If the claustrophobic feeling of lying with a waterproof bag draped over your face is your idea of a bad night, then this single hooped bivvy could be the lightweight camp solution you are looking for. The addition of a single pole at the head end gives you - literally - head space which keeps fabric off your nose at night, and a small amount of room to read when the weather is poor.
It retains all the advantages of a bivvy bag however, with that same instant pitch-anywhere freedom but less worry about high winds versus a conventional tent.
The only area it loses out in is when compared to a super lightweight bivvy such as our trusty Rab Alpine SL which comes in a whopping 600g lighter at 422g, and half the pack size. This is partly down to the pegs, poles and extra room of the Ridge Raider, but it is also more sturdily built with 40D fabric and a tough bathtub floor to reduce punctures on rough ground. Heavier yes, but reassuringly resilient if you are a regular user.
Getting in and out quickly takes a bit of well-practised technique, but once in it is as warm and weather tight as it gets, with plenty of wriggle room and top-notch breathability through the high end eVent fabric. Condensation hasn't been a big problem for us during the test period as we regularly leave the main zip cracked open for ventilation (and star gazing) if the weather allows, using the integrated bug door to keep out the dreaded Scottish midge.
Overall a great bit of kit for 'camp anywhere' versatility with a bug net that makes bivvying an enjoyable prospect even in a Scottish summer, but at a pretty punchy price.
