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Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Integral Designs Penguin Bivy > Test Report by Gail StaisilIntegral Designs Penguin Reflexion BivyTest Series by: Gail Staisil, Marquette, Michigan Page Contents: Initial Report: Integral Designs Penguin Reflexion Bivy March 2, 2008 Tester Information Name: Gail Staisil Age: 55 Gender: Female Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m) Weight: 138 lb (63 kg) Chest: 37 (94 cm) Hip Girth: 37 in (94 cm) Shoulder Girth: 41 in (104 cm) Location: Marquette, Michigan USA Email: woodswoman2001 AT yahoo DOT com Product Information
Initial Impressions and Product Description Design/Fit   The Penguin Reflexion Bivy is one of numerous bivies manufactured by Integral Designs. Marketed as a winter, high altitude and rescue bivy, it's their only model fabricated with Sympatex Reflexion. This 3-layer fabric has a silver reflective inner membrane (aluminum) that reportedly traps back body heat and adds warmth. Other qualities of the fabric include the ability to be waterproof, windproof and breathable. The Penguin arrived in seemingly perfect condition encased in a small silnylon stuff sack (dimensions above). The outside of the bivy appears much like it did on the website. According to the manufacturer, the Penguin bivy "was inspired by the Emperor penguins of Antarctica, which are able to withstand brutally cold winter weather due to their aerodynamic shape and built in insulation, which traps their body heat." Being a cold sleeper, I look forward to testing its inherent ability to add warmth to my sleeping system. Besides using Sympatex Refexion for fabrication, the Penguin also differs from other bivies I have used in that it has a c  enter zipper opening.
This long approximately four foot
(1.22 m) waterproof zipper starts at about waist height and extends to the top of
the head. The zipper is inserted into a curved
seam so that the top of the bivy forms a dome
shape area over my face.
The zipper features three
sliders with approximately 3 in (8 cm) long ribbon pull tags so that an
opening can be created
wherever I would like along its length for air to escape. There is an
additional way for air to es cape however, and
that is from the
mesh-covered tunnel vent that is located near the top of my head. The
circular 4 in/10 cm (diameter)
opening on the tunnel can also be totally closed by the means of an
internal
drawcord. There's a hang loop on the outside of the tunnel vent to
presumably maximize the venting capability of the vent. It would
have to be tied off to a stake, pole or perhaps a tree branch.Being a winter specific-bivy, it doesn't feature a full mesh netting option over the upper half of the body to protect the face and other skin areas from bugs in the late spring and summer months. More Details As stated above, the Penguin Reflexion Bivy is more than two pieces of flat material sewn together. It has an overall tapered shape with the lesser width of 42 in (107 cm) being at the foot of the bivy and the greater width of 76 in (196 cm) located at the chest area. The back of the bivy consists of two pieces of fabric sewn together with the upper portion forming a half-dome shape. The footbox area of the bivy is formed by inserting an oval-shaped piece of fabric between the front and back panels. The front of the bivy consists of a one-piece lower half but the upper half is additionally pieced with each upper side consisting of four angular pieces. This creates an approximate pyramid dome-type shape to presumably allow for roominess and comfort. The tunnel vent is inserted above the upper end of the zipper where the back and front sections merge. All of the seams are beautifully seam taped eliminating the need for additional seam sealing. Upon overall inspection, the workmanship on this bivy is topnotch. The only adornments on the bivy are a triangular chest emblem with the Integral Designs logo and the words "Integral Designs" are also embroidered on the zipper pull ribbons. There are also two stake loops located one on either side near the shoulder areas of the bivy. These could be used if I were to sleep in a precarious position such as to prevent sliding. A Quick Tryout I was anxious to try out the Penguin Reflexion Bivy. It's available in only one size and the length and girth measurements (as stated above) suggested that it was roomy. I took out my -20 F (-29 C) sleeping bag and inserted it into the bright yellow-gold colored bivy. There seemed to be plenty of space for both the loft of the bag and for me to use my arms without restriction inside the bivy. There's also room at the bottom of the bivy to store a few small items while I'm sleeping. When I crawled into my sleeping bag with the bivy over it, I tried rolling from side to side. I liked how the zippered vent stayed in place over my face. Because the bivy is made entirely out of the same Sympatex Reflexion waterproof fabric on both top and bottom sides, there isn't any reason that I can't move the entire bivy with me as I toss and turn. Normally with most side-zippered bivies, I have to re-create a breathing space when I turn to the opposite side as the breathing hole is out to the side. I'm really looking