I bought the bivy about three months ago and it has been used about ten times so far. My original intention for this purchase was to use it as an emergency shelter while climbing but now I frequently leave my tent at home and take this bivy for a primary shelter for any overnight trips. Its compact size, light weight, easy to use, and waterproof design have won my choice over a tent, especially when I am soloing or taking a long trip. I used it several times in rain and certainly, it kept the water from the outside, although sometimes I find some moisture from the condensation on my bag. In my experience, no gore-tex is breathable to eliminate any condensation, especially in this humid NW weather.
If you get claustrophobic easily, perhaps you shouldn't get a bivy and stick with a tent. Another option might be getting an Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy with the pole design, but it will be about a half pound heavier than the TNF climbers bivy.

Similar Products Used:

My friend owns an REI bivy sack and we both used our bivies inside a snow shelter. Overall, hers worked well but I thought the breathability on my TNF bivy was better; I had less condensation built on my sleeping bag in the morning.

A basic bombproof bivy sack with a twist. 100 percent goretex fabric makes it more breathable when zipped up. You can roll over while sleeping and still stay realativly comfortable.

Customer Service

The North face has provided a generous 100 percent gear warantee for over 20 years. The have repaired my VE-24 two times without a charge.

Similar Products Used:

The Bibler todtex climbers bivy has a tie in loop but I would recommend wearing a harness for those situations where taking flight while asleep is a distinct possibility.

I bought the bivy about three months ago and it has been used about ten times so far. My original intention for this purchase was to use it as an emergency shelter while climbing but now I frequently leave my tent at home and take this bivy for a primary shelter for any overnight trips. Its compact size, light weight, easy to use, and waterproof design have won my choice over a tent, especially when I am soloing or taking a long trip. I used it several times in rain and certainly, it kept the water from the outside, although sometimes I find some moisture from the condensation on my bag. In my experience, no gore-tex is breathable to eliminate any condensation, especailly in this humid NW weather.
If you get claustrophic easily, perhaps you shouldn't get a bivy and stick with a tent. Another option might be getting an Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy with the pole design, but it will be about a half pound heavier than the TNF climbers bivy.

Similar Products Used:

My friend owns an REI bivy sack and we both used our bivies inside a snow shelter. Overall, hers worked well but I thought the breathability on my TNF bivy was better; I had less condensation built on my sleeping bag in the morning.