such a situation! When traveling by myself, Rather than paying for a motel room, I do this and eat like a King! Ha ha. I carry a light blocking head cover to knock out the street lights or parking lot lights, also keep a pistol handy for the 2 legged critters that might pester me. Thanks for saving me money due to your experience with this item!😃
Bedankt
I've been 'turned around' a few times, but I've only ever been truly lost once. I was hiking in Central Idaho, got off-trail, and ended up completely lost. Interesting enough, my biggest fear wasn't dying, getting injured, or not being able to get home. I was embarrassed. That was my biggest feeling. "How am I going to explain this? I'm an Eagle Scout for crying out loud, and I'm going to look like a complete idiot."
I sat down, had a snack, and calmed down for a while. Then I pulled out my map & compass. I knew about where I was on the map, and some terrain association got me even closer. Once I had a general location I realized that there was no way I was going to make it out that night. I pulled out my survival blanket -- I always carry one -- made a shelter, and spent the next couple hours gathering up firewood and making a bed. I spent the night sleeping by my fire. The next morning I figured out a direction of travel and spent half the day travelling cross-country to the road that lead to where I was parked, and then I spent the drive home trying to think up a great excuse for why I didn't make it home on time.
Ultimately, I just told my mom, "I got lost." When she questioned me I just told her, "It happens to the best of us. What do you think I learned all those survival skills for? I knew that I might get lost some day!"
BTW, this was 2001, before I had a GPS.
Great share. Your Mom was likely very proud you were able to stay calm and use your skills.
@@joanies6778-- Thanks, she was just glad that I was OK and probably a little more at ease the next time I went out because she knew that even if things didn't go as planned I'd be alright. I also went out and bought a GPS.
I really dig how you explain things so clear !!
THANK YOU for the test. I have made the mistake of buying some of those things, but I will not make the mistake of using them or taking them with me. I certainly appreciate all the the work that you’ve put into your channel, thank you again.
I got lost one time and needed to spend a night out in the open wirh no shelter other than what I was wearing. No light, no ability to make a fire. All I could do was break off leafy twigs and make q big pile and burrow myself in it. I managed to stay just watm enough to make it to the next day. Turns out I was about 200 metres from my camp. There and then I decided to put together a survival kit, including a SOL escape bivvy. They are so good that partnered with a good liner, it will replace a sleeping bag in all but winter conditions. I have since used it as a lightweight sleeping bag. But one thing is essential. Get SOMETHING under you! The fact that this guy didn't even attempt to do this tells me that he probably set out to bag the product. It is actually a great piece of kit.
That same company (I think) makes an "emergency tent" that is basically a big mylar tube with orange on the outside, and some faux-paracord. I recently got one to put in my 72 hour bag, but I haven't gotten a chance to test it yet. I figured I could either use it as a tent or tie one end shut and use it for a bivy. You ever try one of those? I figured the best way to use it in an emergency might be to set it up like a tent, cover it with leaves, and then use my poncho liner for a sleeping bag.
I'm thankful that you reviewed this item. I've been considering adding it to my EDC kit for months.
I tested a mylar bivy, but it split in 3-5 spots, which doesn't make sense!
I currently carry a double hammock and a multi-use poncho from Saphi Rose. I have used the poncho as a shelter in a surprise hail storm and was very happy with it. I carry stakes and carabiners and paracord as well.
A lot of great points about a bag like this. I think it might be best to buy some contractor bags along with it to fill with leaves or grass to either lay on top of and/or to contain a leaf barrier surrounding the bivy by nesting it in the dunnage filled contractor bag. It's best to get at least 4 inches, when compressed, of leaves or grass under you. Also, I'd keep my shoes on but loosened to keep them from freezing and add insulation to my feet
This all being said I think I'd prefer a tarp like you were saying at 35:30 and pair that with some contractor bags
I think that is a good idea; especially since they don't weigh much. I'm thinking that SOL really means "Sh!t Outta Luck."
That bivvy Luke used is meant to be used with the sleeping bag if the weather is below 50 degrees. With the sleeping bag and the bivvy being breathable and water proof it is still a good choice if you are in serious need for it.
