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I’m planning to hike the Westfjords Way during the first week of September and have heard about the challenging weather conditions in the area. I’m considering using an Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, which is lightweight and waterproof, but I’m unsure how well it will hold up in the Westfjords’ weather. I plan to seek out sheltered camping spots along the route to mitigate potential issues. Could you provide your insights or recommendations on this setup?

Omran Antar

User Name Location

Posted in Choosing the Right Outdoor Gear
  • Omran Antar

    Omran Antar
    0 Verified Score
    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Thanks for your responses. I meant the one with a hoop, not the alpine one. Based on your feedback, Im considering getting a proper tent. I already own a great 2-person tent, but it would add extra weight on the grueling ascents. Everything in Iceland is pricey, including the necessary gear! :)

  • Daniel Jessee

    Daniel Jessee
    0 Verified Score

    Hi Omran, I have used the OR Helium Emergency Bivy and the Helium Bivy (with the hoop), as well as the slightly heavier Alpine Ascentshell bivy. I am assuming you are talking about the Helium bivy with the hoop. The Helium has gone through a few iterations of fabric as well, and my experience is with the one that has Diamond Fuse fabric. I personally would not recommend using that bivy alone, without additional weather protection, anywhere that there is a high likelihood of anything more than a brief sprinkle. For me it just soaks through unacceptably fast. I would absolutely trust the Alpine Ascentshell bivy however. It's very roomy in my opinion and has a lot of nice features for very little weight gain. It seems to hold up to rain quite well, though I suspect even it will soak through if it was raining hard for more than 2-3 hours. Since you said you plan to seek out sheltered spots though, I think that would work. It looks like the Alpine is out of stock or discontinued on OR's website but you may be able to still find one. If not, you could research other bivy sacks with a 3-layer fabric and a pole. I have no experience with it, but The North Face Assault FUTURELIGHT looks very similar and promising. If you want to make your existing Helium work, I'd suggest testing it in the back yard with a sprinkler and your sleep kit inside. See how long it lasts before the inside of the fabric is soaked through and decide if that's acceptable. I hope this helps!

  • Lucas Winzenburg

    Lucas Winzenburg
    Member Since 2018
    20 Verified Score

    Hey Omran, I spent a year in Iceland, including many trips to the Westfjords. It's a spectacular part of the country. You'll love it! If it were me, for Iceland, I would take a lightweight tent instead of a bivy bag. It'll give you more space to sprawl out during the inevitable rainstorms, especially as shelter is relatively lacking in Iceland compared to other places with more tree cover. As for the OR Helium itself, I haven't used that one and can't comment. Let us know what you decide, and have a great trip!

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