Backpacking Light Magazine “Highly Recommended” Award Winner
WEIGHT: 12 oz | 340 gm
Designed as an all-weather bivy for fast hikers, mountain climbers and bike racers, the Award Winning, eVent Soul Bivy is the lightest, fully enclosed, highly-breathable 3-layer waterproof bivy available.
Backpacking Light Magazine “Highly Recommended” Award Winner WEIGHT: 12 oz | 340 gm
Designed as an all-weather bivy for fast hikers, mountain climbers and bike racers, the Award Winning eVent Soul Bivy is the lightest fully enclosed, highly-breathable 3-Layer Waterproof Bivy available.
“There’s a lot to like about the Mountain Laurel Designs Soul Bivy: light weight, exceptional material quality (and the performance of those materials), solid construction quality, and a fundamentally sound feature set that makes it versatile enough to use as a standalone shelter while still being light enough to pair with a tarp for more versatility. Climbers, speed hikers, bike-packers and pack-rafters will be particularly interested in the Soul Bivy because of its light weight, utility, and small packed size.” – RYAN JORDAN, BACKPACKING LIGHT
The eVent Soul Bivy, is a true Ultra Lightweight Specialists tool; please read the entire product description and specs before adding to cart. Certain options are Custom features, and are non-refundable, see “Options” tab.
FEATURES
• 3-Layer eVENT 10d 30,000+ Breathability – The lightest 3-layer eVENT Made!
• 1.3 oz MLD 20d Sage Green Pro SilPoly Floor for excellent durability and packability. +3,500mm HH.
• Full-width zippered bug netting window
• Mummy shaped with large volume head area to store extra gear
• Foot-box fits larger pads and big feet.
• eVENT fabric foot box (black color) end panel is ergonomically shaped for foot comfort. The foot end of the bivy is totally waterproof and breathable without wrapping the non-breathable bottom up to form the foot.
• Foldable and removable hoop holds the top fabric and bug netting off the face by a few inches for good air flow and lower condensation. +1oz | +28gm (not included in base weight)
• Overhead hang loop at face.
• Hang loops at all four corners
• Continuous #3 YKK WR zipper with two dual-sided zipper pulls for vent positioning
INCLUDED
• Tube of Seam Sealer Included: User seam sealing required. See our seam sealing info on How-To
NOTE: Requires user seam sealing! Check out the “Seam Sealing” tab for instructions, tips, and an instructional video.
MEDIUM
WEIGHT: 11 oz | 320 gm
DIMENSIONS:
SHOULDER GIRTH: 72 in | 182 cm
FOOT BOX GIRTH: 55 in | 140 cm
FITS USERS: Up to 6’2″ | 189 cm OR 185 lbs | 84 kg WITH a regular 20″ W x 72″ L pad, no thicker than 1.5 in.
LARGE
WEIGHT: 12 oz | 350 gm
DIMENSIONS:
SHOULDER GIRTH : 82 in | 208 cm
FOOT BOX GIRTH : 68 in | 172 cm
FITS USERS: Up to 6’6″ | 199 cm OR 230 lbs | 104 kg WITH a long (25″ W x 77″ L) pad, no thicker than 2.5 in. OR you move around a LOT or have mild claustrophobia.
MEASUREMENTS & FITTING
If in doubt on size, SIZE UP!
Try out the fit at home for a few minutes after you receive your bivy. Make sure the test area is very clean – no dog hairs please.
NOTE: Used sleeping gear can not be returned. Please do not test it sleeping overnight on your porch. Actual Shipping & Handling charges will not be refunded.
MATERIAL:
UPPER: Waterproof Breathable 3-Layer eVENT Fabric
FLOOR: 20d X 20d MLD Pro SilNylon. WP 3,500mm+
LEFT OR RIGHT ZIP
COST: INCLUDED
You can choose whether you would like your zipper on the right or left side of the bivy. A few considerations:
Lying on your back, a left zip bivy will have the zipper or your left, and a right zip bivy will have the zipper on your right. If you’re right handed, don’t assume you’ll want a right zip bivy – many right-handed hikers prefer left zip bivy’s because as you’re lying on your back, it’s easier to reach across your body to your left side to use the zipper. Of course, the opposite would be true for lefties. If you’re a side sleeper who sleeps primarily on one side, you may want the zipper in front of you so that you would choose that side for the zipper.