I recently went on a day hike in the mountains of north carolina. I noticed most other people had nothing but a fanny pack on. One person asked me why I was carrying so much gear. I told him I was 70 years old and I wanted to be prepared for anything that may happen, especially if I had to stay overnight.
No. You were Not the one everyone on the trail should have been scoffing at due to “…too much gear…”. You are the one everyone else should have been emulating to a greater or lesser degree. And if someone your age can carry those items comfortably, then why wouldn’t you?? Those with fanny packs on are proving Luke’s and others points here that people are going into places which they are not expecting to encounter a problem that forces them to stay outside to survive, risking a dangerous situation.
More so than ever when I am out hiking, I feel this generation is oblivious to what can happen. Many on the trail carry NOTHING at all.
I absolutely agree. 99.6% of day hikers carry virtually nothing, let alone the 10 essentials. But, most young people don’t think past the end of their nose. I teach a 10 essentials class and tell folks that even having this stuff is not enough. They need to take their little essentials pack and go spend the night in someone’s back 40 on a cold/rainy night. The lessons you learn each time you do that could save your life or someone else’s. RUclips is helpful but experience is the best teacher.
I think if I were in that situation, I would take some of my cold weather clothing (coat) and use it as insulation against the ground (ground insulation is imperative). Then gather a lot of firewood, start a fire with a reflector behind it, and use the Bivy sack wrapped around my back as a wind block and reflector behind me. You can cat nap until the fire dies down, then build it back up and nap again. You are not going to get a good nights sleep, but you will stay alive, especially if it’s really cold. I have done this down to -16° and survived. There is no such thing as a single item for survival. It’s a combination of what you have with you and knowing what the natural environment provides that can help.
You are spot-on. Go out like you are planning to live there. Then you will live.
Even though the Garmin Inreach can be expensive to purchase and a monthly fee is expensive, you can do short term subscriptions. For me and the places I go, it is more a comfort for my wife that she can reach me in emergencies than anything else as cell signals suck but hiking/camping is non-negotiable.
Nothing worse than trying to sleep when you are freezing. Great advice on equipment, I test all mine at a local campground before it goes any further.
You’re absolutely right. When you lose the trail you panic. Last time I was incredibly lost I wasn’t on a trail. Just bushbashing. Got out of a narcissist and toxic relationship where I could’ve unalived because of abuse and was floundering. Hiked maybe 15km that day but it saved me. I had to switch off part of my head that said I couldn’t. I was worthless. May as well lay down and give up. Turns out I can think myself out of an awful situation but I had to be calm and think. Was stronger than I realised and eventually hiked back to the trail, hiked back down
I used this product in addition to my swagman roll and it worked well down to 50°F with minor condensation. In the whole video I couldn't see you using it zipped up with additional tie down of the face opening, which explains why it didn't heat up. Yes you have to avoid having direct contact with your skin, thats the same with every mylar blanket. If you use it as a normal bivy together with a light sleeping bag, it works well on blocking wind and moisture and yes, its definitely reflecting the body heat if zipped up. I agree to test every product before having a emergency, but next time you should test a product as intended. Its obvious, that a product which is this light can't insulate, just reflect the body heat.
Well said
Agreed. But this item should still fit people better up to 6’ 5” and not used as a standalone product as a bivi.
Great episode but I am curious why you didn’t mention carrying a lighter and making a fire to stay warm. You should always have a way to make a fire.
Excellent as always. So much I want to add but I’ll just say don’t forget about the SOS function on the iPhone 14 and above and the Apple Watch ultra.
Your clothing is a huge asset if you get lost out there. Luke, do you have a favorite cold weather hiking pant?
Well the name isn't fully laying. Use this product in an emergency situation and you are SOL. Thank you for the videos and all the great information you provide!
I think in a true survival situation you’d be trying to get insulation under you which would help. To me the biggest issue is the small size of the SOL system. Air is an insulator but if the bag is too small, one can’t close it up and/or trap any insulating air. The video showed a great deal of time with your head and shoulders exposed… probably because it was a tight fit.
