Snugpak | Stratosphere | Shelter | 1 Person | 5000mm 100% Waterproof Outer

I purchased this item because I wanted an ultralight sleep system to protect me from the rain and harsh conditions of the Florida swaps. First, I considered buying a bivvi cover like the one I was issued in Ft. Benning. But when I saw the design of the Stratosphere I realized what I was missing out on. I decided to give the Snugpak Stratosphere a try due to the great reviews and the light weight and the use of poles that create more space (and breathing room) than the GORETEX bivvi bags. Think of this shelter as a tent and bivvi hybrid. While the Army issued bivvis are great, nothing can be done in them except sleep and perhaps write a couple of letters or reports. This shelter rewards very little work and effort (putting two poles in place) by giving you much more breathing room, temperature circulation, the ability to store a small pack or change of clothes, shoes (preferably in a plastic bag to prevent tracking in mud or water), and a rifle or weapon of similar or smaller size. The issued bivvi can also be too hot for use during the summer, unless you like suffocating and bathing in sweat. If you are not used to sleeping in a bivvi and this is your first time buying a bivvi shelter, understand that you will feel the wind and/or rain hitting any fabric against your body. I've had a couple buddies that had to get used to sleeping in the field with the sensation of rain hitting them (even though they weren't getting wet) but this isn't always a problem for people new to bivvis.I am extremely impressed with the Stratosphere and think that this system is probably the best shelter for use in warm weather because it has two screens that enable air to circulate and cool the unit. One screen remains open but is covered by a waterproof overhang (for use during rain) that can be rolled up (in clear weather) if desired to improve airflow. However, to do either of these actions, the occupant must get out of the shelter to roll up or extend and attach the overhang to the ground. In addition to the fixed screen, there is another that faces the foot of the unit. This screen works by unziping the shelter itself and using an alternate zipper (which has a rain cover) beside the main one. This screen does not have an overhang and must be closed during bad weather to prevent water from entering the shelter but this can be done from within.The material is very durable and lightweight. If the shelter is wet, it can be hung and dried in a matter of minutes. The nylon loops that secure the poles take a little longer to dry but that is expected since they are made of thick nylon. The zippers are good but one should use care to prevent snagging on the material (as with any fabric shelter). The shelter also includes excess waterproof fabric that double covers the zipper. I tested the unit using a hose and directly sprayed over the zipper area. Unless you are submerged in a puddle like a moron, no water will enter the shelter.The shelter (obviously) uses two poles that hold up the upper portion of the shelter (the area around your head and chest) up by about 2ft. I'm about 5'9 and the lifted area is from about my head to my upper waist area (the lifted area varies depending on height and bulk of the occupant). The poles are anodized and curved so they're not difficult to get into place. Also included are aluminum stakes used to secure the shelter to the ground (2 at the foot, 2 for the first pole, 2 for the second pole and 1 for the waterproof overhang for the rearward facing screen). The entire shelter (including stakes and poles) fits into a small bag (poles and stakes in their own separate bags within) that way you have the entire unit in one small compression sack (there should be a picture depicting the size of the entire shelter in the bag).If you research this shelter, you may find pictures of it with one nylon stake loop at the foot. This is not the model you should get (thankfully). Instead, the model that is shipped will have two nylon loops at the foot to help spread the material out and secure it to the ground. The color that you may see in some pictures can be a little misleading but the color in this photo is accurate: the unit is a very dark olive drab/brown. When I placed my order and saw the different pictures elsewhere, I was worried and contacted Snugpak because I wanted to be sure I got the updated model. To my surprise, the president of Snugpak USA, contacted me right away and informed me that I would be getting the updated model. Excellent, flawless, and fast customer service and communication.If you live in a region that is usually very warm, my suggestion would be to use the Snugpak with a poncho liner (aka "woobie") because a sleeping bag might prove to be too warm but a poncho liner can be wrapped under and above you depending on temperature, along with a a tarp set up above the shelter for covering your additional gear and allowing easier access into the Stratosphere during a storm. If you live in a colder region, the issued patrol sleeping bag paired with the thermal layer would be great. Hope this review proves useful to anyone considering buying this fantastic bivvi system. It is small, durable, lightweight, and versatile. To anyone planning to be in the field in a hot/cold region looking for an ultralight sleep system, look no further...