Each eVent Soul Bivy comes with one tube of McNett Seam Grip Seam Sealer. It is STRONGLY recommended you use this supplied seam sealer to seal and strengthen the seams.
To do this, use towels, or some other soft stuffable cloth to fill out the inside of the bivy to press the seams out nearly flat. You are filling the inside of the bivy and sealing the outside seam. Stuff the bivy fairly tight, so all the seams are not kinked. Keep it stuffed tight as you are filling it. DO NOT stuff it half full and then start cramming it down—Too much pressure will stress the seams.
Once it is stuffed, it is easy to apply a small bead of sealer on all seams. Then use your finger to gently press the small bead of sealer flat onto the seam. DO NOT go back and forth and back and forth with your finger to spread the sealer – it will start to gum up and look bad. Try to do it in one smooth pass of the finger.
Hang the bivy and let dry overnight. A good seam seal job is key for long-term durability and waterproofness.
The following video is of our eVent Rain Mitts being sealed, but the same technique applies.
HOW TO VIDEO
STAND-ALONE BIVY SACK USER TIPS
1: Campsite location can make a huge difference. In bad weather, finding a semi-protected area under a rock overhang, behind a natural windbreak, the base of a large conifer tree or cave can offer a lot more livability.
2: Using a synthetic sleep quilt offers a measure of comfort, warmth, and safety over a down bag in the event you have to enter and exit in rainy conditions or are forced to sleep in wet clothes.
3: Use of a pack liner keeps your gear dry in the pack, and the wet outer pack body + other wet great can be stuffed into the liner for storage inside the bivy as a pillow if needed.
4: No bivy sack, even non-waterproof highly breathable DWR bivys, is 100% condensation free in all conditions. This bivy is one of the best, but taking preventative measures to limit condensation is key. Campsite selection, venting and containing wet gear and clothing inside the bivy are imperative to lowering condensation. In challenging conditions, the overall goal is to be warm and being slightly damp and warm, is far better than wet and cold, or dry and cold.
5: If you expect lots of rain or very bad weather conditions, consider using a small tarp + the FKT bivy for those sleep periods.
The Soul Bivy has the built in zippered bug net window, the FKT has no netting. The FKT bivy weighs a little less- It is more of a racer or speed alpinist bivy. The FKT Bivy has all the same measurements as the Soul Bivy.
2 reviews for eVENT SOUL BIVY
Rated 5 out of 5
Jason Downs, Sydney Australia –
I have owned the Soul Bivy for three years and I Love It! I use it regularly.
It is well thought out and constructed. Great attention to detail.
It did everything that it is claimed.
I would recommend it to anyone serious about owning a high quality lightweight Bivy.
I would buy another one. I am happy with all my MLD gear.
Rated 4 out of 5
Chris P (verified owner)–
I have had this bivy for about a year now, and used it for probably 15 nights, all without any other form of shelter. All but 2 or those nights were in woods.
Overall, I think this is a good bivy, especially for the weight.
By far my biggest gripe with it is the size of the mesh opening. I knew it was small when I bought it, but in use, I find its really hard to keep your mouth “aimed” at the mesh in the night, which inevitably leads to more condensation than you would have with wider mesh.
On the subject of condensation, I’d say I get a bit more condensation in this than my previous Rab eVent bivy. I am not sure quite why this is. Possibly a combination of the mesh window being much smaller and possibly the lighter fabric in the MLD doesn’t work as well?
That said, it hasn’t been problematic levels of condensation (certainly less than you get with a “standard” water-resistant bivy). The only night I was truly wet (well, actually iced!) inside was on a night in the open under a clear sky, below freezing with a lot of moisture in the air. No material would have saved me there!
I personally have no issue with material lying on my face, so I took the stiffener “pole” out when I received it and have never used it. I guess using it might reduce condensation in the mid-section a little, but again, I don’t find I need it really. (Using the wire wand helps reduce condensation!)
