This may horrify the ultralight backpackers amongst us, but really it’s not much heavier than a bag of sugar. I have encountered dogs in Georgia and I would be frankly terrified of one approaching me if I was lying down in a bivi at night. I was impressed with the ability to keep dry inside the Ridge Raider and it is now definitely my choice of best bivvy bag if money is no object. The breathability of the material allows moisture to evaporate whilst maintaining an impenetrable barrier to the rain. A bivi bag can be a real joy in the right conditions but utter misery when the weather turns against you.

If they do get aggressive, the best thing is to stand your ground, pick up a stone and raise your arm as if to throw it. I do wonder if the Oex Bush Pro would be safer from bears in the sense of always being able to use the bear spray because you are never inside a tent. Google Earth is the best tool for planning IMO, you can draw on routes to export to a mapping app on your phone (I use OSMand with downloaded contours for hiking and MAPS. Reviews of both together suggest there's not much difference and I've generally read good things about the Lanshan.Favoured by fast packers and ultralightweight campers, the waterproof bag provides protection from the elements by surrounding your sleeping bag and shielding you from wind and rain, allowing you to stay warm and safe in conditions where pitching a tent isn’t possible. The OEX Bush Pro Bivvi provides waterproof, breathable all-round cover, but packs down into a small, light package that you can easily take wherever you go. Overall, we were impressed with the Geertop as an interesting ‘halfway house’ between tent and full-on bivvying. Any more than this and the lack of breathability may cause too much condensation and dampness, with no easy way of drying out. I would recommend this or some other UL trekking pole tent (Durston X Mid gets good reviews, but there are many options).

The material used for the top section of the bivvy is Rab’s eVent waterproof and breathable technical fabric which is 40 dernier and consists of three layers sandwiched together.The OEX Bush Pro uses a 5000mm hydrostatic head top layer for decent waterproof capability, but we didn’t test it under monsoon conditions. Also if you know any good summary of the best cheap ultralight tents or tarps/bivvis available in the UK (eg if a magazine which reviews them produces an annual roundup of the best ones, or if there is a particularly good reddit thread on the subject) I would be keen to check it out. The Snugpak Ionosphere bivy tent is no exception and straddles the line between bivvy bag and compact 1-person tent really well.

With fully taped seams and breathable waterproof fabric on top (10400mm hydrostatic head and 20 dernier), and a more rugged 30-dernier ‘bathtub layer’ down below this is not going to let in water. In fact, a quick Google suggests that the advice in the uncommon event of a Brown Bear attack is to lie down and play dead so that they stop perceiving you as a threat.If you’d rather not risk this then we recommend the Snugpak Ionosphere as an excellent alternative bivvy bag for UK camping. Packing down to an acceptable 30 x 16 cm (12 x 6 inches), the Ridge Raider uses a single hooped fiber glass pole system to create an enticing bivvy bag structure for the night. Fully waterproof, light and breathable_ Compact size for easy carrying_ Roomy enough for you and your kitSometimes you need a weatherproof space for rest and shelter - but you can only carry the bare essentials. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.