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Oware Gore Tex Bivy Owner Report
10/30/02
Item name: Goretex Bivy Sack
Manufacturer: Oware
Year of Manufacture: 2002
URL of top level manufacturer web site: http://www.owareusa.com
Manufacturing/purchase year: 2002
Listed specs:
Weight: 1 lb 14.5 oz
Usage: Backpacking, hiking, etc.
Backpacking Style: Transition to lightweight (ultralight never)
My stomping grounds: California, Bay Area, Tahoe, Truckee, San Diego
My email: O_chemist@yahoo.com
My Name: Toby Kraft
My specifications: Male
Age: 27
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190 lbs.
My Background: I have been doing aggressive hiking/scrambling type stuff
my whole life. I began overnight backpacking only about 8 years ago. I usually
get 3 four day trips each year along with a few one night trips and innumerable
car camping trips. I am a skier and beginning snowshoer. I am also learning
to kayak. I have been rock climbing for about a year now, and am very excited
to learn more with the ultimate goal of serious alpine mountaineering and ski
mountaineering.
Body of Review
Dave Olsen sews several types of bivy sacks. There is a silnylon and pertex
or epic version with snaps, a similar one with a zipper and all kinds of variations.
I went and met Dave at his home/shop where all the magic occurs. While there,
I bought myself a Goretex Bivy. I paid a little extra for a seam taped version
so that I wouldn't have to bother sealing it myself. I imagine that you can
get them in all kinds of colors and things, but I just bought what he had on
hand. When reviewing Oware gear, you are more or less just reviewing the sewing
and construction. Each item that he makes is pretty much unique. I would even
go so far as to say "custom." My bivy is a long sack with pleny of
room. There aren't too many features, it is very simple. There is a crescent
shaped piece of mosquito netting with half a zipper around all sides. This enables
you to open up the zipper on the main sack and zip the mosquito net into the
resulting crescent hole. There is a single tie out right on the top of the sack
where the rain flap that covers the zipper meets the main body of the sack.
This tie out can be used to tie the material up and off of your face. I found
that the sack was baggy enough on me that I have not been bothered by the material,
but I am sure that some people might want to tie it up. There is just enough
space inside the bag that you can hold a book out above your face and read the
book. The model that I bought has a really tough zipper that Dave uses on the
outdoor school gear. You can get the same sack with a lighter zipper, but I
found the large clunky YKK deal reassuringly easy to find and use when inside
the sack. I have heard stories about people getting stuck in bivy sacks, so
I am happy that there is a nice reliable zipper that doesn't often get stuck.
I spent one night in this bivy in about the 50 degree(F) range, without any
kind of sleeping bag. I was on a bachelor party camping trip, and the groom
forgot his sleeping bag. So I had to give him mine. To be honest, it was a bit
chilly, but it was a good test of the emergency use of the bag. If I had had
regular hiking gear and clothes, I probably would have slept just fine. Either
way, I certainly would have survived just fine.
I actually really like this bivy, and I find it plenty spacious enough for
regular use as a shelter for those "what if" instances. A perfect
way to carry shelter without bulk or too much weight. I will use it quite a
bit, even for regular old camping. And I expect it to pretty much last forever.
Good job Oware!
Read more reviews of Oware gear
Read more gear reviews by Toby Kraft
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