I have a large. I’m 6’4″ and with a Neoair (xlite or xtherm) in the bag and either a 0C quilt or -9C bag (as appropriate for the weather), I find there is easily enough room inside with a bit around my head for stuff like phone and odds and ends. I also find that even at my height, my mouth is about in the right area for the venting mesh. There isn’t any constriction to speak of in the footbox, which is excellent compared to other bivys I have used. There is also enough space for me to squirm around in the night.
Seam sealing is frankly a faff, but I guess you only have to do it once! I added a few extra lines of seam sealer to the sil-nylon floor to stop my pad slipping around, which is essential really. This is a disadvantage compared to my old far heavier Rab. But no worse than any modern tent. Its also worth noting that there are peg points, which is really handy; with the seam sealer on the floor and these peg points, I can sleep on a bit of a slope.
One massive, massive advantage this bag has over many is the side zip entry. This is an absolute revelation over standard letter box entry.
Pack size is spectacularly small. It really is silly!
Build quality also seems excellent, so I have no concerns about longevity from that angle. The material is noticeably thin compared to my old Rab bivy (which is 3x the weight of this one). So hopefully the eVent won’t wear out too quickly.
Overall, having done a lot of research before buying this bag, I am pretty pleased. While not perfect, and while I have obviously not tried every possible option, I still think this is the best compromise available today. I would buy again. I just wish they put a bigger mesh hood on it!
Jason Downs, Sydney Australia –
I have owned the Soul Bivy for three years and I Love It! I use it regularly.
It is well thought out and constructed. Great attention to detail.
It did everything that it is claimed.
I would recommend it to anyone serious about owning a high quality lightweight Bivy.
I would buy another one. I am happy with all my MLD gear.
Chris P (verified owner) –
I have had this bivy for about a year now, and used it for probably 15 nights, all without any other form of shelter. All but 2 or those nights were in woods.
Overall, I think this is a good bivy, especially for the weight.
By far my biggest gripe with it is the size of the mesh opening. I knew it was small when I bought it, but in use, I find its really hard to keep your mouth “aimed” at the mesh in the night, which inevitably leads to more condensation than you would have with wider mesh.
On the subject of condensation, I’d say I get a bit more condensation in this than my previous Rab eVent bivy. I am not sure quite why this is. Possibly a combination of the mesh window being much smaller and possibly the lighter fabric in the MLD doesn’t work as well?
That said, it hasn’t been problematic levels of condensation (certainly less than you get with a “standard” water-resistant bivy). The only night I was truly wet (well, actually iced!) inside was on a night in the open under a clear sky, below freezing with a lot of moisture in the air. No material would have saved me there!
I personally have no issue with material lying on my face, so I took the stiffener “pole” out when I received it and have never used it. I guess using it might reduce condensation in the mid-section a little, but again, I don’t find I need it really. (Using the wire wand helps reduce condensation!)
I have a large. I’m 6’4″ and with a Neoair (xlite or xtherm) in the bag and either a 0C quilt or -9C bag (as appropriate for the weather), I find there is easily enough room inside with a bit around my head for stuff like phone and odds and ends. I also find that even at my height, my mouth is about in the right area for the venting mesh. There isn’t any constriction to speak of in the footbox, which is excellent compared to other bivys I have used. There is also enough space for me to squirm around in the night.
Seam sealing is frankly a faff, but I guess you only have to do it once! I added a few extra lines of seam sealer to the sil-nylon floor to stop my pad slipping around, which is essential really. This is a disadvantage compared to my old far heavier Rab. But no worse than any modern tent. Its also worth noting that there are peg points, which is really handy; with the seam sealer on the floor and these peg points, I can sleep on a bit of a slope.
One massive, massive advantage this bag has over many is the side zip entry. This is an absolute revelation over standard letter box entry.
Pack size is spectacularly small. It really is silly!
Build quality also seems excellent, so I have no concerns about longevity from that angle. The material is noticeably thin compared to my old Rab bivy (which is 3x the weight of this one). So hopefully the eVent won’t wear out too quickly.
Overall, having done a lot of research before buying this bag, I am pretty pleased. While not perfect, and while I have obviously not tried every possible option, I still think this is the best compromise available today. I would buy again. I just wish they put a bigger mesh hood on it!