Note: Big Agnes provided me with the bivy for testing at my request.
Anyone who follows my blog knows: I am constantly searching for the perfect setup between weight, weather protection, and comfort. But actually, it’s my curiosity to try out all the gear that’s out there. And actually, I used to be a convinced camper for whom a tent was always part of a bike trip.
Then came bikepacking and my more sporty orientation, which is why I also put my sleeping arrangements on the road to the test. Bivy sack became the keyword, and in this context, I tried the Hunka from Alpkit and later the OR Helium. The reason for the Helium was that it has a hood and thus some mosquito protection. And it remains a very good bivy sack, which unfortunately condensates quite a bit and is somewhat cramped in the head and shoulder area.
Then I got the opportunity to test the Big Agnes Three Wire Hooped Bivy. I wasn’t familiar with it yet and have now been on the road with it for a few months – from summer through autumn and through the deep winter.
Construction: A Tent in Stealth Mode
Big Agnes is taking its own path with this product – not a classic bivy, not a small tent. At its core, it is a mixture of both. The Three Wire is basically a very minimalist 1-person tent. The highlight is the head area: a single pole (the “hoop”) provides a good amount of space over the face and upper body. No more claustrophobic feeling of wet fabric resting on your nose. Furthermore, I am a stomach sleeper and need some space next to my head for my arms. And the Big Agnes is very generous there.
I also like that the pole in the head area holds the fabric so well and stably that my head doesn’t come into contact with it. With the OR Helium, this wasn’t quite as practical, and the mesh – or in the rain, the entire outer skin – lay more on my face.
The rectangular shape of the bivy also makes this possible. This is a major advantage over the usual mummy cuts because you simply have more space in the foot area and can turn around at night without the whole bivy moving with you.
In terms of dimensions, but also in practice, the Big Agnes is quite spacious: an outer length of 211 cm and a comfortable width of 64 cm in the foot area and 76 cm in the head area offer enough space even for tall people.
By the way: with three extra stakes, you can guy out the bivy so that it stands like a small tent. For this, it is tensioned accordingly at the foot and head areas.
Handling: Finally No More “Fiddling In”
One of my biggest criticisms of conventional bivy sacks is the entry. It is often a tedious crawl, during which you frequently drag dirt from outside directly into the sleeping bag. And if you have to get out at night, the whole process starts all over again.
The Three Wire solves this differently because it works like a convertible: there are zippers on both sides at hip height, through which you can fold the upper third completely down. I then placed my sleeping pad and sleeping bag inside and finally sat down in it.
Now simply pull the zippers on the right and left closed comfortably, and you’re done.
In 90% of cases, I didn’t set up the head area with the pole, but simply used the bivy sack and hood as additional insulation and weather protection. Only in the summer did I use the head area to protect myself from mosquitoes.
But with any bivy, it’s always a decision between “it’s actually too warm” and “but there are mosquitoes out there.”
Moreover, the head area stands much better with the pole than with the OR Helium, where it was often shaky despite being guyed out.
If there is no shelter and the weather is bad, I set up the pole for full protection and guy it out with stakes. This turns the convertible bivy into a mini-tent.
Performance: No Condensation!
I used the bivy through three seasons. And anyone who sleeps in a bivy sack, especially in autumn and winter, usually expects a dripstone cave in the morning. But with the Three Wire, I was surprised, as there was almost no condensation to be found. I had experienced that differently with the OR Helium.
The breathability of the material is therefore not bad. Even in damp, cold weather, the inside remained dry – which is anything but a given in this category.
Here, Big Agnes uses an “ultralight, three-layer, waterproof, and breathable nylon fabric with a microporous membrane and a tricot layer for improved moisture wicking.” It seems to work. The floor is also very sturdy, made of ripstop nylon with a 1200-mm polyurethane coating. So no moisture gets through, even if you have to set it up on a wet field, for example.
In all these months, I only experienced once that the sack was slightly damp inside in the foot area – damp to the touch, not wet.
The “But”: Weight and Price
But we also have to talk about the hard facts: according to the manufacturer, the Three Wire Hooped weighs 624 g; I weighed it at 650 g.
If you look at my article on 81 UL tents, you quickly see: in this weight class, there are already full-fledged tents that offer more space and a vestibule for shoes. Additionally, the price – typical for Big Agnes – is quite substantial at 450 Euros. So you have to think carefully about what you want.
My Verdict
For me, the Big Agnes Three Wire Hooped Bivy is a “luxury bivy.” It is perfect for people who:
- Want to set up extremely quickly.
- Need a minimal footprint (wild camping where there is no campsite).
- Seek the weather protection of a tent with the compactness of a bivy.
I was able to transport it comfortably in my frame bag and had it with me at North2Peak and Shelter Attack. The pack size of 10 x 36 cm is also handlebar-friendly.
Yes, it is at the upper limit in terms of weight and price. But the entry comfort and the very good ventilation always made me reach for the Big Agnes and make it one of the best bivy sacks I have tested so far.
