Emergency blankets have change into fairly a preferred merchandise amongst survival minded people. And it’s for that motive that on this article I will probably be pitting two manufacturers towards one another. For this assessment, I will probably be seeing how the TACT Bivvy vs SOL Bivvy maintain up towards each other.
Will one maintain you hotter over the opposite? Is yet one more sturdy? Or are they the identical? These are simply among the questions I will probably be answering within the following textual content. But earlier than leaping into the face to face comparability, some readers won’t be accustomed to what an emergency bivvy is. So, I believe answering that may be a good place to start out.
What is an Emergency Blanket?
Modern emergency blankets or house blankets are constituted of a light-weight, compact thing corresponding to mylar or mylar like thing. This thing seems to be like tin foil and does a superb job of retaining physique warmth that may in any other case be misplaced to convection. When you’re in a survival scenario and chilly, having one thing like this might show to be a lifesaver.
What is an Emergency Bivvy?
Now, an emergency bivvy, like those on this article, is sort of similar to emergency blankets besides they’ve sealed seams with just one opening on the tip. This permits an individual to crawl into them very like a sleeping bag. Since there is just one opening that must be held shut, bivvies ought to be capable to retain a whole lot of physique warmth.
Why Carry One?
I’ll discuss this additional within the article however to shortly reply this, emergency bivvies are extraordinarily light-weight, compact, maintain you heat, and are reasonably priced.
TACT Bivvy vs SOL Bivvy: Individual Roundup Review
Now that i’ve just a few of the housekeeping questions out of the way in which lets first have a look the TACT Bivvy by Frog and Co. adopted by the SOL Emergency Bivvy.
TACT Bivvy Review
This bivvy is available in a ripstop nylon pouch. This pouch comes with three further options. First, when the drawstring is damaged aside it would reveal a chunk of fireplace tinder wire that can be utilized to assist in making a hearth.
Secondly, on the finish of the drawstring is a 120-decibel emergency whistle that can be utilized to maintain involved with group members or to sign for assist.
Lastly, hanging on the facet of the pouch is a black, light-weight carabiner that can be utilized to securely hook up the pouch to a pack, belt loop, or another place you’re feeling like hanging it.
The bivvy itself has an orange exterior, silver inside, and has sealed seams. The dimensions of the TACT are 84” x 36” and weighs in at 4.7 oz.
Pros
- Lightweight, compact, and sturdy
- Wind and waterproof
- Easy to get into
- Emergency whistle included
- Fire tinder wire included
- Light-duty carabiner included
Cons
- Have to be extraordinarily cautious with the fabric in order to not poke a gap in it
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SOL Bivvy Review
The SOL is similar to the TACT. It has an orange exterior, silver inside, and sealed seams. Its dimensions are 84” x 36” and weighs in at 3.5 oz.
Pros
- Lightweight, compact, sturdy
- Wind and waterproof
- Easy to get into
- Large carrying pouch for storing the bivvy
Cons
- Have to be extraordinarily cautious with the fabric in order to not poke a gap in it
For a extra detailed particular person assessment, try the article on the Sol Bivvy.
TACT Bivvy vs SOL Bivvy: Head to Head Comparison
Dimensions
I took the bivvies out of their pouches and began working my method by testing them out.
The very first thing I did was to put them out facet by facet on the bottom. You might discover that they appear nearly similar. In reality, by all appearances, they’re.
They are each orange on the surface with the seams sealed in black “tape.” It could also be troublesome to inform within the image however for what it’s value, the SOL Bivvy is a barely darker orange over the TACT.
In phrases of dimension, these two bivvies are similar. Both measure in at 84” x 36.” It doesn’t matter which one you select as each will provide ample inside house for nearly anybody.
Verdict: Both are the identical dimension. Both provide ample house. No clear winner.
The Elements
The TACT and the SOL are each marketed as being windproof in addition to waterproof. While each bivvies had been laid out on the bottom I poured roughly one half of a gallon of water onto the surface of every of them.
I allowed the water to pool up and sit for about ten minutes, periodically spreading the water round with my hands.
After ten minutes, I rigorously guided the water to the facet taking care to not get any close to the opening. I then reached in and felt all through the inside of each merchandise. Both had been bone draw on the within.
Verdict: Both maintain dry. No clear winner.
Warmth
To take a look at out how effectively these maintain an individual heat I made a decision to attend till dusk when the surface temperature was highly anticipated to drop to simply above fifty levels.
While this isn’t bitterly chilly, it’s chilly sufficient for publicity to be an issue. To take a look at these out I opted to put on inappropriate clothes. I wore shorts, a t-shirt with a zip-up hoodie, socks, and tennis footwear. (I wish to be aware that I performed this take a look at in a protected and managed surroundings)
I first crawled into the TACT and wouldn’t you realize it, it began to rain. I pulled the bivvy over my head like a hood and tightened the surplus thing beneath my chin. I sat within the rain like this for about thirty minutes. Every couple of minutes a slight breeze kicked up and the one place I felt the chilly air was on my uncovered face.
At just a few points throughout the take a look at, I did reach across the inside with my hand and will really feel the fabric turning into barely damp. Since these luggage are purported to be waterproof that additionally means moisture received’t depart the bag. This can result in condensation increase inside, because the packaging signifies.
While I used to be not sizzling within the sleeping bag I used to be comfy. More importantly, I used to be not chilled or shivering.