The Trifecta V4 is significantly larger and fits me(6’2”).
There’s always a balance between being small enough to be conveniently carryable but large enough to work in the expected conditions.
I prefer the additional bulk of the Swagman Roll, though larger, it really works well
I am 6’-1” and 210 pounds and have a Swagman Roll. It’s fine if draped over you along with a poncho, but zip it up like a sleeping bag and it’s WAY too small. I have to keep it unzipped to under my arm pits just to fit in it. I’m tired of things being made for small people, COME ON manufacturers there are people bigger than 5’-6” and 140 pounds. So much of outdoor equipment is worthless today.
Thanks Luke for your testing these items for us all.
I' am glad that you told us about the survival bag. My son and I live in a town that the electric goes out in the winter. We don't want to freeze. We have a all electric apartment. I was going to buy two of them. Just in case. Now I won't. Thank you!
In an apartment setting, it should simply be better getting blankets or a fleece sleeping bag liner.
For that purpose, a pile of cheap blankets works fine. You're not trying to be ultralight. You don't need to worry about space.
No coffee? I figured you would bring coffee even on a trip like this.
I don't bother with gimmicks like this. I always carry either a fully waterproof poncho and / or a 3m x 3m lightweight tarp. Definitely both during out of season hikes. The versatility of both these items is beyond anything a supposed 'emergency' bivvy can provide.
your waterfall memory is similar to mine! i got turned around after finding an un marked waterfall took pics but when i came out everything looked foreign it was getting late i had that feeling come across me. so vulnerable, fearful. i walked one way then another could not find the trail darkness set and i was planning my shelter when i took one last walk, and somehow stumbled upon the trail i had initially walked down (which was an old grown in logging twitch road)
I got lost when I was 18 , I was hunting & got turned around & panicked like I’ve never felt in my life ( fair ) ,started running around and found a river & I remembered if you follow it down stream it will eventually come to a road,well 2&1/2 hrs later crossing back& forth the river I came out on a road 2 miles away .# so scary.
Luke such great information to have,, you know we never know when we are hiking and darkness catches up and we are lost..Thank you so much for sharing!👍
Just goes to show it is probably better to take a standard bivvy bag and a wool blanket or down quilt with you everywhere. Add a small tarp and you are still looking at a very light/small set of kit for emergencies. I would certainly spend an hour getting warm by collecting duff, foliage, bracken etc to go under/around me. For me, I ALWAYS carry a Themarest Xlite (size of a water bottle).
A lot of randonneurs take an emergency blanket and a sleeping bag liner and together its toasty.
But why is a standard bivvy bag better than the SOL escape bivvy ?
@@GerschonMessingerthe standard bivy is bigger to accommodate a sleeping bag. With the wool blanket or quilt, you get the insulation; the bag isn’t against your body.
Agreed. Yet depending on the time of year, location and availability of materials to collect, you may not be able to do so to make some sort of insulating bed. In many cases however, during the fall months this should not be a problem in several forests globally. Yet having some gear with you allows for additional protection and/or substitution for resources you may lack naturally.
@@GerschonMessinger 1) The enmergency bivvy is pretty fragile, and will likely only last one or two uses. A traditional bivvy bag will be much more robust.
2) The base of a traditional bivvy is usually tougher and will resist sharp twigs and stones and be more waterproof
3) Traditional bivvy bags are usually made of proper two- or three-layer breathable materials like Goretex or Event
4) Unlike the SOL, most bivvy bags have no mylar/metallic liner so it does not conduct heat away from you where it touches
My Alpkit Hunka XL bivvy stays in my bag all the time, even for day hikes, and so does my Thermarest Xlite. I usually keep the one inside the other, often with a quilt or lightweight sleeping bag as well. I also Always have a small tarp in the top pouch of my bag. The whole package takes up about the same amount of space as a Winter sleeping bag. I use the same bag for day hikes as I do for overnights, so there's always a water bottle and a cookset in there as well. Frankly, unless I ABSOLUTELY KNOW I am going to be within shouting distance of other people all the time, I prepare as though I am going to be out overnight.
