SOL Escape Bivvy review
By Tom Calder
An emergency bivvy that keeps rain and wind off while reflecting body heat back to you, and, unlike a foil or plastic bag, lets moisture out so you don't end up soaked in condensation. It is reusable and packs small, which suits a car or a walking pack.
- Best for
- A reusable emergency bivvy for a car, walking pack or grab bag where cold and wet are real risks.
- Skip it if
- You only want a cheap backstop for the glovebox
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Breathable, so far less condensation than a foil or plastic survival bag
- Reflects about 70% of radiated body heat
- Reusable, and light at about 241 g
Worth knowing
- Not a sleeping bag: on its own it won't keep you warm through a cold night
- Costs more than a single-use foil bivvy
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Our review
SOL's Escape Bivvy is a hooded, zip-sided emergency sack made from a breathable metallised fabric rather than plastic or foil. It weighs a little over 240g, blocks wind and most rain, and lets vapour out, which makes it the reusable middle ground between a foil survival bag and a proper bivvy or sleeping bag.
Who it is for
Walkers, drivers on rural roads in winter and anyone building a grab bag who wants a shelter layer they can use more than once and actually sleep in for a few hours. It is not insulation: it slows the heat you lose, so it works best over warm clothes or around a sleeping bag.
What it is
The maker, Survive Outdoors Longer (part of Adventure Medical Kits in the US), lists the regular size at 84 by 31 inches (about 213 by 79cm) and 8.5oz, roughly 241g; an XL is 91 by 39 inches and 9.5oz. The fabric is its Escape ThermaShell, a spunbonded olefin with a metallised coating, and SOL says it reflects 70% of radiated body heat while letting moisture escape. There is a drawcord hood, a side zip so you can get in and out like a sleeping bag, and a two-year warranty.
That 70% figure is lower than the 90% SOL claims for its plain foil-type bivvies. The trade is deliberate: a fabric that breathes reflects less but leaves you drier, and on a long night damp clothing loses heat faster than a few percent of reflection gains.
What Packstack found
Packstack's long-term review reported some condensation in cold, still conditions near freezing and summed it up as managing moisture rather than eliminating it. It also noted the bag adds no insulation of its own and should not be treated as a stand-alone sleep system. Durability reports are good for a light fabric, but it is still thin enough that gorse, brambles and sharp rock deserve respect.
How it compares
Against the SOL Emergency Bivvy, the Escape is more than twice the weight and much more expensive, but you can zip it open, reuse it and wake up drier. The Lifesystems Survival Shelter 2 on the same page is a group shelter for two people to sit inside, better for a lunch stop in sideways rain than for lying down. The EVAQ8 grab bags are complete kits; an Escape can sit inside one as an upgrade on the foil blanket they usually carry.
Stock and buying
SOL sells it direct in the US, but UK availability is patchy and at least one UK outdoor retailer lists it as no longer available. Check the listing names the Escape Bivvy, not the cheaper Emergency Bivvy, and whether you are getting the regular or XL size; taller adults or anyone wanting to get a sleeping bag inside should look at the XL.
Our verdict
A good reusable emergency shelter for someone who walks or drives in remote places and wants something better than foil. Skip it if it will only ever live in a glovebox as a just-in-case item; a single-use foil bivvy covers that at a fraction of the cost and weight. For a planned night out, take a sleeping bag and a proper bivvy.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Survive Outdoors Longer: Escape Bivvy; Packstack: SOL Escape Bivvy review; Survive Outdoors Longer: emergency bivvy range.
Who shouldn't buy this
You only want a cheap backstop for the glovebox; a foil emergency bivvy does that for far less. For a planned night out, take a proper sleeping bag.
Key specs
| Covers | 1 ppl |
| Duration | — |
| Items | 1 |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A lightweight warmth-and-shelter layer for a car kit or grab bag when two people are caught out in bad weather.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Waterproofing the contents of a grab bag or rucksack — documents, electronics, spare clothes and a first-aid kit.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Drivers who want one grab-and-go bag covering both a roadside breakdown and a cold-weather wait.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
Is the SOL Escape Bivvy warm enough on its own?
No. It reflects body heat and blocks wind and rain, but it has no insulation. Wear warm layers or use it over a sleeping bag for a cold night.
Does the Escape Bivvy get condensation inside?
Less than a foil or plastic bag, because the fabric breathes, but not none. Reviewers report some damp in cold, still conditions, so open the zip a little if you can.
How heavy is the SOL Escape Bivvy?
SOL lists the regular size at 8.5oz (about 241g) and the XL at 9.5oz (about 269g).
Can the Escape Bivvy be reused?
Yes. SOL describes it as lasting through multiple trips. Dry it before packing it away and check it for small holes after each use.
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