Price – as you’d expect the price of a product can be an instantly recognisable factor on what sort of quality you can expect. Whoever came up with the phrase “you get what you pay for” pretty much hit the nail on the head. Whilst it’s not always the case and there are many bargains to be had, you can as a general rule, expect the higher priced products to offer better quality than a the cheapest option. We’ll dive into the price of Rab Storm Bivi in more detail in a moment. When buying shelters & bivis, the quality of the product is going to be one of the factors that you really scrutinise before you commit to buying. Ripstop outer with 5000mm hydrostatic head / 5000g/m2 breathability / 70D Ripstop floor / 8.5mm aluminium poles / supplied with ultralight alloy pegs. To put into perspective how waterproof this fabric is, the hydrostatic head of your average tent flysheet (basically, the amount of water it'll withstand before allowing it to pass through) is around 3000mm - the Storm Bivi's is 10000mm. It has an open-face style with a snap opening and stiffened peak. This is in contrast to the zipped face designs commonly found on most bivvy bags and Rab champion it as being less constricting. An integrated rain gutter manages precipitation effectively.

That got us thinking though, that we’re looking at every possible item from Rab so it would be good to narrow our search down even further and only look at Rab branded products within the shelters & bivis category. The cost of Rab shelters & bivis This made it into our Outdoor 100 for 2022, with our Test Team all impressed by its superb fabric and lightweight qualities. We’re really pleased to have scored Rab Storm Bivi so highly, givimg it 8.2 out of 10, making it well above the average for all shelters & bivis.ripstop nylon with PU coating / fluorocarbon free DWR / 10,000mm hydrostatic head / 10,000 MVTR / taped seams / snap opening and stiffened peak. It’s certainly a distinctive product due to the high, clam-shaped opening at its head, which utilises a single arcing pole to create a high (for a bivvy bag) ceiling. This makes for easy entry and exit and gives the user plenty of head space – after all, no one wants a claustrophobic bivvying experience. The Storm Bivi is constructed with a breathable 40D ripstop nylon on top and 70D nylon at the base, with a PU coating for rugged, waterproof protection. The fabric is treated with a fluorocarbon free durable water repellent (DWR) which helps to create extra resistance against elements like rain and wind, whilst being a more sustainable choice than your average bivi. Fluorocarbon free finishes are much more eco friendly as they don't use any chemicals that would cause harm to the environment.

Bluesign approved Pertex Shield Diamond Fuse 2.5L / 100% Nylon, 30D ripstop upper / 100% nylon, 40D with TPU lamination floor / bluesign approved100% polyester mesh / single-pole system / reflective Logo and Trims / two stake loops / one guy line loop / high volume toe end / clamshell opening / two Internal fly fasteners. The material the product is made from is often a sign of the quality for shelters & bivis. Take a look at the product details over at Cotswold Outdoor to get a feel for this.

To give that price some context we then looked at all of the products available from Cotswold Outdoor in the shelters & bivis category. We found 9 items in total. What’s the price of shelters & bivis? Fancy it? If you do, then you’re in the right place. We’ve done the hard work for you, putting several products – ranging in design, style, size and price – through their paces on wild camping trips to Scotland, the Brecon Beacons and the Lake District. So, whether you’re looking to venture into bivvying for the first time or if you’re a seasoned pro at sleeping under the stars, there’s something for everyone here. The Best Bivy Bags Tested by Our Team This new version of the Helium, released only this year, comes in 14% lighter than the previous generation, and from what we can see there’s been no downgrade in performance either. Another factor that can be a great indication of product quality is the brand. Brands like Rab are of course extremely well known, especially for shelters & bivis. Top: 40D ripstop nylon with PU coating (108gsm) with fluorocarbon-free DWR HH: 10000mm MVTR: 10000g/m2/24 hrs