Thank you again Luke for keeping it realistic.
SOL do an Escape Plus, i wondered whether that was an improvement.
You seemed to have much of your body outside the bivi; especially your torso, which obviously is going to create a significant heat loss. The ideal position is your whole body inside, with just your face exposed so as not to breath in condensation.
To play devil's advocate, i have used it with a few small additions and it's been a success. The additions were:
▪️A torso-sized inflatable sleeping mat.
▪️A thin super compact sleeping bag liner
▪️A couple of ten hour chemical hand warmers
▪️And recently a couple of Zippo 9S PLUS electric hand warmers
As mentioned please try out the Blizzard emergency/medical gear. Especially the triple layer bivi.
A company's worst, "oh sh!t" moment... when Luke says "oh I don't know"!
Kudos to you for carrying everything you did/do/would on a day hike.
Watching this, only minutes into the video, my first reaction is: you carry a much larger day pack with far more gear than most people do/would.
Most people I meet day hiking have a fanny pack -- and maybe a water bottle and snack bag.
Anyway, I am eager to see what you carry, what you do with it, and how things work out, so...ONWARD!!!!!
Maybe whenever you are about to leave a trail, look at least at any compass app on your phone and determine in wich direction u are going, so you can reverse the process later.
Important to to insulate from the ground. Try to pile a load of ferns and spruce bows underneath to make a layer. The bag would help if raining.
With WW3 knocking at our door all your information is so important if we have to be on the move to keep safe, many thanks to you for all your survival tips. There is one thing not sure if you spoke about is a certain shoe or boot that works better for traction or leakage and warmth? I've bought shoes and boots that when they get wet, they are slick as heck when the bottom gets wet and end up being crapola for hiking or just plain walking and important to not break a leg or sprang a ankle. If you have any tips it sure be appreciated.
Thanks for testing this product. I had a combat casualty blanket i kept in my car long before youtube and i needed it due to a break down of my car. We were stuck after christmas at a closed down gas station waiting for a truck to show. The thing ciuld not keep ius warm. Since then i keep a 20 degree sleeping bag in my car with some candles and matches. Candles will melt in high temperature ares but you can still use those jessus candles from dollar tree stores. It was the better option for me.
This is the type of post that will save people money and even more important can save people's lives. Thank You! But if you already own one, it could be used as a ground sheet, especially if you camp with a pet.
Thank you Luke for doing these videos it really does teach people
THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!!!
There was a time I would struggle to figure out which best survival product to purchase
Thankful for your testing and the information you share, I know how to keep myself safe.
I am very excited when you say it is better to use a tarp at times. Those I have ad they are small to carry.
Thank you much!!! 🙂
I've found the best survival gear is a gear list so I remember to bring everything on the list. That way I'm not surviving but enjoying my weekend with friends.👍🏼
Thank you very much! I almost bought two of these for my emergency bags. Glad I saw this first.
Great video..! Thank you! I have kept a few of those in each of my cars for years..! I'll just stick to my trusty bullet-proof sleeping bag..!
My personal experience is that any of these similar emergency shelters so far have been causing massive condensation and made my life even more miserable. I’ve decided to build trapper beds with natural materials if possible for insulation and a small tarp/poncho for protection. Still a nice video with honest education
Another honest review from real world experiences.. Thank you Luke.
You sir are one of a very few content creators that I trust to give a honest review.
Not a survival situation, but I was on a hiking trip in Northern Michigan in the Fall last year, and the temp dropped below the rating on my sleeping bag. I put this over my sleeping bag and it seemed to take the edge off of the cold that night and I was able to sleep after adding it. It didn't have any moisture in it, and it did cut the wind a bit, but it was not a substitute for a warmer bag. I suppose if you were out in the cold rain, it would at least keep you dry. Thanks for the review!
Two things , I would have gathered leaves or anything I could find to insulate me from the ground and I would have built the best lean to shelter from what I could find , anything to help that bag do its job .
As long as you are carrying a knife to do all of this bushcrafting And have the knowledge/skills, then by all means.
