r/outdoorgear

Hey everyone, wanted to drop a quick review of the Outdoor Research Helium Bivy 2026 from a 5’7" woman’s perspective, because my last trip was a massive learning experience.
First off, the specs on this thing are awesome. It weighs next to nothing at 448 grams (15.8 oz) and packs down incredibly compact to about 32 x 12 cm. Setting it up is a breeze and takes maybe two minutes. I was also really surprised by how roomy it is inside. I had plenty of space to store my extra gear at my feet and sides. Plus, the single arch pole keeps the fabric completely off your face, so with that and the built-in mosquito net, it doesn't feel claustrophobic at all.
But here is where things went sideways. I took it up into the alpine in sub-zero temperatures. Because it was freezing, I zipped the main shell completely closed. About an hour in—fortunately, I was still awake reading—I literally started to suffocate. The Pertex fabric just doesn’t let enough fresh air pass through when it's sealed, completely cutting off my oxygen.
To breathe, I had no choice but to undo the main zip and leave the mosquito net partially open. This immediately let the sub-zero alpine air straight into the bivy. To make matters worse, I hadn’t thought about pitching the entry away from the wind, so I was facing right into the freezing air stream. On the bright side, I had the absolute best view of my life. On the downside, I froze, turned around every 20 minutes, woke up my neighbors.
I survived and learned some major lessons for alpine bivy camping:
Never zip the main shell fully closed. You have to leave it cracked for oxygen, no matter how cold it is.
Pitch smart. Find a spot with good wind protection and always position the entrance against the wind flow.
Beef up your sleep system. Since you have to vent freezing air all night to breathe, you need to significantly increase the warmth rating of your sleeping bag or duvet.
If you move often in your sleep, consider buying a different tent.

I was travelling recently to my home town which is abit far from where I live and realized some gadgets actually make a huge difference during trips while others just end up being unnecessary luggage. And there are some things you get so used to carrying that traveling without them starts feeling stressful. For me it’s definitely my AirPods. Long rides feel completely different when I have music, podcasts or downloaded movies to keep me occupied during the journey. I see people carrying all sorts of gadgets like travelling power banks, mini fans, portable Wi-Fi devices, neck pillows and a lot more. Recently I started looking for affordable travel accessories online and was surprised by how many options there are on alibaba which are surprisingly affordable. It actually gave me ideas on what’s worth carrying and what isn’t. Honestly I find some useful while others seem like things people buy once then never use again. I'm trying to improve my own travelling equipment before upcoming school trips and wanted to hear from people on here. What travel gadgets do you always make sure you’ve packed before leaving? Which ones genuinely made your trips easier and more comfortable, and which ones turned out to be overhyped?

Why would any propeller head in a board room running a company known for its fast, reliable, and easy shipping decide to work with a company like doordash for their shipping? Thread after thread, complaint after complaint, and here I am waiting for an order im pretty confident will never come based on the experiences others have shared. They know its going to be such a nightmare that they charge an additional insurance fee for "worry free delivery" Why? WHY? What happened to the days when you could, I dont know, order a fucking product and just have it actually show up? These days youve gotta pay extra to make sure you even get the product or service youre already paying a premium for

Hey all, I am working on some outdoor gear designs for a brand I’m trying to start. One thing I hate about dry bags is that they’re always roll up so your gear is covered at the bottom, you also role up half the storage you have and they are just odd and bulky.

I am designing a waterproof bag that’s rated for IPX7 and it’s a 20L with a full zipper that allows you to access all gear easier. It also has a chest strap to carry and rolls up small when not in use. It would roughly cost you $55 USD. Is this something you would buy or no?

thanks for all your input!

I want to get into hiking (mainly in the alps), at the same time I need a new skiing jacket.

It seems to me as if the requirements for both are pretty similar, so I thought I might be able to get a single jacket for both.

I'm probably looking at a 3L shell that should have additional skiing features (e.g. a big hood to fit the helmet, forearm pocket, snow skirt - preferably detachable).

Do you have any specific suggestions, or other things I might've missed so far / should keep in mind?

Thanks! 😄

Alguien conoce alguna marca que haga soft o hard shell impermeable y que dure 2 años? ¡Por dios! que malos son, he tenido ya 2 de marcas top y ya pienso que no vale la pena invertir dinero en ese tipo de prenda. Alguna marca? Algún modelo? Gracias!

Hi.

I will go on a 10-12 month backpacking trip and since I have never done something similar, I am looking for some advice. I've been reading about backpacks the last few days and the Lundhags Saruk Pro 90 has caught my eye. Since I cant find many good reviews maybe you guys can give me some advice.

Have a nice day everyone :)

Going into a very rainy trail soon and am looking for a solid hardshell that I can use for skiing/climbing etc as well. I came across the brand and think its SUPER COOL and would love to support them. However, I havent seen any women review the Monsoon Hardshell pants and am wondering if anyone owns the monsoon pants/ jacket and can share their thoughts! My main aim is to keep extremely dry and for the fit to be good for long treks.