I received out of the TACT Bivvy and allowed myself to chill off. This didn’t take lengthy as I used to be not in preferrred clothes.
After cooling off I then crawled into the SOL Emergency Bivvy for a similar period of time. The outcomes had been the identical as they had been for the TACT Bivvy.
Verdict: Both stored me dry. No clear winner.
Durability
My greatest downside with older emergency blankets is that after the fabric was punctured, it was infamous for ripping as if it had been constituted of tissue paper.
While I perceive that these emergency blankets or bivvies are supposed to be extraordinarily light-weight and compact they do must be considerably sturdy. The actuality of the scenario is that when somebody goes to be utilizing one among these they are going to be sporting out of doors clothes, footwear or boots, sitting on the bottom, shifting round, and many others. So whereas I don’t count on them to be ultra-tough, I do count on them to not shred to items when there’s a gap or tear within the thing.
I ran two very fast checks to see how the fabric would maintain up. Actually, three checks for those who embody after I was testing them out within the rain.
The very first thing I did was to see how the fabric would react to me urgent a finger by it. On each of the bivvies, the fabric did stretch out much as a heavy-duty trash bag would. Eventually, my finger did undergo the fabric.
I then used my pocketknife and lower a small tear close to the sting of the bivvies. Again, I used my finger to press by the outlet. Surprisingly, the SOL held up barely higher. As I pushed my finger by the outlet it continued to get greater, however the thing stretched greater than ripped. The TACT began to tear greater than stretch.
I believe that each bivvies did effectively within the sturdiness take a look at, however the SOL didn’t appear to tear as much. One take away from that is that since each of those merchandise do stretch when they’re punctured, they need to maintain up decently to being repaired. What does this imply? Be certain to all the time carry duct tape in your survival kits.
Verdict: SOL assist up higher to my sturdiness checks.
Pouches Water Test
I do like to check out all the items of substances and on this case, meaning the pouches. The very last thing I used to be interested in was if the pouches would maintain water for any period of time. In a survival scenario every thing must be used to its fullest capability and figuring out if the pouches might be used as a water container might show helpful.
I hung each of the baggage from a tree and crammed every one with water. Sadly neither of the pouches held the water because it ran proper out of the underside though the SOL pouch did drain slower.
It might be a superb factor that the pouches don’t retain water. This method a moist bivvy would have a greater probability of drying out. This take a look at has no bearing on the product itself, it was executed merely out of my curiosity.
Features at Glance
Below is a desk to shortly view the options of each the TACT Bivvy vs SOL Bivvy
| Features | TACT Bivvy | SOL Bivvy |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 84” x 36” | 84” x 36” |
| Weight | 4.7 oz | 3.5 oz |
| Exterior Color | Orange | Orange |
| Interior Color | Silver | Silver |
| Windproof | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
| Heat Reflection | 90% | 90% |
| Emergency Whistle | Included | Not Included |
| Fire Tinder Cord | Included | Not Included |
Open Questions about Emergency Bivvys
Are emergency bivvies reusable?
As lengthy because the bivvy thing has not been compromised then they’re reusable. However, take into account that they’re meant for use for emergencies solely. By recreationally utilizing them they most certainly won’t final lengthy.
Are emergency bivvies higher than emergency blankets?
In my opinion, they’re. Primarily as a result of the seams are sealed which leaves just one finish open. This makes wrapping your self up in it and retaining physique warmth much simpler and extra environment friendly.
TACT Bivvy vs SOL Bivvy: Customer Sentiments
Overall, each bivvies seem to have excessive purchaser satisfaction. However, some frequent complaints are that they aren’t actually waterproof and that they aren’t sturdy. From my expertise with these two bivvies, I consider that there are two solutions to the adverse opinions.
One, the purchasers obtained a defective product, or two they weren’t utilizing the product accurately.
To be truthful the bivvies aren’t 100% waterproof as there may be a gap on one finish. But after my water take a look at and sitting within the rain for thirty minutes I might conclude that so long as the opening is stored closed, they’re very water resistant.
I consider these bivvies to be sturdy when contemplating how light-weight and skinny they’re. The thing does have some give and stretch to it, not much however some. They are actually extra sturdy than different emergency blankets i’ve used that I swear would tear for those who checked out them.
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Verdict
Often in these kind of comparisons, there’s a product that stands above the others. This wasn’t a type of occasions as by my testing I consider the SOL and the TACT had been actually face to face.
In phrases of affordability, each merchandise price about the identical with the TACT Bivvy being the costlier one, so value actually isn’t a problem.
The TACT Bivvy does include an honest emergency whistle and the hearth tinder wire drawstring which is sweet.
But when simply the bivvy, each are windproof, waterproof, warmed up in the identical timeframe, and supplied the identical quantity of house.
The solely distinction I skilled was within the sturdiness take a look at. It was right here that I believed the SOL carried out a little bit higher as a result of its thing had extra stretch to it earlier than breaking and it didn’t “rip” as much.
I don’t suppose you may go improper with both of those merchandise but when i’ve to decide on one based mostly on simply the bivvy I might go along with the SOL. It prices a little bit bit much less, is a bit more sturdy and the carrying pouch is bigger which makes packing the bivvy away simpler.
I hoped you loved my assessment of those two fashionable emergency bivvies. If you may have any expertise with both of them please hold forth within the remark part beneath. Thanks for studying and keep heat!
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