This is a pretty darned good bivvy shelter. It is well engineered, roomy enough, and lightweight as heck.Without the stakes, it takes about a minute to set up. The two poles are well designed and snap right into place. The result is about 2' of interior headroom. There are vents facing both front and rear in the head area. The vent at the head of the bivvy has a fly cover that stakes down to keep one dry in the rain. Alternatively, it can be rolled up to give a night time view through the bug mesh. The vent facing down is nice, but the shelter can be zipped up in the account of a rainstorm. There's a nice little mesh pocket in the roof of the bivvy where one can put a small lantern, phone, etc. When zipped up in a rainstorm, with a lantern and a book, a person is good to go.My Alps inflatable sleeping pad fits easily inside. With my sleeping quilt the room is taken, but I am warm. The bivvy adds to the temp rating of your sleep system. Now, for the zipper. There's a zipper part way down the right side that seals with overlapping velcro strips. For anyone who wonders how the heck they'll slither into a regular bivvy sack, this zipper makes it a lot easier. It isn't as heavy duty as it should be, perhaps, but I haven't found it lacking.I am 5'8", 200, with a 44" chest, and I like to sleep on my side. I can do that in this shelter. Granted, my sleeping quilt is contacting the bivvy shelter when I sleep on my side, but the point is that I can move around a bit. This shelter is not a body bag.The shelter is very lightweight. Light, as in, is this a *real* shelter lightweight. It packs up easily due to, again, good engineering. However, in my opinion, it works just as well if I take the poles out and throw them inside (they have a small carry bag, as do the shelter stakes), roll up my mattress and quilt along with the bag, throw a bungee around the not so large result, and throw it on my motorcycle like the bedrolls of old.In conclusion, this is a good investment. I don't see any significant improvement in far more expensive models. Of course, my uses are pretty forgiving. Nevertheless, it's a darned good shelter for the money, lightweight and well designed, and more than capable for the opportune camp site.

It's a great product but takes some getting used to for sure. It's not as breathable as I would have liked really. I know it's got the two mesh vents but one of the vents needs to be zipped closed in the rain. I have to sleep under a tarp shelter so I can have both vents open... Other than the breathability issue (which is my issue as lots others haven't had problems) it's great. Snugpak are new to me personally as I've only recently gotten into camping etc but I've really begun to trust them as a brand. I've got this Stratosphere bivvy and a Jungle Blanket XL which is also a fantastic product... next for me is the Antarctic sleeping mat and an Ionosphere.I'm 6'3 and around 15st and the Stratosphere isn't too tight a squeeze at all. Others saying if you're over 6 foot you won't fit are talking nonsense. If you use an air mat it will be tight but that's if you have the mat inside the bag. Personally I just use an Exped Flexmat Plus closed cell foam mat which is perfectly fine for a bivvy camp (in my opinion).

Great little tent although condensation is an issue if you don't get the air flow right. Also it is hard to escape from in a hurry, let's say if a bear or threat was close by.

I've been using this tent for few years and I really love it.I'm a small girl with not much power so for me light weight is the most important thing for camping equipment, and this is the best tent for me ever!It's really light as a tent, fit in my little backpack, super easy to set up, everything is very well made.It is really small, so it's obvious that 2 persons don't fit inside, purely for solo camping. and it's so small you cannot spend time inside really. You can only lay, maybe read books then sleep. Cannot do unpacking bags or eating something comfortably. But so perfect if only you need is sleep.For me as 152 cm girl, I can put my backpack inside too and there are little covered area above head so I place my shoes there. I have been camping with this in hard raining day too but it wasn't problem.I don't think this is a common tent so if you also want to enjoy time spending in tent or camp with someone, you need a bigger one. I'm thinking to buy one size bigger too to have different options of camping but I am really happy for this product.