@@Xeno-M. you can make a simple shelter from wood you can snap , no knife needed , any leaves pine boughs etc can be collected to insulate you from the ground , I wouldn’t even call that bush crafting just common sense , it’s not rocket science , did you not build dens as a kid ?
We always have to consider that we may be critically injured - immbolized, and unable to move more than a metre and in severe pain. So never presume we can get a fire going (processing the wood), as well as sourcing leaves, branches, making shelters.
Truthful review, Luke. I have used this exact product several times for backpacking. The first time, I realized just what you did: it's skin tight (I'm 5'11" 185#) and the material itself is the same temperature as the outside temperature. So where I was touching the bag (which was almost everywhere) I was cold. But in those (few) areas where I was not touching the bag my body heat was being reflected back to me and I was warm without noticeable condensation. Disappointed but seeing potential, I began to brainstorm. If I could surround myself with the bag, but not touch the bag, I would be warm. But it's so tight. How would I do that? I bought a second bag and had a seamstress cut out two long wedge-shaped pieces and sew them into each side of the original bag to enlarge it. Then I put my mattress and blanket inside. It worked great. My body wasn't touching the bag and I wasn't laying directly on the ground. Yes, all that cost a couple hundred bucks and I'm lucky I can afford it. But the material does work as they say it does. The problem is the marketing. As a survival bag that you simply lay out on the ground and slide into it sucks because of conduction both from the ground and from the air. I am not surprised at all by your experience. But as a thermal extender I find that it can work if used properly. I have recently added a Mountain Laurel Designs 1/8th" foam pad (3.3 oz.) between the bag and the ground. I find that it is amazingly effective at blocking temperature conduction with the ground. So now neither the bag nor my mattress is directly on the ground. The SOL Breathable Bivy is not a stand alone survival product, as you demonstrated, but it can be a nice piece of kit.
Thanks for the tip on the Mountain Laurel Designs -- will look into this. Would have been very useful in my recent experience (commented about above) where conduction from a rock base was the main challenge and the environment I'm usually in (i.e. caves).
Same here, I used the bag in addition to an inflatable pad (ground insulation) and a SnugPak jungle blanket (insulation). First and very budget attempt into light weight thur hiking setup. Wrap myself in the blanket, crawl in the bag, sleep onto of the pad. Temps were in the low 40’ but I was comfortable. I agree this is not a good stand alone product but combined with others it can make a very light and portable setup.
"the material". You mean tyvek with a mylar backing, that material lol. It may work but it's nothing special. It's also not remotely waterproof thus it is breathable. It's not like it's gortex or some high end waterproof breathable fabric
Seriously wouldn't a regular goretex bivy be much better? Even those army surplus ones
Interesting fact. The sol bivvys were tested in a indoor test lab using testers wear almost no clothes. Just a light wool layer. also the bivvys were tested using a insulation layer underneath. The idea is that you would remove the majority of your clothes and layer them underneath to have a ground layer and get in the bivvy wear a baselayer.
Thanks for all the valuable info. This may have saved someone's life. I've seriously considered getting one of these to add to my vehicle emergency cold weather gear. Not now.
I really appreciate you reviewing this product. Recently, I had went to Amazon to look at this to put into a kit I been building. I will not waste my money.
As a kid, my dad told me SOL stood for something else! It might apply to this product depending on your personal results.
You are not the only one who knows what SOL stands for. And your dad was Absolutely right.
Luke, Thanks for the great video and idea of testing these products. I had looked at this bivy at one time and didn't to spend the money on a one use product at the time. I later decided to buy a military bivy and now I am soo glad I made that choice. I will say its nowhere near as light or small but as most serviceable military gear is it will work, might not be as comfortable but will keep you alive. Keep up the great work Luke, its needed and appreciated.
This bivi is a life threatening piece of rubbish in an emergency - especially if it were raining. Thank you for highlighting the fact. In my opinion it was expensive. Cheap pieces of Mylar for a couple of £, loosely draped around your body would likely have been more effective
Luke you will never know, but maybe you have/will save some lives. I salute you Sir xx
Rubbish indeed !!