forward to testing this aspect of it in the field. An internal tag advises the user to keep the zipper open 6 in (15 cm) to avoid suffocation. No worries there as I like to have a breathing hole rather than being fully encased in a bivy. Care Care instructions are printed on a tag that is inserted into the seam around the tunnel vent. The bivy should be hand washed with mild soap and then hung to drip dry. Dry cleaning and bleach are forbidden. So far, I have a very optimistic view concerning the features of the Penguin Bivy. I will be going on a five-day winter trip next week and I'm looking forward to using the bivy then and throughout the next four months of winter and spring adventures. Top of Page Field Report: Integral Designs Penguin Reflexion Bivy April 29, 2008 Locations and Conditions During the field test period, I have slept in the Penguin bivy every night during a five-day sledge trip and a four-day backpacking trip (total of seven nights). Locations ranged from and included conifer and deciduous forest communities with many rock outcroppings to frozen lakeshores and wet swampy areas. Elevation ranged from 600 ft (183 m) to approximately 1200 ft (366 m). March Sledge Trip: Location: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Upper Peninsula of Michigan Type of Trip: Winter sledge (bushwhack) trip Distance: 19 mi (31 km) Length of Trip: 5 days Total Sledge Load (including consumables): Estimated 60 lb (27 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, sunny, mid-high humidity Precipitation: Trace of new snow Temperature Range: 34 F to - 4 F (1 C to -20 C) April Backpacking Trip: Location: Mackinac State Forest - Lower Peninsula of Michigan Type of Trip: Bushwhack, partly snow-covered forest and swamps Distance: 13 mi (21 km) Length of Trip: 4 days Backpack Weight (included transport of snowshoes, traction devices, etc): 42 lb (19 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Sunny, partly cloudy Precipitation: None Temperature Range: 23 F (-5 C) to 63 F (17 C) Performance in the Field So far, I have spent seven nights sleeping in the Penguin Bivy. I love many of its attributes but especially the center zip and the fact that the same fabric makes up the entire bivy (more about that below). The bivy is a bit more tapered at the foot end than any other bivies I have owned so placing a lofty bag inside that end is more of a challenge. Usage and Comfort The Integral Designs Penguin Bivy was first used on a five-day sledge trip. During this trip I used a -20 F (-29 C) down sleeping bag in combination 
with the bivy. Although I
ordinarily sleep with my insulated pads underneath a bivy, my first
observation was that there wasn't any way that they would fit inside
the bivy without compromising the loft of a cold-weather bag. The
footbox area that measures 42 in (107 cm) feels confined with that
particular sleeping bag.Each night as I layered together the sleeping bag and the bivy, I would have to slowly thread the lower end of the sleeping bag down into the lower section of the bivy. This also limited any idea of storing anything that needed insulation in the area between the bag and the bivy. However, there was at least a foot (30.5 cm) of empty space that was left between the bottom edge of my sleeping bag and the bottom edge of the bivy. That could be used for storage of items that didn't need insulation. The most comfortable aspect of this bivy for me is the placement of the zipper. As I hinted at in the Initial Report, I'm a side sleeper who changes positions a few times during the night. I am completely taken (delighted) with the fact that I no longer have to re-zip the whole zipper to create a breathing hole. Being that the entire bivy is made out of waterproof Sympatex Reflexion material, turning the bivy with me from side to side doesn't matter as I still have the waterproof material underneath me. The shaped area created by the extra fabric inserts in the front of the bivy over the face area stay adequately away from touching my face. Although my sleeping bag has a side zipper, the opening of the bivy is wide enough that I don't have to displace everything in order to get in it. As implied, the bivy is very easy to enter and exit. However there's one minor annoyance that I immediately noticed. Although there are zipper tabs on both the inside and outside of the bivy, the handy ribbon pulls are only on the outside of the bivy. I usually leave one of my hands outside of the bivy to pull the zipper by the ribbon but it is awkward to do so. Reflective Quality The Sympatex Reflexion Material used to make the entire bivy has the quality of transferring body heat back to the user. I'm not sure in theory how this could be accurately tested, but I felt warm during all the nights of the trip. My sleeping bag was rated colder than actual temperatures but I am indeed a cold sleeper who requires more warmth than the average person (I normally carry a bag that is rated 20 degrees colder than predicted temps). I also use two insulated pads to insure warmth (one being a simple closed-cell foam pad and the other being the Pacific Outdoor Equipment Hyper High Mat). I assume that the aerodynamic shape of the bivy has much to do with how the reflective qualities work. As earlier stated, there is little air space between the sleeping bag and the bivy especially in the bottom half. This would most likely trap air and help reflect it back.  