Hallo zunächst mal,Ich bin 1.80 groß und wiege 70kg.Die Bewegungsfreiheit ist deshalb für mich GUT.Im Inneren des Kopfbereichs ist noch Platz für einen kleinen Rucksack oder anderen Kleinkram.Meine Therm a test Trail light isomatte passt auch gut rein.Zusammen mit dem Carinthia Tropen Schlafsack kann man so auch kältere Temperaturen um die 0crad überstehen da der biwaksack nochmal ich schätze so 2-3 Grad Außentemperatur abhält.(Lange unterwäsche im Schlafsack an).Ich habe ihn auf dem zweitälersteig im Schwarzwald bei einer 3Tages Tour verwendet.In der 3ten Nacht hatte ich das Tarp nur über den Kopfbereich gespannt ,meine Füße und Beine lagen nicht unter dem Tarp.Es hat sie ganze Nacht dauergeregnet.Irgendwann hat der Biwacksack dann doch Wasser durchgelassen.Zwischen Biwacksack und Schlafsack war es komplett Feucht ! Zum Glück hatte ich den Carinthia Tropen dabei der das Innere trotzdem Trocken hielt!Seine Außenhülle war allerdings auch sehr Feucht zum Glück war es der letzte Tag und ich konnte daheim wieder alles Trocknen!Einen leichten Regenschauer hält der Sack bestimmt aus ohne das er Nass wird.Aber ich muss auch sagen das war eine wirkliche Extremprobe.Bitte also immer ein Tarp darüberspannen dann ist man vor Regen,kleinen Krabbelviehchern und Wind wirklich Perfekt geschützt und deshalb bekommt er auch 4 Sterne in Verbindung mit einem Tarp ist er dann für mich auf Motorradtouren oder Wandertouren Perfekt.LG

Neu geordert und werde das "Schneckenhaus" als bald wild probieren. Unpack war sehr gut, Aufbau schnell und intuitiv. Weitere Erfahrungen folgen.Habe den Bivi. Auf ca. 1000 Höhenmeter in den Bayrischen Voralpen im Frühsommer 2016 für 1 Nacht getestet. Ich benutzte zusätzlich ein Tarp, da bei Regen das ein und aussteigen angenehmer ist und man ist vor herunterfallenden Ästen, Wind und Vogelkot geschützter.Die Nacht war so um die 10C° und trocken. Die Lagerstätte war in einem Bergkessel nahen an einem Bach und unter Bäumen.Das ein und aussteigen war, den Umständen entsprechend, gut. Es ist eben minimalistisches Campen Leute, bitte das nicht vergessen.Die Nacht war ruhig und trocken, kleinere Äste, Blätter/Nadeln und Zweige vielen auf das Tarp.Am nächsten morgen ca. 07:00 Uhr war der Bivi minimal mit kondensat an einigen Stellen an der Decke benetzt, was normal ist.Ich hatte die Lüftung die zu den Füßen zeigt geöffnet, um besser Luft zu bekommen. Mit geschlossenem Lüftung sollte man sowieso nicht schlafen. Im Winter auch leicht geöffnet lassen. Wir sind doch harte Jungs;).Ich selber habe bei der BW 2 Biwaks a' 5 Nächte auf der Reiteralp in ca. 2000m Höhe in Berchtesgaden verbracht ohne Bivi im Schnee bei rund -15°C Nachts nur mit Poncho als Tarp, Schlafsack und isomatte auf Schnee das ging auch.Empfehlenswert ist es immer einen Tarp zu benutzen, grade bei Sonne, Wind, Regen oder Schnee erleichtert ein Tarp enorm das Leben im Bivi. Ohne Tarp muss mit erhöhter Feuchtigkeitsbildung im inneren bei Regen und Kälte allerdings gerechnet werden, das ist NORMAL.Wer das nicht möchte der gehe bitte in ein Hotel;).PS: den Schlafsack und Bivi gut lüften, dan ist er für die nächste Nacht parat.