Condensation - Little Frost I did experience some frost inside the bivy but it was mostly located in the areas surrounding the breathing hole created by leaving an opening in the front zipper. I didn't notice any perceptible frost at the tunnel vent (open position) or in the lower portions of the bivy when I exited each morning. The lowest night temperature on this trip was -4 F (-20 C). While I was sleeping under my tarp on the first night of this trip, light snow settled on the bottom part of the bivy. It slid off quite easily once I started moving my legs. During this trip, I often slept close to the snow walls of my shelter. The Penguin Bivy protected me from any moisture that such contact sometimes provides. I also have enjoyed the softness of the Sympatex fabric. There isn't any crinkling sound and it's so easy to pack. It didn't stiffen from the cold and the snow but the fabric remained very flexible. Carried for Survival Gear During one day of the sledge trip we took a short side trip off the main course. We left our loaded sledges with gear at the top of a steep descent. We packed a small day pack with assorted climbing gear, survival gear and snacks. I packed the bivy in this pack and took it with me as a safety measure. Our side trip to explore the ice columns produced by frozen waterfalls (hanging over the sandstone cliffs) took several hours. The Penguin Bivy was carried for emergency purposes but luckily it didn't have to be used as a rescue bivy. It was easy to stow in my small pack and definitely was worth including in survival gear. Second Field Trip My second trip in the field test period was a four-day backpacking trip. Even though the calendar said it was springtime, the ground was still mostly snow-covered and the nights were chilly. The low temperature for this trip was 23 F (-5 C) and the other nights were certainly not much above that. I chose damp and barren ground for my pyramid tarp set-up but the ground was still quite frozen as evident when pushing in the stakes. This translated to a very cold ground and on this trip I packed a simple three-quarter sized Z-Rest Pad that I shingled with a Pro-lite 3 Pad so that my torso and hip area could be insulated from the ground. I also used a 20 F (-7 C) synthetic sleeping bag in combination with the Penguin Bivy. This particular bag has never been warm at that temperature for me. During the first night, I had trouble keeping warm. I had the bivy zipped up with just approximately a 8 in (20 cm) opening so that I could both breathe and see outside of the bivy. In addition to wearing long underwear and trail pants, I wore two shirts and a synthetic-filled vest on my upper body. Since I was still cold, I put my down jacket over my sleeping bag inside the bivy and things were great. I repeated the pattern for the remaining two nights so that I would avoid sleeplessness due to being cold. Overall, the nights were windy and damp. The bivy protected me well from the winds but the dampness is probably what made me feel cold. The amount of clothing I wore inside the sleeping bag most likely hindered the amount of heat that could have exited the sleeping bag. This in turn no doubt wasn't very effective for the reflective quality to work. More Roomy with Less Lofty Bag I did notice on this trip that I had a lot more room in the bivy due to the less lofty sleeping bag. It was much easier to put this 20 F (-7C) sleeping bag (without the extra loft) into the bivy. I still slept with the sleeping pads underneath the bivy as they are not tapered so the lower portion won't fit into the bivy. I also used a plastic ground cloth underneath everything to keep wet forest debris from messing up the whole set-up. I didn't have any noticeable frost this time, but I did experience an occasional drip of water off the open gap in the zipper when I would lie on my back for a few minutes or turn from one side to the other. Care, Durability, and the Future So far, the bivy has held up great. I haven't had to do any maintenance or cleaning but I will monitor that in the long term period. I will continue to use the bivy on several upcoming trips and hope to evaluate its performance as the weather gets a bit warmer. Springtime temperatures will still be very chilly during the nights but shouldn't necessarily be below freezing. The Penguin Bivy will most likely be more exposed to ground vegetation during this time period so I will monitor its durability. Pros So Far...
Cons So Far...
Tester Remarks Thanks to Integral Designs and BackpackGearTest for this great opportunity to test the Penguin Bivy. This concludes my Field Report. The Long Term Report will be appended to this report in approximately two months from the date of this report (late June). Please check back then for the conclusion of this test series. Top of Page Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear Read more gear reviews by Gail Staisil Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Integral Designs Penguin Bivy > Test Report by Gail Staisil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||